Everybody has their own voice and a unique way of speaking. While no manner of talking can be said to be objectively better than any other, there are certain habits that breed frustration and social stigma. Some folks struggle with a persistent stutter. Others are plagued with a pesky lisp. If you’re an adult grappling with these or any other speech-related issue, it’s worth considering adult speech therapy.
Speech therapists have the knowledge and training necessary to help you improve your manner of speaking. By diagnosing your issues and teaching you useful activities, they’ll help your mouth and throat learn new ways of producing sounds. With a bit of patience and plenty of hard work, you should eventually manage to speak the way you’d like to.
Thanks to the internet, receiving high-quality speech therapy is easier today than it ever was before. You can use an online service to receive professional therapy through phone calls and video conferences. If you’re hoping to work regular speech therapy into your busy weekly routine, online platforms provide an ideal solution.
The issues treatable with online speech therapy for adults
Online speech therapy isn’t just for one particular issue or disorder. In fact, online therapists can help with a wide variety of speech-related problems. Whether you’re suffering from a single issue or a whole slew of them, you can count on your remote therapist to provide the assistance you need.
Stuttering
Stuttering is one of the most common speech-related issues in the world. While it’s not debilitating in itself, it can cause embarrassment, trauma, and social awkwardness. If you’re determined to get rid of your stutter once and for all, online speech therapy can help.
Speech therapists understand how to guide you toward a more natural manner of speaking. At the start of therapy, you may be asked to speak slowly and deliberately. From there, you’ll be able to build up speed and fluency. While you can pursue these types of solutions on your own, a therapist will provide expert opinions and constant support.
Lisp
While a lisp is normal and even adorable with a child, it can become embarrassing and frustrating as an adult. Those mispronounced z’s and s’s can make it harder for people to take you seriously. Luckily, speech therapy will help get your pronunciation back on track.
There are all sorts of activities that can help you overcome a lisp, and an online speech therapist will be familiar with all of them. You’ll have to focus intently on tongue placement and repeat several words as often as you can. Eventually, these measures will bring a noticeable improvement in your pronunciation.
Muteness
Do you have the tendency to freeze and remain silent in certain social situations? If so, you’re suffering from a condition commonly known as selective mutism. Even though you’re capable of speaking under most circumstances, the pathways connecting your brain to your mouth become blocked in moments of anxiety or stress.
Speech therapists can help you overcome your muteness with regular counseling. You’ll need to undergo a process called social communication anxiety treatment. As you work with your counselor and implement certain tasks in your daily life, you should be able to overcome the disorder.
Cluttering
Cluttering is a form of irregular speech characterized by speed, disorganization, and a general lack of clarity. If you can’t help talking “a mile a minute,” you might need professional assistance. After all, you’ll have a hard time getting by in the world if people struggle to understand you.
An online speech therapist can teach you a set of proven tricks to help overcome cluttering. As you go along, you’ll get used to slowing down and articulating yourself clearly. Eventually, you’ll be a better speaker than you had ever thought possible.
Spasmodic dysphonia
If you’re suffering from spasmodic dysphonia, your vocal folds undergo irregular movement. You may experience hoarseness, shakiness in your voice, and the momentary inability to speak. These symptoms often come and go without rhyme or reason.
While speech therapy can’t fix spasmodic dysphonia altogether, it can help you produce stronger, more articulate sounds. Alongside other treatments like botox injections, online therapy will help you make the most of your damaged voice.
Apraxia
Apraxia is a disorder that severs the connection between the brain and the mouth. People with the disorder know what they want to say, but they can’t get their mouths to produce the desired sounds. This can make communication nearly impossible.
Speech therapy is the best option for someone suffering from apraxia. Teaching the mouth to speak requires consistent practice, and a speech therapist will know how to assign the right exercises. Overcoming apraxia is a long, arduous process, but speech therapy is a major help.
Dysarthria
Dysarthria is a weakening of the muscles around the mouth caused by brain damage. Patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and traumatic brain injuries often experience this unfortunate phenomenon. The mind knows what it wants to say, but the mouth lacks the requisite strength to form the words.
A speech therapist can help strengthen the muscles around the mouth and promote clearer speech. Strategies like breathing heavier when talking and speaking slower can also make it easier to communicate. While overcoming dysarthria is often a struggle, a speech therapist can help you along on your journey.
The best speech therapy available online
Online speech therapy allows you to get the help you need in a convenient, flexible manner. There are many speech therapy services online, and most offer accredited therapists with years of experience in the field. Connected Speech Pathology is an online platform that markets itself for adults and children. SLP Tele, meanwhile, connects clients with licensed therapists from around the country. If you’re looking for top-of-the-line speech therapy, you couldn’t go wrong with either of these sites.
The cost of online speech therapy
The cost of online speech therapy varies widely depending on the platform. Some sites favor short sessions with a fifteen-minute chat costing $30. Other sites offer 30-minute sessions for $60-$120.
The most cost-effective method of receiving regular online speech therapy is to find a platform offering a subscription service. While you might pay a considerable weekly fee, you’ll at least be able to contact your therapist throughout the week. This constant availability allows you to get more bang for your buck.
What’s included in speech therapy for adults
Online speech therapy typically revolves around the use of a video calling feature. You’ll use the site’s online platform to place a video call with a therapist. As long as you’re somewhat familiar with technology, you should have no trouble recreating the feel of an in-person session while speaking through your device. Smartphones, tablets, and computers are all fine for receiving online speech therapy.
The first step for your speech therapist will be to assess the situation. You’ll likely be asked to discuss your issues and repeat a few phrases. The therapist will then draw from their experience to determine the best path forward.
Once an assessment has been made, the speech therapist will lead you through a series of exercises. The nature of the assigned tasks will depend on the issues you’re facing. Some activities will help you link your mind with your mouth. Others will focus on strengthening muscles or improving your breathing. You’ll practice the activities during your sessions, and then you’ll likely be asked to keep working on your own.
Speech therapy is usually a long process. If fixing your speech-related issue were easy, you would have done it a long time ago. You’ll have to work on your assigned activities on a regular basis if you really want to see results. As you practice, your therapist will monitor you for signs of improvement. The occasional victory, coupled with the therapist's constant motivation, will spur you on to further progress. Eventually, you should be able to look back and realize how far you’ve come.
Conclusion: Try online speech therapy for adults
Life becomes a whole lot easier when you’re able to effectively communicate with the people around you. If you’re struggling with a speech-related issue, you owe it to yourself to seek professional therapy. Once you’ve mastered your issue and improved your speech, you’ll find it much easier to thrive. Online speech therapy is an effective alternative to in-person sessions, allowing you to receive expert treatment on your own schedule. To start working toward clearer, more effective speech, sign up for online speech therapy today.
https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/adultsandl/
https://www.healthline.com/health/speech-therapy#treatment-for