{"id":10,"date":"2019-08-06T06:49:54","date_gmt":"2019-08-06T06:49:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/?page_id=10"},"modified":"2026-09-28T10:53:14","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T10:53:14","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/?page_id=10","title":{"rendered":"Speech Therapy"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"210\" height=\"209\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/BST-Improved-Speech-icon-e1566309778237.png\" alt=\"Speech therapist working with a child on communication skills.\nSpeech therapy session focused on language development.\nSpeech therapist helping a child develop communication skills.\nChild receiving professional speech therapy.\nSpeech therapy activities for children with communication difficulties.\nSpeech therapist working on pronunciation and speech sounds.\nSpeech therapy session focused on vocabulary and language skills.\nSpeech therapist helping a child improve their speech.\nProfessional speech therapy for children in Roodepoort.\nSpeech therapy services in Krugersdorp and Randfontein.\nPaediatric speech therapy provided by an experienced speech therapist.\nSpeech and language assessment for children.\nSpeech therapist working with a child on language development.\nIndividual speech therapy sessions tailored to each child's needs.\nProfessional speech therapy services in Gauteng.\" class=\"wp-image-254\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Speech Therapy Is Important<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Speech Pathologists&nbsp;study, diagnose and treat communication disorders, including difficulties with the following: speaking, listening, understanding language, reading, writing, social skills, stuttering, using voice or difficulties with swallowing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All communication disorders have the potential to isolate the individual from his or her social and personal environment. It is therefore necessary to provide appropriate and timely identification , referral and intervention of speech and language disorders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Roles of a Speech Therapist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Speech-language pathologists work to prevent, assess, diagnose and treat children and adults in the following areas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Speech disorders \u2013 Articulation, Stuttering, Apraxia, Dysarthria, Voice and Aphasia<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Language disorders \u2013 Developmental delay in receptive and\/or expressive language<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Social communication \u2013 Developmentally impaired, e.g. Autism or Down Syndrome<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cognitive-communication \u2013 Dementia, Stroke or brain injury<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Swallowing disorders \u2013 Premature babies or Tracheostomy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Listening and Auditory Processing disorders<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Literacy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/wtd-2-1024x614.png\" alt=\"Speech therapist working with a child on communication skills.\nSpeech therapy session focused on language development.\nSpeech therapist helping a child develop communication skills.\nChild receiving professional speech therapy.\nSpeech therapy activities for children with communication difficulties.\nSpeech therapist working on pronunciation and speech sounds.\nSpeech therapy session focused on vocabulary and language skills.\nSpeech therapist helping a child improve their speech.\nProfessional speech therapy for children in Roodepoort.\nSpeech therapy services in Krugersdorp and Randfontein.\nPaediatric speech therapy provided by an experienced speech therapist.\nSpeech and language assessment for children.\nSpeech therapist working with a child on language development.\nIndividual speech therapy sessions tailored to each child's needs.\nProfessional speech therapy services in Gauteng.\" class=\"wp-image-239\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/wtd-2-1024x614.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/wtd-2-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/wtd-2-768x461.png 768w, https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/wtd-2.png 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Speech Disorders<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Articulation: <\/strong>This&nbsp;focuses on errors&nbsp;(e.g. distortions and substitutions) in production of individual speech sounds. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Phonological:<\/strong>&nbsp;This refers to predictable, rule-based errors (e.g. fronting, stopping and final consonant deletion) that affect more than one sound.  <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Stuttering:<\/strong> This is also known as a fluency&nbsp;disorder&nbsp;in which a person has difficulty in producing speech in a normal, smooth manner. Individuals may have speech that sounds fragmented, with frequent interruptions and difficulty producing words.  <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Apraxia:<\/strong> This&nbsp;is a neurological&nbsp;disorder&nbsp;characterized by the inability to perform learned (familiar) movements on command, even though the command is understood and there is a willingness to perform the movement. Both the desire and the capacity to move are present, but the person simply cannot execute the act. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Dysarthria:<\/strong>  It is normally characterized by slurred or slow speech. Common causes include nervous system (neurological) disorders,&nbsp;such as stroke, brain injury, brain tumors and conditions that cause facial paralysis, tongue or throat muscle weakness.  <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Voice:<\/strong>  It occurs when voice quality, pitch and loudness differ or are inappropriate for an individual&#8217;s age, gender or cultural background. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Aphasia: <\/strong> It is a disorder&nbsp;that results from damage or injury to language parts of the brain. This is more common among older adults, particularly those who have had a stroke. These individuals have difficulty using or understanding words.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Language Disorders<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A language disorder&nbsp;is a communication&nbsp;disorder&nbsp;in which a person has persistent difficulties in learning and using various forms of&nbsp;language&nbsp;(e.g. spoken, written or even sign language). Individuals with a&nbsp;language disorder&nbsp;may have&nbsp;impairments&nbsp;in either their receptive (understanding of language) or expressive (use of language) abilities, or both.  This limits the individual&#8217;s ability to communicate or effectively participate in a social, academic or professional environment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Social Communication Disorders<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"440\" height=\"384\" src=\"http:\/\/localhost\/bothaterapie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/WTD-Cognative-icon.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-258 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/WTD-Cognative-icon.png 440w, https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/WTD-Cognative-icon-300x262.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 440px) 100vw, 440px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n\nSocial communication&nbsp;is the use of language in social contexts. It entails&nbsp;social interaction,&nbsp;social cognition,&nbsp;pragmatics and&nbsp;language processing.  Social communication  disorders are commonly found among developmentally impaired individuals, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder or Down Syndrome.\n\n<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cognitive-communication Disorders<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cognitive-communication disorders&nbsp;are problems with&nbsp;communication&nbsp;that have an underlying cause in a&nbsp;cognitive&nbsp;deficit rather than a primary language or speech deficit. A&nbsp;cognitive-communication disorder&nbsp;results from impaired functioning of one or more&nbsp;cognitive&nbsp;processes, including attention and memory. Examples are: Dementia, due to a stroke or brain injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Swallowing or feeding Disorders<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Swallowing:<\/strong>  Dysphagia means difficulty with swallowing. It is a symptom, not a disease.   This may lead to aspiration (where food or liquid gets into the lungs) and can affect a person at any age, from infants to the elderly. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Feeding:<\/strong>  &nbsp;A&nbsp;feeding disorder, in infancy or early childhood, is a child&#8217;s refusal to eat certain food groups, textures, solids or liquids for a period of at least one month, which causes the child to not gain enough weight, grow naturally or cause any developmental delays. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Listening and Auditory Processing Disorder<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li> <strong>Auditory processing:<\/strong> This allows a person to decode the&nbsp;sounds&nbsp;of words. It represents as a disorder, if the individual has difficulty with differentiating between sounds, recalling of auditory information, separating speech signals from noise or decoding of words.  Listening comprehension allows him to understand the&nbsp;<em>meaning<\/em>&nbsp;of the words. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Listening: <\/strong>This involves higher-level thinking than auditory processing. Listening comprehension describes a person\u2019s ability to understand the meaning of the words he\/she heard.  This allows the individual to understand the&nbsp;meaning&nbsp;of the words. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Untitled2-1024x614.png\" alt=\"Speech therapist working with a child on communication skills.\nSpeech therapy session focused on language development.\nSpeech therapist helping a child develop communication skills.\nChild receiving professional speech therapy.\nSpeech therapy activities for children with communication difficulties.\nSpeech therapist working on pronunciation and speech sounds.\nSpeech therapy session focused on vocabulary and language skills.\nSpeech therapist helping a child improve their speech.\nProfessional speech therapy for children in Roodepoort.\nSpeech therapy services in Krugersdorp and Randfontein.\nPaediatric speech therapy provided by an experienced speech therapist.\nSpeech and language assessment for children.\nSpeech therapist working with a child on language development.\nIndividual speech therapy sessions tailored to each child's needs.\nProfessional speech therapy services in Gauteng.\" class=\"wp-image-191\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Untitled2-1024x614.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Untitled2-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Untitled2-768x461.png 768w, https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Untitled2.png 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Benefits of Speech Therapy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Speech Therapists help people of all ages with different speech and language disorders, but there are also social benefits that come with therapy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"307\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/EI-1024x307.png\" alt=\"Speech therapist working with a child on communication skills.