What is a Speech Pathologist?
Speech Pathologists are health professionals specialising in communication and swallowing disorders.

Speech Pathologists assess and manage children and adults requiring assistance in five main areas:

• Speech
• Oral and written language
• Voice
• Fluency
• Swallowing

What do Speech Pathologists evaluate?

• Speech (articulation) – speech may be assessed at the level of single sounds, single words, sentences and during conversational speech.
• Oro-Motor Skills – close evaluation of movement and muscle tone in the jaw, cheeks, lips and tongue, of the structure of the palate, teeth alignment and the tonsils. 
• Voice – evaluation of the tone, pitch and volume of one’s voice. 
• Fluency (stuttering) – assessment of speech focusing upon the presence of repetitions, prolongations and blocks
• Language - Receptive Language (understanding or comprehension of oral language) and Expressive Language (the ability to use oral language to express yourself)
• Swallowing
• Literacy - Reading (accuracy, speed and comprehension), Spelling and Written expression
• Tongue Thrust – this is an oral-motor pattern whereby the tongue protrudes between the front top and bottom teeth during speech, swallowing and/or when at rest. Assessment of clients presenting with a tongue thrust will include evaluation of both speech and swallowing. 
• Problem Solving (particularly verbal reasoning skills)
• Task analysis and completion
• Social Skills and Pragmatics (including eye contact, turn taking, commenting, responding to questions, staying on topic, appreciating humour)

Who might need a Speech Pathologist?
What to look out for:

 

 

 

Difficulty with feeding and swallowing:
• Trouble attaching to bottle or breast
• Difficulty coordinating sucking and swallowing
• Coughing or gagging when eating or drinking
• Avoidance of certain foods
• Being a ‘messy eater’
• Excessive dribbling

Literacy (understanding and producing written language):
• Difficulty learning letter names
• Difficulty learning letter sounds
• Difficulty sounding out
• Avoidance of sounding out
• Dislike of reading
• Difficulty reading fluently
• Poor comprehension/difficulty recalling information from the text
• Difficulty spelling
• Difficulty writing
• Difficulty planning sentences or paragraphs
• Difficulty with problem solving in Maths

Difficulty with speech (articulation):
• Trouble pronouncing words or producing certain speech sounds
• Reduced intelligibility (people struggle to understand a child’s speech)
• Frustration when speaking

Difficulty with language skills:
• Trouble following instructions
• Poor understanding of concepts e.g. before/after, first/last
• Limited vocabulary
• Difficulty formulating or structuring sentences
• Trouble expressing ideas clearly
• Reduced retention of new information
• Frustration
• Communication through behaviour (crying, hitting)

Difficulty with social skills (pragmatics):
• Trouble initiating conversation
• Difficulty responding to other peoples’ comments
• Poor turn taking
• Struggling with greetings and basic manners
• Reduced eye contact

Difficulty with voice:
• Hoarse or breathy voice
• A ‘nasal’ sounding voice
• Monotone speech pattern
• Inappropriate pitch or loudness
• Generally reduced intelligibility

Difficulty with fluency (stuttering):
• Repetitions of sounds or words
• Dragging out sounds in words
• Appears to get ‘stuck’ on words
• Facial tics or twitches

Allied Professions
It is noted that Speech Pathologists work closely with other medical and educational specialists, so that we may provide the best possible care.

• Ear, Nose and Throat specialists are likely to be important members of the team for clients with speech, oro-motor and voice difficulties. 
• Orthodontists are likely to be important members of the team for clients with tongue thrust and speech difficulties.
• Developmental Paediatricians are likely to be important to clients experiencing difficulties in all areas, but in particular, those experiencing difficulties with literacy and learning.
• Clinical Psychologists are important in gathering information about a child’s strengths and weaknesses in both verbal and nonverbal spheres, enabling us to be better informed as we plan interventions.
• Occupational Therapists, are very important too, of course! They can help children with low muscle tone and motor planning difficulties better manage work and play. OTs can help with handwriting difficulties. The can also work on visual processing skills, which supports comprehension abilities.