Speech Therapy

Clear communication is essential for learning, working and connecting with others. With individualized treatment, patients can improve clarity, confidence and connection in their daily lives.

What Is Speech Therapy?

Speech Therapy helps patients of all ages improve their communication and swallowing skills. A licensed Speech Therapist, also known as a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), evaluates and treats challenges related to speech, language, voice, fluency and feeding. Speech  therapy is customized to each person’s needs—whether that means helping a child learn new language skills or supporting an adult to regain speech after a stroke.

Patients with a wide range of conditions can benefit from Speech Therapy. Children may need support for developmental delays, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or articulation disorders. Adults may experience speech and language changes after brain injury, stroke or neurological conditions, including aphasia, apraxia of speech and dysarthria. With guided strategies and structured practice, Speech Therapy helps improve clarity, confidence and overall quality of life.

Because hearing and speech are closely connected, Audiology plays a key role in diagnosing issues that may affect communication and in guiding appropriate treatment. Audiology services complement Speech Therapy by focusing on hearing and balance. Audiologists test hearing for patients of all ages, from newborns to older adults, and provide advanced evaluations such as otoacoustic emissions (OAE) and auditory brainstem response (ABR). 
 

How Speech Therapy Works 

Speech Therapy begins with a thorough evaluation by an SLP-Speech Language Pathologist . During this process, the SLP identifies areas of strength and challenge in communication or swallowing. For children, evaluations may also include input from parents or caregivers about developmental milestones and daily communication. For adults, the assessment considers medical history, current concerns and goals for recovering from illness or injury.

Based on this evaluation, the SLP creates a personalized treatment plan. Therapy sessions may involve practicing speech sounds, building language skills, improving fluency or using alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) tools such as picture boards or electronic devices. For patients with swallowing difficulties, therapy may include exercises to strengthen oral muscles and strategies to safely manage eating and drinking.

Treatment is interactive and goal-oriented, with sessions designed to be engaging and practical. Children may participate in play-based therapy to encourage communication, while adults might work on real-life tasks such as conversational practice or workplace communication. Progress is reviewed regularly, and therapy plans are adjusted as patients gain new skills or face new challenges.
 

What to Expect When You Have Speech Therapy 

Inspira offers speech Therapy for both children and adults, including bilingual speech therapy. Each therapy plan is evidence-based and patient-centered, designed to meet individual goals such as improving speech intelligibility, developing social communication skills or safely managing swallowing.

Pediatric Speech Therapy often feels like play, incorporating games, toys and interactive activities to make learning feel natural and engaging. Parents and caregivers are involved throughout, receiving strategies to support progress at home. Services may be habilitative, helping a child develop skills that are delayed, or rehabilitative, helping them regain abilities after an illness or injury. Inspira also offers bilingual pediatric services, ensuring therapy is accessible to families across South Jersey.

Adults can expect therapy that is practical and functional, with a focus on real-life communication. This may involve building confidence after a stroke, improving clarity for work or social situations or strengthening swallowing for safe eating. Across every stage of life, Speech Therapy at Inspira helps patients communicate more effectively and live with greater confidence.