Communication problems relating to speech pathology can affect people of any age. Some can improve over time, especially for those who are noticing issues at an early age, but they can also be chronic and last well until adulthood. Speech therapy is designed to help both kids and adults work through their disorders, and nowadays, it’s becoming more accessible by being available online. This article will cover some of the main benefits of using speech therapy, especially when it’s utilized through the internet.
What Is Speech Therapy For?
As mentioned before, speech therapy is for helping people with communication and speaking disorders. There are all kinds of different types of disorders that can create problems, and here a few examples of them.
Fluency – concerns the rhythm and speed of speech (i.e., stuttering and cluttering). People with fluency disorders may get stuck while speaking certain words, and others may speak too quickly, which can blur the words that they are saying.
Articulation – this relates to difficulties sounding out a word correctly, and it can include distortions or substituting sounds for other ones. A lisp is a common example of an articulation disorder.
Resonance – these types of disorders generally involve the nasal or oral areas that are responsible for producing speech. Obstructions in these areas can alter the airflow and vibrations that are associated with a person’s quality of speech.
While these are some of the most commonly seen ones, other speech disorders can be due to a more severe illness related to the brain, such as stroke, or ones that affect the muscles, like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Speech troubles can cause people to have a hard time expressing themselves and it can affect their self-esteem, and therapy can be a helpful way to improve or even correct these problems.
Usually a speech-language pathologist will perform an assessment on an individual and discuss the course of treatment they should follow, which can vary based on age and the type of disorder they have.
For example, kids will talk and play and try to emulate the correct sounds through different learning aids, whereas adults will have their own kinds of exercises to improve their ability to speak.
The length of time required for treatment can also vary based on several factors, and like everything else, this will be determined by your speech therapist.
Why Use Online Speech Therapy?
Technology has advanced greatly and it has allowed many services to transition to virtual means – we can have seamless interactions with others with just a computer, smartphone, tablet and a reliable internet connection.
Therapy is one of these services, and while there will always be a place for in-person sessions, online options have been growing significantly in popularity and it’s become the preferred choice for millions of people around the world.
Online counseling therapy services, like the ones found at BetterHelp, have paved the way for this phenomenon and other types of similar services have followed suit, like speech therapy.
Taking speech therapy online can offer many benefits while also retaining the same effectiveness. It’s convenient and more affordable and scheduling is flexible. Everything can be done from the comfort of your own home, which can help you relax and focus on making progress.
Conclusion
Speech disorders can come and go naturally, but not always, and this is where speech therapy can be a very valuable tool to help you. Even those who have struggled with one since a young age can make significant improvements, and with online services, it’s easier than ever to sign up and start making a change.