{"id":2063,"date":"2012-12-12T22:36:39","date_gmt":"2012-12-12T22:36:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.speechbuddy.com\/blog\/?p=2063"},"modified":"2023-11-08T10:21:33","modified_gmt":"2023-11-08T18:21:33","slug":"what-is-speech-therapy-and-what-does-a-speech-therapist-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.speechbuddy.com\/blog\/speech-therapist\/what-is-speech-therapy-and-what-does-a-speech-therapist-do\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Speech Therapy and What Does a Speech Therapist Do?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Becoming<\/a>

Image source: Infographixdirectory.com<\/p><\/div>\n

For the uninitiated, \u201cspeech therapist\u201d might conjure up images of a clinician patiently trying to correct a stutter or a lisp. And indeed, speech therapists do treat these issues with a variety of tools \u2013 from exercises with Speech Buddies<\/a> to audio feedback with a tape recorder. But speech therapy is a very broad field, and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) can help your child with everything from pitch regulation<\/a> to complete sentence formation. So today, in our fourth and final installment of our introductory guide to speech therapy, we\u2019ll answer a common question, \u201cJust what the heck does a speech therapist do<\/em> all day?\u201d<\/p>\n

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Evaluation & Diagnosis<\/strong><\/p>\n

Before a speech therapist<\/a> can treat your child, she must evaluate him. During an evaluation<\/a>, the speech therapist will ask you some questions about your child and his speech and language issues. It would also be helpful for her to see some of your child\u2019s schoolwork, if available. She may also ask about your child\u2019s medical history, including the results from his hearing screening<\/a> when he was an infant and whether he has a history of ear infections. (Even after the initial evaluation, it\u2019s important for parents to collaborate closely with the SLP to ensure the child\u2019s success.)<\/p>\n

The speech therapist will also evaluate your child\u2019s communication abilities in various situations by asking him to complete simple tasks and play games. She will use her observations to determine an accurate diagnosis for your child. Speech therapists also write their findings in a formal report following the evaluation. The report will include recommendations for speech therapy (such as how often the child should participate in speech therapy sessions). She will discuss speech therapy goals with you, which might include objectives such as, \u201cJonas will begin using simple, complete sentences.\u201d<\/p>\n