Speech pathologists help people with a range of communication, speech and language difficulties. When children take a long time learning to speak or have difficulties in school, parents often turn to professionals for help. They are anxious to know how a specialist can help, and ask, what is a speech pathologist.
The answer is somewhat complicated. There are several areas of specialty within the single occupation. Before asking what a speech pathologist is, you should be asking what the problem you need help with is.
Along with helping infants and young children with their speech, a pathologist is helpful for young adults preparing for college, professionals at companies and organisations who need professional speaking abilities, or help in determining medical problems that affect speech.
Speech Pathologists in Sydney
A speech pathologist is someone who has been trained to assess and treat people who have a communication problem. Speech pathologists complete a degree at university which covers all aspects of communication including speech, writing, reading, signs, symbols and gestures. Speech pathologists also work with people who have difficulties with eating and drinking. Speech pathologists or speech-language pathologists were formerly known as speech therapists. They are different from speech and drama teachers.
If your child is in school, we can arrange for one of our speech pathologists on staff to visit one of several schools in the area. We can set up an appointment to test your child’s abilities and determine if special help is required. We will then outline in detail exactly how our speech pathologists can help your child.
For older children and adults, the ways that a speech pathologist can help you are even greater. A speech pathologist can help with counselling and rehabilitating patients with speech problems. We also work with large groups in learning the basic skills needed for professional speech and voice. The right speech therapy program for you will depend on your needs and areas of difficulties.
Results focused speech therapy
ENT Clinic have created comprehensive speech pathology resources, that together with our speech pathologists consultation, can be used to create a customised treatment plan. This will ensure that you will experience results focused, effective speech therapy!
Who do speech pathologists work with
A speech pathologist’s workload might include:
- giving advice on feeding to a mother who has a baby with a cleft palate
- working in a child care centre with a group of children who are hard to understand
- working with a school child who can’t understand what his teacher says
- working with a high school student who stutters
- training a teacher who constantly loses her voice to use it more effectively
- rehabilitating a young man who has severe brain injury due to a motorcycle accident
- liaising with the carers of an elderly man, who has dementia
- helping a woman who had a stroke to regain her communication skills, advising her husband and family
- providing education for teachers, doctors or parents
- providing communication strategies for a person with intellectual disability
- treating a person who has swallowing problems following a stroke
- assisting children and adults who are learning to read
- helping a singer or professional voice user make their voice more attractive, clear and reliable
Where to Find the Right Speech Pathologist
Chances are the answer to the question, what is a speech pathologist, will also vary depending on your individual needs. Our speech pathologists can assist your child in either public or private school. We can work with children to determine their needs. Additionally we work with parents and teachers to tailor therapy programs for children as needed.
We can also provide services to students in high school. Speech therapists on our staff can help students with existing long-term problems. We can also continue treatment that was started during the junior school levels.
We can help groups of students to become better speakers and give them better communication skills. Those that practice debating and public speaking may benefit from more focused therapy as needed.
We work with singers. Speech therapy for singers may include learning diaphragmatic breathing and the basic vocal dynamics of pitch, volume, rate and quality. Therapy may help improve as oral and nasal resonance, breath control in singing and voice projection techniques. Additional benefits of this coaching may include development of style, showmanship, smoother passagio, wider range and clearer high voice. Speech therapy for singers includes skills learned by exercises to help you strengthen and improve your voice without the need for straining. Applying these new skills will improve your voice and expand your repertoire.
Professional voice users need to look after their voice! We can arrange to lecture your group to provide tips for professional voice users or provide one on one therapy as needed. Professional voice users, including both speakers and singers, can benefit from speech therapy to promote optimal vocal health and function. The picture above shows our speech pathologists giving a lecture to a profession voice group in Sydney.
Contact Us For Results Focused Speech Therapy in Sydney
To ensure that your speech therapy requirements are met, and to create a plan that will be manageable and enjoyable (even for those clients with special needs) contact us today for speech pathology Sydney on 1300 123 368 for an appointment with one of our experienced speech pathologists. Remember good results can start today!
