SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY
WHAT DOES A SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPIST DO
Speech and Language Therapists (SLT) are highly trained professionals who assess and treat children and adults who are having difficulties related to speech or language, as well as problems with communication, feeding, swallowing and cognitive communication as well as difficulties i.e. any communication skills that require memory, perception, attention, organisation or problem solving.
As part of a multidisciplinary team, SLTs work together with doctors, teachers, and other therapists to diagnose problems and develop treatment plans accordingly. They also conduct a variety of tests to identify neurological issues that may be hindering speech or language.
Dubai Community Health Centre has a team of licensed and highly experienced experts in Speech and Language Therapy that provide evaluation and treatment to children and adults.
How can our Speech Language Therapists help you?
Our speech therapists in DCHC provide evaluations and remediation of a variety of disorders and/or delays which include:
- Articulation – the manner an individual says or expresses sounds
- Phonology – the pattern of speech an individual uses
- Apraxia – difficulty planning and coordinating the necessary movements for making sounds
- Fluency – Stuttering/stammering
- Voice – Issues with the way a voice comes out, or sounds (e.g., hoarseness)
- Receptive Language – difficulties in understanding language
- Expressive Language – difficulties in using language
- Pragmatic Language – difficulties in speaking with other people (social communication)
- Deafness or hearing loss – Loss of hearing or hearing impairment.
- Oral and Motor issues – Weak oral muscles (tongue or lips); oral sensitivity
- Swallowing/Feeding Disorders – Difficulty in chewing and/or swallowing
- Autism Spectrum Disorder/High Functioning Autism/ Other developmental disabilities.
- Attention deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Cerebral Palsy
- Brain Injury/Trauma
- Cleft lip and/Palate
- Use of assistive and alternative Communication (AAC) Systems.
- Aphasia
- Dysarthria
How often should the speech and language therapy sessions take place?
There are several factors that determine how often a child or adult should have speech and language therapy sessions including:
- Age of child/adult
- Severity of the speech/language delay/communication disorder
- Type of speech/language delay/communication disorder
- Any comorbid issues/disorders
- Availability of free slots with the requested therapist
How long will the sessions be?
The duration of the sessions is dependent on the factors mentioned above. Therapy sessions usually last between 30 minutes to 1 hour at a time with time for parent feedback.
What are the types of sessions that can be provided for children?
The mode of therapy your child receives is also dependent on the factors cited above. Children typically receive speech therapy through the following methods:
- Individual therapy sessions: The child receives one-on-one therapy with an SLT with no other children.
- Group therapy sessions: The child receives therapy in a small group setting, with 3 to 5 kids of the same /similar age group/functioning level.
Where will the therapy take place for children?
This depends on the setting of the services.
- Early intervention: The therapist may conduct the sessions in your home or at the centre
- In schools: Therapy will most likely be on the school campus/nursery, either in the SLT’s office/room or your child’s classroom
