What is Speech Therapy?
Speech therapy deals with the diagnosis and treatment of speech, language, voice, and swallowing disorders. For children who are non-verbal, the focus is not on speaking — but on finding alternative ways to communicate.
For Emilia, speech therapy means: finding a way to express herself, voice her wishes, and take part in social life.
Importance for Non-Verbal Children
Emilia is non-verbal — she cannot express herself through spoken language. But that does not mean she has nothing to say. Speech therapy helps by:
- Making communication possible at all — independent of spoken language
- Building everyday communication — so Emilia can express wishes, needs, and feelings
- Promoting language comprehension — even when active speech is limited
- Improving oral motor skills and swallowing
Methods
Various approaches play a role in speech therapy for non-verbal children:
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
AAC encompasses all forms of communication that supplement or replace spoken language:
- Signs — Simplified signs that Emilia can use to communicate
- Speech-generating devices (SGDs) — Electronic aids with symbols or images that produce speech at the press of a button
- PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) — A system where pictures are exchanged to communicate wishes
Oral Motor Skills and Feeding
- Exercises to strengthen the oral muscles
- Support for chewing and swallowing
- Training of tongue and lip mobility
How Does Speech Therapy Help Emilia?
In speech therapy, Emilia works on using alternative communication methods. Every small step forward — a deliberate point, a sign, a moment of eye contact — is a step towards greater participation and self-determination.
The combination of AAC methods and classical speech therapy gives Emilia the best possible chance of developing her communication abilities.
Further Information
The Deutscher Bundesverband für Logopädie (dbl) offers comprehensive information about speech therapy and augmentative and alternative communication.
The Gesellschaft für Unterstützte Kommunikation (GesUK) provides information about AAC methods and advisory services.