Common Speech Disorders In Adults: What Therapy Can Do?

Speech disorders affect an adult’s ability to communicate effectively. They can negatively impact their professional and personal lives. Anyone seeking help should be aware of the various speech disorders adults experience and the importance of therapy. In an effort to mitigate various speech disorders, Eastside Speech, the foremost adult speech therapy provider, offers an extensive array of services.

Common Speech Disorders In Adults

1. Apraxia: A Speech Disorder

Apraxia (motor speech disorder) is a motor speech condition in which people have difficulties planning and coordinating their speech movements. It isn’t caused by muscle weakening but by damage to brain areas involved in speech-motor planning.

2. Dysarthria

Dysarthria happens when damage occurs to the nervous systems that control speech muscles. It causes slurred or slower speech that is sometimes difficult to understand. 

3. Stuttering

The main symptoms of stuttering are disruptions in the normal stream of speech. Stuttering can cause serious communication problems and negatively impact a person’s self-confidence.

4. Voice Disorders

Voice disorders affect volume, pitch, and other vocal qualities. They may be caused by vocal cord damage or overuse, as well as by other conditions, such as polyps and vocal nodules.

5. Cognitive-Communication Disorders

These disorders affect memory and attention as well as problem-solving and communication skills. Brain injuries and diseases such as dementia often cause them.

Speech Therapy Can Help

Speech therapy for Adults involves customized treatment plans tailored to each individual’s needs. Eastside Speech has specialized treatments to help adults overcome their disorders and improve communication skills.

1. Aphasia can be treated with a variety of therapies

Treatment for Aphasia includes improving language abilities and compensating for language deficits. Techniques include:

  • Language Exercises: Practice speaking, listening, reading, and composing.
  • Alternative Communication: Uses gestures and pictures or electronic devices to facilitate Communication.
  • Group Treatment: Provides a supportive setting to practice language.

2. Therapy For Apraxia Speech

Treatment for apraxia requires repetitive and intensive practice to retrain the mind on the movements necessary for speech. Techniques include:

  • Articulatory-Kinematic Therapy: Focusing on the accuracy of speech sounds.
  • Rate and rhythm control: This is a method of improving speech timing.
  • Alternative and Augmentative Communication: This is the use of devices like speech generators to facilitate Communication.

3. Dysarthria Can Be Treated With A Variety Of Therapies

Speech therapy for Dysarthria improves the coordination and control of muscles that speak. Techniques include:

  • Strengthening Exercises: For the lips (including tongue) and jaw.
  • Breath-control Exercises: To improve speech support.
  • Strategies For Clear Speech: Use pauses.

4. Stuttering Therapy

Stuttering treatment focuses on developing fluent patterns of speech and managing anxiety about speaking. Techniques include:

  • Fluency Stabilizing is a teaching tool for smoother speaking.
  • The Stuttering Modification: This is a way to change how you stutter so that it is less noticeable and severe.
  • CBT: Addressing psychological issues such as anxiety.

5. Treatment for Voice Disorders

Voice therapy aims to improve vocal quality and address voice disorders’ root causes. Techniques include:

  • Vocal Hygiene Education. Teach the correct voice care. Avoid behaviors that harm your vocal cords.
  • Vocal Exercises: Strengthening and balancing the voice production mechanism.
  • Lifestyle Modifications: Reduce the strain on your voice by identifying and reducing factors like smoking, excessive talking, or loud noises.

6. Therapy For Cognitive-Communication Disorders

Treatment focuses on improving cognitive functions to support effective Communication. Techniques include:

  • Mental Exercises: To improve your memory, focus, and problem-solving abilities.
  • Strategies for Communication: Teaching techniques to improve conversational skills and compensate for cognitive deficits.
  • The Environment: Adapting your living or work environment to enhance Communication.

Eastside Speech Therapy and Adult Speech Therapy

Eastside Speech therapy for adults offers speech therapy services designed to meet the individual needs of adults suffering from speech disorders. Their team includes experienced speech-language specialists who develop treatment plans based on evidence.

Eastside Speech’s compassionate and efficient therapy helps people improve their communication skills, which in turn boosts their self-confidence and enhances their overall quality of life. Eastside Speech provides a wide range of therapy services for clients who are dealing with stroke recovery, neurodegenerative conditions, or lifelong speech issues.

Conclusion

Speech disorders in adulthood can be very disruptive to daily life. However, with the correct therapy, people can achieve significant improvements. Eastside Speech provides adults with a highly qualified resource in speech therapy. Through targeted, personalized interventions, adults who have speech disorders can improve their Communication, self-esteem, and quality of life. 

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