Speech therapy

What It Means

Speech therapy is treatment given by a speech-language pathologistSpeech-language pathologistA professional, often called an SLP or speech therapist, who assesses and treats problems with speech, language, social communication and swallowing. See more (SLP) for problems with talking, understanding, communicating with others or swallowing. For children, Cleveland Clinic describes SLPs helping them form sounds and words, understand and use language, and use language in social situations. In the United States, a child can get it through early interventionEarly interventionServices under IDEA Part C for babies and toddlers from birth to age 3 who have a developmental delay or disability, and for their families. See more before age 3, through the public schoolPublic schoolA school run by publicly elected or appointed officials and paid for mainly with public money, including district, charter and magnet schools. See more from age 3, or privately.

How Parents Say It

• "She has speech on Tuesdays and Thursdays."
• "The SLP gave us games to play at home."
• "He qualified for speech through early intervention."

The Breakdown

How children get speech therapy, by age

What happens at the first visit. ASHA says the SLP talks with you about your concerns and tests how your child understands, speaks and uses gestures. The SLP may also give you ideas to help your child talk at home.

What SLPs work on. ASHA lists speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication and swallowing. For toddlersToddlerA child from 1 to 3 years old, the stage CDC's parenting guidance places between infancy and the preschool years. See more and preschoolersPreschoolerA child from 3 to 5 years old, the age band the CDC uses for its preschool parenting guidance. See more, much of the work is building early language. SLPs also teach some children, including some autisticAutism spectrumAutism spectrum disorder: a developmental disability affecting social communication and interaction, with restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests. See more children, to use speech devices to communicate what they want and need.

When to ask. Talk with your child's doctor about any concern with how your child talks or understands, which is CDC's advice. For a child under 3, you can also call early intervention directly.

Good to Know

In school, ASHA says the SLP may work with a child alone, in a small group, or inside the classroom alongside the teacher, so ask how and where sessions will happen. Under 3, early intervention services are free or reduced cost for children who qualify, according to CDC, and each state sets its own rules for who qualifies.

Related Terms and Categories

• Speech delay

  When a child's talking develops more slowly than most children the same age, in making speech sounds, in using words, or both.

• Early intervention

  Services under IDEA Part C for babies and toddlers from birth to age 3 who have a developmental delay or disability, and for their families.

• Speech-language pathologist

  A professional, often called an SLP or speech therapist, who assesses and treats problems with speech, language, social communication and swallowing.

• IEP

  An IEP (Individualized Education Program) is the written plan a public school makes for a child who qualifies for special education under IDEA.

• Occupational therapy

  Therapy that helps a child do the everyday activities of childhood, such as playing, learning, eating, dressing and sleeping, by building skills or adapting the task.

Parenting and child development