Contrary to popular belief, speech therapy isn't just for kids. Adults often quietly suffer from communication, swallowing or voice disorders, thinking that therapy is no longer an option for them. However, seeking help as an adult has never been more common. Whether it be increasing health trends, longer lifespans or even increased awareness of neurological conditions, adults are finding themselves in need of speech therapy more than ever.

Speech therapy doesn't just help with pronunciation and enunciation. Adult Speech Therapists help with how we speak, process language, use our voice, deal with information and swallow. Life doesn't always allow us to do these things, and they can change for adults both quickly and gradually.

Events that can lead to communication disorders in adults

Stroke

Stroke is one of the most common reasons adult patients see a speech therapist. Someone may experience a stroke that impacts parts of their brain responsible for language, speech coordination or comprehension. Aphasia, dysarthria or apraxia of speech can occur suddenly and change how a patient speaks to their family, friends, co-workers and doctor. Working with a speech therapist can help restore some or most of their speech and allow them to live their life as they once did.

Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury is another leading cause of adult speech therapy. Whether someone has been in an accident, slipped and fallen, or experienced a sports injury that jars the brain, cognitive communication skills can be affected. Memory, attention and speech organisation can often be drastically affected. Someone might come across as quieter than usual or not structuring their sentences like they used to. Speech therapy can help restore some of these abilities and help them maintain strong, confident communication.

Parkinson's disease

When someone is diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, they often start speech therapy to help maintain their speech and voice. Patients may notice their voice becoming softer, speaking in a monotone, or having their words become slurred or less clear. Speech therapists help patients continue to use their voice more strongly for longer.

Long COVID

We are now starting to see patients come to speech therapy because of issues they are experiencing with long COVID. Patients describe brain fog, word-finding difficulty, shortness of breath when talking, and a fatigued voice. Speech therapists can help patients with cognitive communication and work on breathing techniques to help them get back to their day-to-day lives and work.

Ageing

We live longer than ever, and as we age, our voices, speech, and swallowing naturally change. Talking to a therapist can strengthen these muscles for as long as possible and help you communicate effectively for longer.

Why don't more adults get help?

Speech disorders in adults are very common but many don't recognise when they need help. One reason that people are not seeing speech therapists is that there is a stigma associated with having this type of disorder.

Someone may feel embarrassed to tell others that they have difficulty speaking clearly, or they may perceive the condition as weakness rather than a neurological or medical disorder. Others may believe that therapy is only for children, or they won't see much improvement because they are an adult.

Some people don't even realise that they could benefit from therapy because they work so hard to hide their symptoms. They may avoid certain conversations or activities, withdraw from social interactions or let their spouse, child or friend speak for them. However, long-term these adaptations can affect their mental health, relationships and job.

In South West London, we are starting to see a shift in the number of people seeking therapy. There are many clinics and private therapists that specialise in adult speech therapy in South West London. Practitioners promise individualised treatment tailored to your specific needs and goals while maintaining your privacy, dignity and independence.

Adult speech therapy goals

Just like with children, therapy for adults will focus on your individual goals. Some of these may include:

  • Speaking more clearly and confidently
  • Using your voice more strongly
  • Understanding language or expressing yourself better
  • Improved memory or increased attention span
  • Swallowing more safely

Speech therapy can also help improve your mental well-being. Simply regaining the ability to communicate with others and have your voice heard can boost confidence and help you feel more connected to those around you. Many patients even report their work performance improves as they can communicate more efficiently.

Therapists can also tailor goals to the activities you want to get back to. Whether you want to return to work, speak up in meetings, communicate with your grandchildren or simply enjoy conversation with friends and family.

Speech therapy is for anybody at any age. Our brains and bodies go through numerous changes as we live our lives. Whether you've experienced a stroke or injured your brain, have been diagnosed with a neurological disorder, have lingering symptoms from COVID, or you've just noticed your voice isn't what it used to be, speech therapy in Fulham offers access to qualified therapists ready to help you regain confidence and communication skills.