Are all speech pathologists also audiologists?

Speech therapy is a distinct specialization that exists in the same ambit as audiology. Therefore, they often offer distinct services.

Do speech therapy experts treat breathing disorders?

If breath control is a significant issue in speech, your SLP can help with dedicated exercises.

Is speech therapy suitable for all age groups?

Yes, SLPs consult for all age groups, from toddlers to adults.

How long is speech therapy conducted?

The duration of speech therapy depends on the nature of your disorder and other factors like age. Consult with your speech pathologist for a better consultation.

Can speech therapy improve my self-esteem?

Yes, over time, you will notice solid improvement in communication and self-esteem with speech therapy.

Get Dedicated Speech Therapy from One Streamlined Platform

Speech therapy is a form of audiology treatment that focuses on treating issues with clear speech. In most institutions, speech therapy exists under the ambit of audiology. Since hearing and speaking are highly interlinked in terms of physiology, speech pathologists (SLPs) also provide treatments such as language development and proper diction training.

Speech pathologists provide consultation for people across different age ranges, diversifying their approach based on the specific case of speech or hearing disorder in an individual. Speech disorders are an umbrella term, and multiple causative factors often converge on a distinct set of symptoms and signs. Some of the common treatments supervised by speech pathologists are:

- Sound and phonetic formation: This type of speech therapy focuses on improving diction and clear speech. It is usually the go-to method of treatment for stuttering disorders.

- Vocal exercises: Speech pathologists can assist individuals with better voice control and enunciation for clearer speech.

- Language development: Though not for treating any disorder by itself, speech pathologists provide training in speech nuances such as sentence formation and proper cadence in speaking.

- Aural rehabilitation: In some cases of severe hearing loss, SLP specialists can help alleviate the impact of deafness and assist in coping with everyday routines.

- Social communication improvement: Speech pathologists provide treatment for individuals who have trouble picking up social cues in communication, and regulating speech based on the appropriate social situation.

Speech therapy is a wide spectrum within audiology and the reasons to consult with a speech-language pathologist are just as diversified. Knowing when to seek consultation from an SLP is the crucial first step in getting effective remedies for many speech-related hurdles.

When should I consult a speech pathologist?

In a general sense, you will be referred to a speech-language pathologist near you by your general physician (or ENT in some cases). While the specific context for SLP referral will vary from case to case, the general patterns for consultation are usually as follows:

- Delay in toddler speech development: Some children may face stuttering during their crucial speech development years. Starting stuttering treatment early during this critical period can correct their speech patterns in the long term.

- Disruption in normal communicative skills: Some disorders (especially ones that affect the nervous system) can severely impair one’s speech abilities. Consulting with a top speech pathologist can help in working through the disorder and restoring normal speech.

- Swallowing and voice-related difficulties: Though not related to speaking capabilities per se, speech pathologists can assist in rectifying issues in swallowing and proper voice usage. This is done through dedicated muscle exercises that can make swallowing easier.

- Better diction & language development: With regular consultation, an SLP can help you improve your language-related spoken skills and gain overall confidence in speaking. Speech pathologists can also help with gauging social cues in verbal communication if you are experiencing issues in the same.

Regular visits to the SLP are necessary for effective long-term results. Our myAster portal makes it a breeze to ensure you can contact the best speech therapy experts for ideal treatment. To further expedite consultation, you can opt to consult with them through video consultation to get various forms of speech therapy (when feasible).

Common procedures and treatments

Speech-language pathologists employ a variety of techniques to get individuals on a corrective course in stuttering treatment and other disorders. Some of the common procedures carried out include:

- Tongue & Voice Exercises: This is the bread and butter of most speech therapy and comes in many different forms and frequencies based on individual cases. Dedicated training can help regulate tongue movements and voice modulation for proper speech and language development.

- Vocabulary & Speaking Exercises: Certain word-related exercises and vocabulary training can be recommended by speech pathologists to improve communication skills.

- Facial Muscle Training: In some cases, training specific facial muscles (especially in the buccal region) can rectify speech disorders significantly.

- Reading-based Exercises: Improving reading comprehension boosts holistic language development and can also improve speech capabilities on a parallel track.

Your SLP will recommend an ideal treatment regimen based on multiple factors such as medical history, onset of speech disorders, and other genetic factors. Through follow-up consultations, you will start to see a gradual improvement in your speech capabilities over time. myAster makes booking appointments (initial as well as follow-up) seamless, consolidating all features in one interface.

The myAster Advantage

The myAster application reimagines the process of medical appointment scheduling and gives it a digital touch. Through the portal, you can get ready access to the best speech therapy and stuttering management specialists in the GCC region, in a single interface. Some salient features of myAster are:

- Access to video consultation for available consultants.

- Streamlined integration to Aster Pharmacy for medication procurement

- Easy tracking of follow-up appointments for speech therapy

- Curated filtering of sub-specialties of available specialists

- Medical reports are available at one click

Book Your Appointment through myAster for complete convenience in speech therapy appointment scheduling