Speech therapy is a branch of medicine and therapy that specializes in diagnosing and treating disorders affecting speech, language, voice, and swallowing. This specialty focuses on improving patients' ability to communicate effectively and ensures that respiratory and swallowing functions are operating properly.
Specialties included in speech therapy:
- Speech and articulation: Involves diagnosing and treating speech issues such as stuttering or speech difficulties.
- Language: Includes difficulties with comprehension or expression of language, which may cause communication problems in daily life.
- Voice: Deals with voice disorders such as hoarseness, roughness, or voice loss.
- Swallowing: Focuses on treating swallowing difficulties, known as dysphagia, which may pose risks when eating or drinking.