What is a Speech-Language Pathologist?
ABI RESOURCES team members take directives from Speech-Language Pathologists.
Speech-language pathologists, also called SLPs, are experts in communication. They work with the way that we communicate with the world, communicate internally and how we interpret communication.
SLPs work with people of all ages, from babies to adults. SLPs treat many types of communication and swallowing challenges. These include challenges with:
Cognitive-communication-how well our minds work. Problems may involve memory, attention, problem solving, organization, and other thinking skills.
Speech sounds—how we say sounds and put sounds together into words. Other words for these challenges are articulation or phonological disorders, apraxia of speech, or dysarthria.
Language—how well we understand what we hear or read and how we use words to tell others what we are thinking. In adults this challenge may be called aphasia.
Literacy—how well we read and write. People with speech and language disorders may also have trouble reading, spelling, and writing.
Social communication—how well we follow rules, like taking turns, how to talk to different people, or how close to stand to someone when talking. This is also called pragmatics.
Voice—how our voices sound. We may sound hoarse, lose our voices easily, talk too loudly or through our noses, or be unable to make sounds.
Fluency—also called stuttering, is how well speech flows.
Feeding and swallowing—how well we suck, chew, and swallow food and liquid. A swallowing disorder may lead to poor nutrition, weight loss, and other health problems. This is also called dysphagia.
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