Supporting Children's Speech and Language Therapy: What Is the Role of Technology?

Statistics from 2015, pre-pandemic, approximate that 7.7% of U.S. children ages 13–17—nearly 1 in 12—have had a disorder related to voice, speech, language, or difficulty swallowing. However, a recent survey reports this figure has worsened.

A national poll from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association conducted in 2023 found elevated levels of communication challenges in young children post-pandemic. Among speech-language pathologists, 79% reported more children with delayed language or diagnosed language disorders than before the pandemic.

Similarly, 78% of speech-language pathologists also reported more children with social communication difficulties than before the pandemic. These statistics highlight that there's a concerning rise in children with communication-related disorders nationwide.

At the same time, the United States is also facing a shortage of speech-language pathologists. This multifaceted crisis highlights a need for more people studying a Masters in Speech Language Pathology and the importance of technology to support the workforce.

What is a speech-language pathologist?

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs), sometimes called speech therapists, are healthcare professionals. They can assess, diagnose, and treat any speech, language, social communication, cognitive communication, and swallowing disorders.

They can work with people of all ages, from childhood to adulthood. They can also work with people who don't have a related disorder, but just want to learn how to communicate more effectively.

What can they help with?

Speech-language pathologists can primarily help with five types of disorders: speech, language, social communication, cognitive communication, and swallowing disorders. We've outlined them below.

• Speech: A speech disorder covers any condition that affects a person's ability to produce sounds that create words correctly or fluently. This also includes if a person has a problem with their voice or resonance.
• Language: This type covers disorders that impact a person's ability to understand language or express their thoughts, ideas, and feelings. Language disorders aren't just limited to spoken language. It includes written language and can also include the form, context, and/or use of language in appropriate ways.
• Social communication: These disorders describe when a person has trouble socially using verbal and nonverbal communication. For example, not understanding when the appropriate time is to ask questions or greet someone. All people with autism spectrum disorder have social communication issues.
• Cognitive communication: Cognitive-communication disorders cover a range of conditions where a person has problems organizing their thoughts, remembering, planning, and/or problem-solving. While they can be congenital, they are typically the result of dementia, traumatic brain injury, or a stroke.
• Swallowing disorders: Also known as dysphagia, this covers any feeding and swallowing difficulties.

Speech-language pathologists can also provide aural rehabilitation for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Supporting Children's Speech and Language Therapy

The Role of Technology

Technology has had a massive impact on speech-language pathology and is still revolutionizing the field. Current and emerging technologies are changing the way SLPs communicate and treat clients. Below, we've outlined the different technologies and their uses.

Telepractice

One of the biggest ways technology supports speech-language pathologists is through telepractice software. Telepractice allows SLPs to provide their services over communication technologies, such as video conferencing platforms, allowing for remote sessions. This is particularly a game-changer for people living in rural areas or with living with a mobility issue.

Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR)

These technologies can be used by SLPs to create interactive environments, allowing clients to engage in speech exercises in an immersive, digital safe space.

Mobile Applications

As smartphones become more ingrained into our daily lives, the applications available for them improve. Nowadays, several applications exist that can provide speech-language treatment (e.g., interactive exercises), gamify treatment, and provide resources, enhancing continuity of treatment and outcomes.

The above-listed technology can help support speech-language pathologists in various ways. These include:

• Increases accessibility for individuals who may face geographical barriers.
• Personalized treatment and learning through adaptive technology.
• Interactive and gamified applications and AR/VR spaces can also increase engagement and motivation.
• Technology also exists that allows for real-time monitoring of speech-language treatment.
• New communication technologies also allow for better collaboration between SLPs, their clients, and even parents, fostering a more informed and collaborative approach to treatment.

How to Support Your Child

When it comes to preventing or treating speech-language disorders, the earlier the better. While children will develop at their own rate, there are still ranges for when they should meet key milestones, like talking.

Understanding the early signs of a potential speech-language disorder and being able to identify them is key. Below, we've outlined what to watch for.

Your child may have a feeding or swallowing problem if they:

• Cry or fuss when feeding
• Fall asleep while eating
• Have problems with breastfeeding
• Refusing to eat or drink
• Eats only certain textures, e.g., crunchy food
• Have a gurgly, hoarse, or breathy voice during or after eating
• Are not gaining weight (or growing) properly
• Spit and/or throw up regularly
• Drools a lot
• Cough or gag often during meals

Your child may have a communication-related disorder if they:

• Aren't smiling or playing with others from birth to 3 months old.
• Aren't babbling between 4–7 months.
• Aren't using gestures, like waving or pointing, by 7–12 months.
• Struggling to understand others at 7 months to 2 years.
• Saying only a few words at 12 to 18 months.
• Having trouble playing and communicating with other children at 2–3 years old.
• Having problems with early reading and writing at 2.5 to 3 years.

While it's normal to pause or repeat a sound when we speak, if it happens often (stuttering), this could be a sign of a language issue. Similarly, if your child's voice is nasally, hoarse, scratchy, or breathy, this could be a sign of a voice disorder.

When it comes to any problems related to your child's communication (hearing, speech, and language) and feeding/swallowing, getting early help is key. If you suspect an issue, we recommend contacting your family's general practitioner and/or a pediatrician for support.

They will be able to provide you with resources regarding early intervention programs and referrals to a professional if required. Depending on the problem and the cause, it might require the help of a speech-language pathologist or an audiologist.

When it comes to finding professional help, always check that the SLP or audiologist has earned a Certificate of Clinical Competence from ASHA. This credential ensures the professional is licensed to practise, meets industry standards, and can be held accountable.

If you're having trouble finding a speech-language professional, this is another area where technology shines. There are plenty of online platforms, like ProFind—which is recommended by ASHA—that can connect you with local SLPs and audiologists.