Speech therapy is an evidence-based practice that uses a variety of techniques to help people improve their communication skills. It can help those who have difficulty speaking, understanding language, reading, writing, and using verbal and nonverbal communication. The techniques of speech therapy vary depending on the individual’s needs and can include a range of activities, including language stimulation, verbal exercises, articulation practice, and vocal exercises.
Language stimulation is the foundation of speech therapy and involves helping the individual to increase their expressive language skills through activities such as storytelling, describing pictures, and playing word games. Verbal exercises are another important technique that are used to help the individual develop their verbal communication skills, such as pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation. This can include activities like repeating sentences, singing songs, and reciting nursery rhymes.
Articulation practice is another key technique of speech therapy, which helps the person to improve their pronunciation of words by having them practice speaking and producing sounds correctly. Vocal exercises may also be used to help the individual improve their vocal quality, such as increasing their vocal range and improving their breath control. This can involve activities like humming, singing, and saying tongue twisters.
In addition to the above techniques, speech therapists may also use technology to help the individual with their communication skills, such as computer-aided speech recognition and text-to-speech software. They may also use augmentative and alternative communication systems (AAC) to help the individual express themselves in other ways, such as through sign language, picture exchange, or symbols.
Overall, speech therapy is an evidence-based practice that uses a variety of techniques to help people improve their communication skills. These techniques can help the individual to increase their expressive language skills, improve their verbal communication, pronunciation, and vocal quality, as well as use technology and AACs to help them express themselves.