Can adult speech-language services help improve communication skills, needed to succeed at school and work? Yes!
Communication disorders impact many areas. For instance, they make learning new skills on the job challenging. In addition, poor skills can impact one’s ability to interact with peers and employers. Finally, weak speech and language skills can make organizing and completing work seem insurmountable. Communication deficits can range from mild to severe. Meaning that the impact of the deficit can be relatively unnoticeable to others to extremely impactful in all communication endeavors. Regardless of the level of severity, communication disorders impact self-esteem, especially when left untreated.
Adult speech-language services are goal-oriented and time limited. It can last as few as 2 sessions or up to a year, depending on needs, goals, and personal motivation. The initial session involves a formal and/or informal assessment. Meanwhile, the assessment and client goals are used to create an individualized treatment plan. At each session, the treatment plan is modified and updated. Sessions include discussions on thoughts and attitudes toward communication challenges, self advocacy training, practice of targeted behaviors, and home assignments to generalize the skills. Similar to building strength and fitness, changing communication behaviors requires regular practice and a commitment to change.