Definition

Noun: A speech therapist is a healthcare professional who specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of communication disorders, speech defects, and swallowing difficulties.

Usage

A speech therapist works with individuals who have problems with speech sounds, fluency (e.g., stuttering), voice, language comprehension and expression, and social communication skills. - After his stroke, he began seeing a speech therapist to help him regain his ability to speak clearly. - The school hired a speech therapist to work with children who have articulation disorders.

Advanced Usage

• Clinical Practice: In a medical or educational setting, a speech therapist often develops individualized treatment plans and may use various tools and exercises.
  • The speech therapist used picture cards and repetition exercises during the session.

Variants and Related Words

• Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP): This is the formal and more comprehensive title for a speech therapist, requiring a master's degree and clinical certification.
  • She is a licensed speech-language pathologist in the state hospital.
• Speech Therapy (n): The treatment provided by a speech therapist.
  • The child made excellent progress through weekly speech therapy.

Synonyms

• Communication disorders specialist
• Speech-language pathologist (formal synonym)

Related Phrases

• To undergo speech therapy: To receive treatment from a speech therapist.
  • He had to undergo speech therapy for several months.

Noun

1. a therapist who treats speech defects and disorders