What Is a Speech-Language Pathologist?
A speech-language pathologist (SLP) is a trained
therapist who evaluates and treats children and adults who
have difficulty with speech or language. Although people often think
of speech and language as the same thing, the terms actually have
very different meanings.
If your child has trouble with speech
he/she struggles with the “how-to” of talking—the coordination
of the muscles and movements necessary to produce speech.
If your child has trouble with language
he/she struggles with
understanding what he/she hears or sees. Your child may struggle
to find the right words and/or organize those words in a meaningful
way to communicate a message or hold a conversation.
An SLP also evaluates and treats
children and adults who have difficulty swallowing food
or liquid. An SLP will help identify what part of the swallowing process is making it difficult for
your child to eat (e.g., chewing, manipulating food with the tongue, coordinating mouth and
throat structures and muscles, breathing appropriately while eating).
Below is a list of common speech and language disorders with a brief explanation of each.
Speech Disorders
• Articulation - the way we say our speech sounds
• Phonology - the speech patterns we use
• Apraxia - difficulty planning and coordinating the movements needed to make speech sounds
• Fluency - stuttering
• Voice - problems with the way the voice sounds, such as hoarseness
Language Disorders
• Receptive Language - difficulty understanding language
• Expressive Language - difficulty using language
• Pragmatic Language - social communication; the way we speak to each other
Other Disorders
• Deafness/Hearing Loss - loss of hearing; therapy includes developing lip-reading, speech,
and/or alternative communication systems
• Oral-Motor Disorders - weak tongue and/or lip muscles
• Swallowing/Feeding Disorders - difficulty chewing and/or swallowing
A speech-language pathologist (SLP) is a trained
therapist who evaluates and treats children and adults who
have difficulty with speech or language. Although people often think
of speech and language as the same thing, the terms actually have
very different meanings.
If your child has trouble with speech
he/she struggles with the “how-to” of talking—the coordination
of the muscles and movements necessary to produce speech.
If your child has trouble with language
he/she struggles with
understanding what he/she hears or sees. Your child may struggle
to find the right words and/or organize those words in a meaningful
way to communicate a message or hold a conversation.
An SLP also evaluates and treats
children and adults who have difficulty swallowing food
or liquid. An SLP will help identify what part of the swallowing process is making it difficult for
your child to eat (e.g., chewing, manipulating food with the tongue, coordinating mouth and
throat structures and muscles, breathing appropriately while eating).
Below is a list of common speech and language disorders with a brief explanation of each.
Speech Disorders
• Articulation - the way we say our speech sounds
• Phonology - the speech patterns we use
• Apraxia - difficulty planning and coordinating the movements needed to make speech sounds
• Fluency - stuttering
• Voice - problems with the way the voice sounds, such as hoarseness
Language Disorders
• Receptive Language - difficulty understanding language
• Expressive Language - difficulty using language
• Pragmatic Language - social communication; the way we speak to each other
Other Disorders
• Deafness/Hearing Loss - loss of hearing; therapy includes developing lip-reading, speech,
and/or alternative communication systems
• Oral-Motor Disorders - weak tongue and/or lip muscles
• Swallowing/Feeding Disorders - difficulty chewing and/or swallowing