Many people think that speech therapy is only for children that have a speech delay or that have a speech-language disorder. This is not the case, however, as speech therapy can be helpful for adults as well.

Here are three scenarios in which speech therapy can be beneficial for adults.

1. An Adult Loses the Ability to Talk

There are some instances when an adult loses their ability to talk. In some of these cases, speech therapy can help adults regain their speech-language skills. For example, when an adult has a stroke, it could cause them to lose their ability to talk. This loss of speech occurs when there is a lack of blood flow to certain parts of the brain.

Other common causes of speech impairments in adults include:

• Seizures
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Neurological disorders
• Injured vocal cords
• Dementia

Besides a loss of speech, people with the above medical issues might have a hard time understanding humor or they may find it difficult to know when it's their turn to talk during a conversation. These are things speech therapy can help with as well.

2. An Adult Has a Speech-Language Disorder

There are many kinds of speech-language disorders that affect children. Unfortunately, not all of these children will receive the speech therapy they need in order to help them with their disorder. When a child doesn't get speech therapy when they are younger, their speech-language problem can follow them into adulthood.

Some of the most common speech-language problems that affect adults include:

• Stuttering. A repetition of syllables or prolongation of sounds.
• Apraxia. The tongue and lips don't work together to produce the right sounds.
• Dysarthria. The muscles used for speech are too weak.
• Voice disorder. The vocal cords do not vibrate as they should.

Fortunately for adults with these kinds of speech-language disorders, speech therapy is a form of treatment that can help.

3. An Adult Wants to Improve Their Speech

Some adults do not like the way they talk. Maybe they have an accent that is difficult for others to understand. Or maybe they use too many fillers, such as "um" or "ah," when they are giving a speech or having a conversation.

There are some adults that may not like the tone of their voice, or they may speak too loudly or too softly. Adults with any of these issues or those who want to improve their speech in any way, may want to consider speech therapy.