effective adult speech therapy

Is Speech Therapy Effective in Adults?

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Online speech therapy is an important and valuable resource that helps countless adults every year. Whether you are struggling with a specific communication disorder or are simply looking to strengthen your existing speech and language skills, speech therapy is the ideal first step. While speech therapy is most commonly represented as a resource for children, the truth is that speech and language pathologists are also highly experienced and qualified in working with adults to achieve a wide variety of communication goals. 

Speech programs for adults can include such benefits as improved clarity and fluency of speech, accent modification, regaining lost communication skills following a brain injury or stroke, and improved cognitive function, to name a few. Spending time with a speech and language pathologist can also have benefits in academic, professional, and social capacities. Support and guidance from a speech therapist can help an individual succeed at such things as public speaking, job interviews, communicating professionally online, on the phone, and in person, and feeling confident in unfamiliar or challenging situations. 

It is never too late in life to improve your communication skills, boost your confidence, and reach your professional and personal goals. Online speech therapy offers all of the benefits of traditional speech therapy with the added convenience of attending your appointments from the comfort of your own home. Learn more about what speech therapy can offer you by scheduling your free introductory call today!  

Why Do Adults Go to Speech Therapy?

Speech therapy can help an adult improve their speech and language skills in a wide variety of ways. Some of the most commonly addressed things in adult speech therapy are: 

  • Increasing Confidence in Social Settings
  • Improving Enunciation and Pronunciation Skills
  • Stuttering
  • Improving Communication Skills Related to Professional Situations
  • Accent Modification
  • Mumbling
  • Improving Conversation and Small Talk Skills 

Adult speech therapy can also be incredibly helpful to individuals whose communication skills have been affected by such medical conditions as:

In these conditions, the area of the brain that is responsible for speech and language production can be directly affected. The systems responsible for the movement of the muscles in the nose, mouth, and throat can also be affected. 

Speech therapy for adults can also be beneficial in improving speech and language skills that have been affected by specific communication disorders including:

Apraxia – Apraxia of speech is a disorder that affects speech programming making words and sentences sound jumbled, difficult to understand, or completely unintelligible.

Aphasia – Aphasia is a language disorder that is usually the result of damage or disease within the brain that causes challenges related to formulating, understanding, and expressing language. 

Articulation Disorders – Articulation disorders are the result of neurological damage from a stroke or head injury and affect the individual’s ability to produce certain letter sounds. A lisp is an example of an articulation disorder.

Dysarthria – Dysarthria includes a category of speech disorders that are caused by muscle weakness, paralysis, or the inability to coordinate the muscles required for speech.

Voice Disorders – Voice disorders refer to inappropriate volume, pitch, quality, tone of the voice, or in some cases, the complete loss of vocal function. Voice disorders can be caused by damage to the vocal cords due to surgery, overuse or misuse of the voice, disease (cancer that affects the vocal tract), or other medical conditions that can affect the voice such as hearing loss or impairment, cerebral palsy, or cleft palate. 

Fluency Disorders – Fluency disorders cause disruptions to the regular flow and rhythm of speech. Fluency disorders can include such symptoms as the frequent repetition of syllables, sounds, words, and phrases, and can also result in an abundance of hesitations, prolongations, or interjections when speaking. 

What Happens During a Speech Therapy Appointment?

Online speech therapy for adults is a highly beneficial resource for any adult who wants to improve their communication skills, whether they have been diagnosed with a communication disorder or not. Bringing speech therapy to our online platform means it is more convenient than ever to benefit from time with a speech and language pathologist. 

The initial appointment provides an opportunity to get acquainted with your new speech therapist and for them to get acquainted with you. They will want to discuss what your goals and challenges are when it comes to your communication skills. After the initial appointment, your speech therapist will design a specialized treatment plan throughout which they will support you every step of the way. Subsequent appointments will focus on working towards your goals and will include exercises and activities to be worked on during the appointment as well as to be practiced at home between appointments. You can learn more about how speech therapy for adults works, and whether it might be a good fit for you by scheduling your free introductory call today! 

Is it Too Late for Speech Therapy?

While it is true that when it comes to communication disorders, early intervention offers the best potential outcome, speech therapy for adults can provide a wide range of benefits and opportunities. It is common for adults to ignore possible communication problems or put off seeking support because they believe they are too late to receive help. But the reality is that it is never too late to work with a speech therapist, and at Great Speech, our therapists are experienced at working with people of all ages. 

Even if you or a loved one isn’t struggling with a specific communication disorder, speech therapy can still be incredibly helpful. Speech therapy for adults can help by improving communication skills to benefit academic, professional, and social advancement, and boost self-esteem. 

Online speech therapy has been proven to be just as effective as in-person appointments and can be much more convenient for adults who may find it difficult to work speech therapy appointments into their daily lives. Learn more about speech therapy for adults by scheduling your free introductory call today!