Speech therapy can enhance your ability to talk, express yourself and comprehend others. If this profession interests you, consider discovering more about Pacific’s master of science in speech-language pathology program.
Swallowing disorders, stuttering and articulation issues can cause great emotional and physical distress. Speech pathology for adults Adelaide specialises in treating adults experiencing swallowing problems and various other communication and language disorders.
Swallowing Disorders
Swallowing is an intricate and essential process involving many head, neck, throat, and tongue muscles. If a person suffers from swallowing disorders, it can make eating and drinking difficult or dangerous; an experienced speech-language pathologist can be invaluable here.
Dysphagia is a group of disorders of the mouth, pharynx and esophagus that inhibit how food or liquid is swallowed. People living with dysphagia may experience pain or discomfort when chewing and swallowing, choking sensations, and food becoming lodged in the throat. Left untreated, dysphagia can lead to malnutrition, dehydration and infections – leading to serious medical problems that threaten quality of life and nutrition.
Speech pathology for adults Adelaide can teach strategies to compensate for swallowing difficulties and create mealtime management plans that adhere to texture and consistency guidelines for individuals with dysphagia. Such techniques can reduce the risk of choking while improving the quality of life for those affected.
Voice Disorders
Adults seeking speech pathology treatment for disorders affecting their ability to form words or communicate may seek this assistance for reasons that range from neurological conditions to diet.
Dysarthria affects adults by weakening or paralysing the muscles that allow for speech production; as a result, they become difficult to understand due to slurred speech that is difficult to comprehend. Causes for dysarthria may include stroke, brain tumours or neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson’s disease.
Other speech impairments that adults may face include stuttering – the repetition or prolongation of sounds or syllables; and articulation disorders – misplacing sounds or incorrectly using incorrect letters/sounds. A speech-language pathologist can teach strategies to help an adult overcome these communication obstacles and regain control of their communication capabilities.
Articulation Disorders
An individual with an articulation disorder struggles to coordinate the precise, highly coordinated movements involved in speaking. As such, they may drop, switch or distort word sounds by saying “thith” instead of “this.” Fluency disorders also tend to interfere with speech rhythm, for example, stuttering and cluttering.
Some issues begin in childhood and continue into adulthood. In contrast, others can arise later due to illness or injury. For instance, a stroke or brain injury can lead to neurogenic speech disorders like apraxia and dysarthria that require therapy and medical intervention.
By working on swallowing, voice and articulation issues, speech-language pathologists can assist individuals who face swallowing, voice and articulation difficulties. If this profession interests you, consider earning your master of science degree from an accredited program such as Pacific’s Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders, which offers an intensive curriculum, including supervised clinical experience, that will prepare you for a rewarding career in this field.
Language Disorders
Speech disorders can hinder how we express and convey ourselves. They may also prevent us from understanding what others say.
Language disorders range from apraxia – which affects the coordination of movements that produce sound – to resonance disorders, where blockages or obstructions prevent regular airflow, disrupting vibrations responsible for voice quality – often seen with cleft palates or neurological diseases; to receptive language disorders, which occur when one has difficulty processing what others say, such as Autism, head injury and hearing loss as common triggers.
When we think of speech pathology, we often envision children who are late talkers or adults who stutter. However, there are many other reasons for adults to seek therapy. Whether your speech difficulties began in childhood or recently developed due to injury or illness, a Speech Pathologist can provide valuable support and help you live life to its fullest.
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs or speech therapists) work with adults who have disorders that affect their ability to communicate and swallow. Their job is to assess a person’s condition, diagnose the issue and develop an individual treatment plan that includes speech and language exercises.