Speech therapy is the assessment and treatment of communication problems and speech disorders. It is performed by speech-language pathologists (SLPs), which are often referred to as speech therapists.

Speech therapy techniques are used to improve communication. These include articulation therapy, language intervention activities, and others depending on the type of speech or language disorder.

Speech therapy may be needed for speech disorders that develop in childhood or speech impairments in adults caused by an injury or illness, such as stroke or brain injury.

Some speech disorders begin in childhood and improve with age, while others continue into adulthood and require long-term therapy and maintenance.

The amount of time a person needs speech therapy depends on a few factors, including:

• Their Age
• Type and Severity of the Speech Disorder
• Frequency of Therapy
• Underlying Medical Condition
• Treatment of an Underlying Medical Condition

Some speech disorders begin in childhood and improve with age, while others continue into adulthood and require long-term therapy and maintenance.

A communication disorder caused by a stroke or other medical condition may improve as with treatment and as the condition improves.

The success rate of speech therapy varies between the disorder being treated and age groups. When you start speech therapy can also have an impact on the outcome.

Speech therapy for young children has been shownTrusted Source to be most successful when started early and practiced at home with the involvement of a parent or caregiver.