This is the discipline that encompasses the study, prevention, detection, evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of human communication disorders: voice, hearing, speech and language disorders (oral, written, gestural); and of the oro-facial and swallowing functions. That is, this is the set of methods to teach normal phonation to those who have pronunciation difficulties.
The main premise of the speech therapist is to rehabilitate, as far as possible, the altered functions and with the help of the conserved ones, to equip the patient with strategies to use his abilities, trying to learn to combine them in a useful and functional way, with in view of the management and interaction of these during the activities of daily life. he even deals with orofacial problems, through myofunctional therapy. In some countries, there is the figure of the hearing and language teacher, a professional who can be confused with the speech therapist when carrying out similar work within the educational framework.
So; the speech therapist treats disorders of language development, articulation, fluency and rhythm, speech, hearing, neurology, voice, written language and communication disorders associated with autism, mental deficiency, the cerebral palsy, etc.
Language is a cause for concern when, instead of facilitating communication, it prevents it. Given the situation of a child who has speech difficulties, both expressive and comprehensive, the speech therapist should always keep in mind that the child's problems have or will have an impact on his immediate environment and, if this happens, it will be easy to fall into a dangerous deterioration in their development. This means that the child's family and social environment must also be incorporated into assessment, programming and prognosis, so that language problems must be addressed within the framework of the child's overall development.
The speech therapist has a scientific background closely related to psychology, since we must not forget that human behavior is largely manifested through language. On the other hand, the speech therapist must incorporate learning techniques to help his patients, so that speech therapy is also related to pedagogy.
Advanced societies have an aging problem and this leads to medical problems, especially the deterioration of the mental faculties, a circumstance in which a speech therapist can have a very relevant implication. Speech therapy does not stop cognitive decline, but it can allow it to slow down.
Some language disorders have consequences in the general life of patients, such as stuttering. For this reason, the speech therapist is more than just a technician dealing with speech problems.
