A speech therapist will assess the child’s speech, language, communication ability and swallowing skills to diagnose the problem. The therapist will then make a treatment plan which includes oral exercise, facial massage, repetition of unique sounds and syllables in some words, and proper movement of the tongues.

If your child has the following problems, you may see a speech therapist:
·Hearing problems
·Intellectual and thinking delays in development
·Autism
·Cleft palate (opening in the roof of the mouth)
·Oral muscle weakness
·Slurring of speech
·Making indistinctive sound
·Fluency disorders
·Swallowing disorders

Yes, a speech therapist can help children with hearing loss, as these children have both speech and language disorders. The therapy will depend upon the hearing problem. Early treatment that includes sessions with the therapist can help the child.

A speech therapist can play an important role in managing autistic children. They can assess and diagnose the problem in autistic children, educate their parents regarding the management of these children. The speech therapist sets goals and designs treatment plans for autistic children, using a range of approaches that enhance the communication abilities in such children.

Several children experience language delay due to hearing loss or other underlying problems. A speech therapist can help by diagnosing language disorder and make a treatment plan based on the child’s need. The therapist will use pictures, books, objects and communicate with the child. The therapist will also educate the parents about the treatment and what they can do at home.