Hamayal 
AAC stands for augmentative and alternative communication: all the ways a person can communicate besides, or as well as, spoken words. It includes gestures and signing, picture and symbol boards, letter boards, and devices that generate speech when a button or screen is touched. AAC is for children and adults of any age whose speech, … Read more
An articulation difficulty is when a child has trouble physically making one or more speech sounds, so those sounds come out unclear, swapped or distorted. The child usually knows the word they want to say — the difficulty is in how the lips, tongue, teeth and jaw shape the sound itself. An assessment is the … Read more
Typical speech and language milestones describe the broad patterns in how most children learn to communicate — from early sounds and listening, through first words, to sentences, stories and conversation. They are best understood as wide, overlapping ranges rather than fixed steps or deadlines, because every child develops at their own pace and in their … Read more
Preparing for a first speech therapy appointment is mostly about gathering your thoughts, not getting everything perfect. A few short notes about your concerns and some real-life examples are genuinely helpful, and any questions you have written down are worth bringing too. And if you arrive with nothing but yourselves, that is completely fine — … Read more
To find a speech and language therapist, start by getting clear about the kind of help you need, then choose a route: ask your doctor for a referral, contact a therapist or service directly, or, for a child, go through their school. Professional associations and regulators in your country also keep directories and registers you … Read more
A speech and language therapist is a healthcare professional who assesses and supports difficulties with communication, voice, fluency and swallowing, in people of all ages — from babies taking their first feeds to adults recovering after a stroke or brain injury. They work out what is making communication or swallowing difficult, agree goals with the … Read more
Stammering — also called stuttering; the two words mean the same thing — is a difference in the flow of speech. Sounds, syllables or words may be repeated or stretched out, or speech may block altogether for a moment. Adults who stammer know exactly what they want to say: it is the flow of getting … Read more
Vocal fatigue is what happens when the voice tires with use: it may sound huskier as the day goes on, speaking may begin to feel effortful or achy, and the voice needs rest before it feels like itself again. It usually reflects how much, and how hard, the voice has been working. Occasional tiredness after … Read more
Voice problems affect how the voice sounds and feels — it may become hoarse, rough, breathy or tired, or it may disappear altogether for a while. Stammering, which is also called stuttering, affects the flow of speech: words may be repeated, stretched out or hard to get started, even though the person knows exactly what … Read more
A swallowing assessment is a careful look at how you eat and drink, usually led by a speech and language therapist. It typically begins with a conversation about your health and the difficulties you have noticed, followed by a gentle check of how the muscles of your mouth and throat move. You may then be … Read more