Article: Mark - Some Core Values for Successful Treatment in Speech Therapy

Mark - Teaching of Talking

There are some simple points that I want to review in this article for caregivers, people with difficulties speaking, and speech language pathologists.

Firstly from the depths of my clinical being the first most important principle of success in speech therapy is a desire for the improvement of speech. The desire must be considerable, not luke warm or indifferent by the caregiver and the person with the speaking difficulty. Success can only occur when a burning desire for improvement is present in all parties; i.e.: caregiver, person with speaking difficulty and therapist.

If we were to look at human performance, even our own, we would see that it takes a burning desire to accomplish anything that requires considerable attention, focus, time and energy. A successful approach for the speech language pathologist means you must truly desire success with each and every person every bit as much as they do. Each clinician or speech pathologist/therapist must truly desire success and a willingness to do whatever it takes to establish the best approach to the problem. If the therapist does not feel adequately prepared to provide therapy, he or she must either seek out a mentor, or refer the person to someone who specializes in that area of practice. I caution all concerned here that if you are not comfortable with the way things are going or if you do not have faith in whatever is going on, please discuss it with your therapist, or seek the advice of the clinical director, or another specialist or therapist. Most of us know when we are in the right place; use your intuition wisely.

Family Involvement: It is critical for any family member to be engaged in the therapy process and learn any procedure that is beneficial for the improvement in speech and language. If the person with the speaking difficulty has suffered from a stroke with aphasia and has numerous other medically related problems to address, it is often more vital to have a family member trained to stimulate speech and language at home. There will be some persons with speaking difficulties who can independently pursue home practice with speaking while there are others who will have to be constantly cued to speak with accuracy. With children who are not talking, the same holds true; the mother or primary care giver will be the one who truly determines the progress in therapy. Success in the achievement of therapy goals is directly proportional to the amount of time that is put in at home in speech and language stimulation activities.

Many family members truly believe they will bring their loved one to therapy and the "therapy" will be provided and their loved one will get better. In my experience the "doing of the therapy at the clinic or office" is a very small part of the process. The real improvement comes when there is a burning desire and a commitment to take what is learned in therapy and make sure that it is incorporated into the routine at home. It is not the therapy at the clinic or rehab institution that gets the person with the communication difficulty better, it is the daily, down and dirty practice of what was learned there.

The final point relates to Faith in the speech therapy process. The family must have faith in the procedures being covered in therapy and the clinician who is doing them. If that faith is not present it is doubtful there will be much benefit from the process. In the successful treatments of people receiving speech therapy through the years, the ones who make the most progress, believe the procedures and the therapist are correct in the approach to care and are actively participating in the process. If there is doubt in the methods or the competence of the clinician, vital therapy time and treatment dollars are wasted. Don't let that happen.

See the Newsletter May 2 / 2012 Some Core Values for Successful Treatment in Speech Therapy.

- Mark A. Ittleman, M.S., CCC/SLP