\nSpeech therapy session focused on language development.\nSpeech therapist helping a child develop communication skills.\nChild receiving professional speech therapy.\nSpeech therapy activities for children with communication difficulties.\nSpeech therapist working on pronunciation and speech sounds.\nSpeech therapy session focused on vocabulary and language skills.\nSpeech therapist helping a child improve their speech.\nProfessional speech therapy for children in Roodepoort.\nSpeech therapy services in Krugersdorp and Randfontein.\nPaediatric speech therapy provided by an experienced speech therapist.\nSpeech and language assessment for children.\nSpeech therapist working with a child on language development.\nIndividual speech therapy sessions tailored to each child's needs.\nProfessional speech therapy services in Gauteng.\" class=\"wp-image-230\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/EI-1024x307.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/EI-300x90.png 300w, https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/EI-768x230.png 768w, https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/EI.png 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The First Step: Assessment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The purpose of a&nbsp;speech&nbsp;and language&nbsp;assessment&nbsp;is to determine your child\u2019s strengths and challenges related to a variety of areas and conclude if&nbsp;therapy&nbsp;would be beneficial in further developing skills and aiding his or her ability to communicate effectively with others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The assessment takes approximately an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We are contracted with most medical aids and do accept private patients. Please&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/?page_id=11\"><strong>contact<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/a>us for further details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Learning-to-speak2-1024x614.png\" alt=\"Speech therapist working with a child on communication skills.\nSpeech therapy session focused on language development.\nSpeech therapist helping a child develop communication skills.\nChild receiving professional speech therapy.\nSpeech therapy activities for children with communication difficulties.\nSpeech therapist working on pronunciation and speech sounds.\nSpeech therapy session focused on vocabulary and language skills.\nSpeech therapist helping a child improve their speech.\nProfessional speech therapy for children in Roodepoort.\nSpeech therapy services in Krugersdorp and Randfontein.\nPaediatric speech therapy provided by an experienced speech therapist.\nSpeech and language assessment for children.\nSpeech therapist working with a child on language development.\nIndividual speech therapy sessions tailored to each child's needs.\nProfessional speech therapy services in Gauteng.\" class=\"wp-image-236\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Learning-to-speak2-1024x614.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Learning-to-speak2-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Learning-to-speak2-768x461.png 768w, https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Learning-to-speak2.png 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Way Forward: Therapy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Speech and language therapy&nbsp;is an intervention service that focuses on improving a child\u2019s speech&nbsp;and\/or language abilities to understand and express&nbsp;language, including non-verbal language.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After the assessment, we set up a 30 minute weekly therapy session to address the individual\u2019s needs and help remediate the problem. Therapy will continue on the set schedule as long as the individual is making progress toward their goals, attendance is good and goals are met. Meeting the individual\u2019s goals quickly is the key and requires much effort on the individual\u2019s part with cooperation and focus in therapy sessions, therapist\u2019s part with staying focused on the goal, as well as, the family\u2019s part with providing carryover and monitoring of learned speech exercises at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br>We are contracted with most medical aids and do accept private patients. Please&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/?page_id=11\">contact<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;us for further details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why Speech Therapy Is Important Speech Pathologists&nbsp;study, diagnose and treat communication disorders, including difficulties with the following: speaking, listening, understanding language, reading, writing, social skills, stuttering, using voice or difficulties with swallowing. All communication disorders have the potential to isolate the individual from his or her social and personal environment. It is therefore necessary to &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/?page_id=10\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Speech Therapy&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-10","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10"}],"version-history":[{"count":45,"href":"https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":447,"href":"https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10\/revisions\/447"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bothaterapie.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}