Simple answer is, no! Speech Pathologists do so much more than just working on lisps. Here is a breakdown of some of the common areas Speech Pathologists can help assess, diagnose, and treat. 

Speech: involves saying the sounds in words so that other people can understand what we are trying to say. For example, a child who has a lisp or an adult who has slurred speech after a stroke. 

Language: gives meaning to spoken and/or written words. For example, we use language to tell or write stories, follow instructions, and answer questions. 

Literacy: involves reading, writing, and understanding what we read. For example, writing your name, reading instructions, and answering questions about what happened in a book. 

Swallowing: involves the many different structures that work together to get food and drink down into our stomach. A speech pathologist can help you understand what is going wrong support you to have safe and enjoyable mealtimes. For example, an adult post-stroke may need to drink thickened fluids to stop drinks from entering the lungs. 

Social communication: is how we communicate and interact with others. This may involve understanding emotions, verbal and non-verbal cues and the social ‘rules’ of communication which influence our relationships and friendships. 

Fluency: is more commonly known as stuttering. Stuttering can be targeted at any age or stage but is often first noticed when a child starts putting sentences together. 

Voice: using the vocal folds or voice box to produce speech. For example, a person with Parkinson’s or someone who has noticed long term changes to how their voice sounds (e.g. rough or hoarse). 

Resources

For more information about whether your child should see a Speech Pathologist please visit this page on the Speech Pathology Australia website. 

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