What are the main benefits of speech therapy for seniors?

The main benefits of speech therapy for seniors include increased self-confidence and independence, improved voice abilities and language skills, an enhanced ability to swallow properly, and a better overall quality of life. It helps them communicate their thoughts, ideas, and emotions more effectively.

How does speech therapy help improve communication skills?

Speech therapists use customized exercises to improve communication. These can include tongue and mouth exercises to strengthen muscles for speech, facial muscle exercises for better motor control, reading aloud to connect the brain with verbal communication, and using puzzles or games to improve cognitive skills related to language.

What are the additional benefits of speech therapy beyond improving speech?

Beyond just speaking, speech therapy helps build memory and cognitive skills, increases a senior's independence in daily activities, boosts confidence, and enhances social connections by improving their ability to communicate with others. It can also teach the use of assistive devices like hearing aids or signing boards.

Speech Therapy Benefits for Seniors in Arizona

Did you know that roughly 18.79% of adults 60 or older struggle with a voice disorder, according to a 2023 study? Considering that many may think of issues with speech largely affecting children, you may overlook how struggling with communicating as you age can negatively affect a person’s quality of life and independence.

Places such as Haven Health in Arizona offer speech therapy on an inpatient or outpatient basis to support a patient’s specific needs with speech. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of speech therapy for seniors living in Arizona.

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Benefits of Speech Therapy for Seniors

Generally, speech therapy is used to treat various types of speech disorders, communication issues, and issues with swallowing. The Cleveland Clinic notes that speech therapy for older adults tends to support retaining and/or regaining speech and language development after an injury or illness, such as a stroke or a neurological diagnosis that’s affecting speech, like multiple sclerosis (MS) or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Speech therapy benefits for adults can also include:

Increased self-confidence
Increased independence
Improved voice abilities
Increased language skills
Improved ability to swallow properly
Enhanced quality of life
Improved communication skills, like the increased ability to understand and communicate thoughts, ideas, and emotions

Improving Communication Skills

In speech therapy, you will work with a speech and language pathologist (commonly referred to as a speech therapist) who will work with you to customize specific exercises and treatment strategies for your specific issue(s). Depending on the issue, speech therapy works with patients to improve their communication skills in their daily lives.

Speech therapists do this by offering therapy services in the form of exercises that help patients become more confident with speech and expressing their thoughts, feelings, needs, and ideas.

These exercises usually include one or more of the following:

Tongue and mouth exercises to strengthen these muscles to make the proper movements for speech.
Exercises to strengthen facial muscles to improve motor skills needed for proper speech and to control facial expressions.
Reading aloud to better connect the brain with verbal communication.
Puzzles and games may also be used to improve cognitive skills needed for proper communication.

How Speech Therapy Helps Seniors in Arizona

Speech therapy for seniors in Arizona is usually customized to support patients who are recovering from an illness or injury, or are learning to cope with age-related declines in either cognition or communication proficiency.

Patients receiving speech therapy are more likely to regain speech and the ability to properly communicate, which, in turn, improves their social life, independence, and overall satisfaction with life.

Additional Benefits of Speech Therapy

According to the National Library of Medicine, speech therapy can also be used to help patients with hearing impairments or cognitive impairments learn and improve ways to communicate.

For example, speech therapy teaches patients to expand their vocabulary, teaches them how to use a hearing aid, or teaches them how to use sign language, a signing board, or other assistance devices to communicate more effectively.

In these ways, speech therapy benefits for adults can also include:

Building memory and cognitive skills
Increasing independence
Increasing confidence with daily activities
Enhancing social connections

Haven Health’s Approach To Senior Care

Haven Health focuses on individualized care programs for every patient’s unique needs, incorporating speech therapy (when needed) into a holistic care approach. At Haven Health, we are focused on providing patients with customized treatment plans that work to fulfill their goals for healing. The ultimate focus at Haven Health is healing and providing patients with a better quality of life.

Speech therapy helps patients learn to speak, communicate, and swallow properly (when applicable) in order to help them regain independence and confidence. Families of senior patients beginning to struggle with speech would be wise to explore speech therapy options and learn more about ways they can support their loved one’s communication skills and well-being.

Contact Haven Health