#SPEECHTHERAPY
Speech Therapy
Speech therapy is the assessment and treatment of communication and speech difficulties. It is practiced by speech pathologists, who are often referred to as speech therapists.
What is speech therapy?
Speech therapy is a service dedicated to supporting people of all ages to develop skills in their speech, language, communication and swallowing.
Speech therapists, also known as speech pathologists, have undertaken university training to be qualified to diagnose and treat language delays, communication and swallowing disorders. Speech pathologists are regulated by Speech Pathology Australia (the Association) and maintain their professional skills as Certified Practicing Speech Pathologists (CPSP).
Speech therapists work with people of all ages who may seek support due to various factors such as:
- developmental delays
- autism
- stroke
- brain injuries
- learning disabilities
- intellectual disabilities
- cerebral palsy
- dementia
- hearing loss
At Creative Therapy Adelaide, we embrace a creative approach to Speech Therapy. Our therapists design individualised treatment plans, integrating techniques such as speech exercises, language skills development, and alternative communication methods. Sessions incorporate the person’s interests, music, and play, alongside formal assessments. With the added advantage of working within a team of creative arts therapists, our speech therapists collaborate to provide best practice and innovative approaches. Collaborating with healthcare professionals, including creative arts therapists, educators, and caregivers, our aim is to maximise positive outcomes. The ultimate goal of speech pathology is to enhance communication and swallowing abilities, building capacity, overall quality of life and fostering increased participation in daily activities.
Speech therapy can focus on:
Speech improvement and communication skills
Expressing ideas and opinions
Listening
Understanding language
Social connections and social goals
Swallowing
What does a speech therapy session look like?
At Creative Therapy Adelaide, our speech therapy team works collaboratively with our creative arts therapy team, with the aim to bring music, dance, play and creativity into your sessions.
The speech therapist will assess the person and write a therapy plan with measurable goals to track how effective the therapy is for them. This might occur after undertaking some formal speech therapy assessments.
Once the speech therapist has gathered all the information they need, you may work on speech sounds, social connection and receptive language through:
- Playing games
- Teaching you to use a communication tool
- Reading and acting out books
- Pretend play
- Doing action songs and singing nursery rhymes
- Playing instruments
- Participating in arts, crafts and other fun activities
- Moving, dancing and following instructions
Whatever your needs, the speech therapist will be able to adapt and make it fun, suited to your interests, use research-based methods, engage you and the people who support you and most of all, help you reach your goals through creativity!
