Is Adult Speech Therapy Worth it? - Too Old? Is it Worth it? Great Speech

Online speech therapy is a valuable tool that helps numerous adults who may be struggling with their speech and communication skills, or simply want to improve and develop their existing skills. While it is generally most common to hear about speech therapy for young children, the truth is speech therapists are trained and experienced in a wide variety of challenges and skillsets.

Speech therapy for adults can help with everything from accent modification, to executive function or other communication problems related to brain disease or damage, to helping to eliminate a stutter or a lisp. Time with a speech therapist can also help with one’s professional development by strengthening such skills as public speaking, interviewing, telephone and online communication, and more. It is never too late to seek support and work towards your goals, and online speech therapy can benefit adults in any number of ways. If you want to learn more about speech therapy for adults, contact us and schedule your free introductory call today!

Can you be Too Old for Speech Therapy?

While early intervention offers the best outcome, in many cases, speech therapy for adults can be incredibly helpful to strengthen communication skills and eliminate certain challenges or deficits in adults. Many adults put off or ignore the need to seek support because they think it’s too late for them to benefit from speech therapy. The truth is, it’s never too late, and many speech and language pathologists are experts in helping adults overcome a wide range of obstacles regardless of their age or how long they may have been struggling.

Even if you aren’t struggling with a speech or language disorder or a health problem that affects speech abilities, time with a speech therapist can still be beneficial. A speech therapist can help to improve communication skills in a way that can benefit your important relationships, your academic or career success, and increase your self-confidence.

Speech therapists are experienced and knowledgeable about working with clients of all ages, from infants to seniors. A speech therapist creates a completely unique and custom treatment plan for each and every one of their clients, always taking into consideration such factors as the client’s age, needs or challenges, strengths and interests, and the availability of resources. Online speech therapy is a wonderful option for adults with busy schedules as it eliminates wasted time and the need to source transportation and or childcare.

Online speech therapy can be just as effective as in-person sessions and can be more appealing for adults who struggle to fit appointments into their daily lives. Learn more about speech therapy for adults and schedule your free introductory call today!

What does a Speech Therapist do for Adults?

There are many ways that a registered speech and language pathologist could help an adult looking to improve their communication skills. Some of the most common things speech therapists work with adults on are:

Stuttering
Accent Modification
Boosting Confidence in Social situations
Improving and Developing Professional Skills (such as interviewing, making presentations leading meetings, etc)
Mumbling
Small talk and Networking
Annunciation and Pronunciation

Speech therapy can also benefit adults who are recovering from a stroke or traumatic brain injury, or who may be battling a degenerative disease such as Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s. These types of conditions can directly affect the area of the brain that controls speech and language skills, as well as affect functions and systems related to the nose, mouth, and throat. Speech therapists can help with problems related to swallowing patterns (dysphagia) and the placement of the tongue and lips needed to produce particular sounds and sound combinations.

Some of the types of disorders related to speech and language in adults that can be treated by a speech and language pathologist are:

Aphasia – Aphasia is a language disorder caused by brain damage or disease that results in difficulty understanding, formulating, and expressing language.
Voice disorders – This includes inappropriate pitch, volume, quality (hoarseness), or complete voice loss. These may result from damage to the vocal cords from surgery, misuse or overuse of the voice, disease (cancer of the esophagus or larynx), or other related conditions such as hearing impairment, cleft palate, or cerebral palsy.
Apraxia – A disorder related to speech programming which can make words and sentences sound meaningless or jumbled.
Dysarthria – Dysarthria refers to a group of speech disorders that are a result of weakness, paralysis, or absence of coordination of the muscles needed for speech.
Articulation disorders – Disorders that are caused by neurological damage from such things as a stroke or head injury and are termed motor speech disorders.
Fluency disorders – Fluency disorders disrupt the normal flow and rhythm of speech. Characteristics may include repetition of sounds or syllables, words or phrases, and an abundance of hesitations, prolongations, or interjections. Behaviors can vary significantly from person to person.

How Does Online Speech Therapy for Adults Work? What happens during a typical speech therapy appointment?

Online speech therapy for adults is a wonderful resource for any adult who wants to improve their speech and language skills, whether they have an existing delay or disorder or not. Bringing speech therapy online makes it more convenient than ever to reap the benefits of regular appointments with a speech and language pathologist. The initial appointment will be an opportunity for you to get to know your new speech therapist and for them to get to know you and what your goals and challenges are. From there they will develop a completely unique treatment plan for which they will be with you every step of the way. Appointments will focus on the previously identified goals and will include activities and exercises to be done during the appointment as well as those to be practiced and worked on outside of the appointment time.

At Great Speech, our therapists are highly qualified and skilled in the treatment of a wide range of communication-related difficulties or problems. Whether you are seeking to improve the clarity of your speech, modify your accent or improve your professional skills, there is a talented speech therapist just waiting to connect with you. If you or someone you love might benefit from speech therapy, don’t wait! Schedule your free introductory call today!