Coming Soon:

Our East Texas Location

Blog

9 TOP BENEFITS OF SPEECH THERAPY FOR SENIORS – Serenity Pas Therapy

The benefits of speech therapy for seniors are far beyond overcoming a stuttering problem. 
Photo by Kampus Production on Pexels

It is common to experience communication and speech difficulties as we age. Remember how your skin can sag and your metabolism slows down? The same happens with your vocal cords—it’s all part of the normal aging process.

Speech therapy for seniors aims to reduce the impact of these changes as much as possible. 

Unfortunately, most people are put off by the idea of speech therapy for seniors. They often equate it with helping a child learn to speak or helping an adult overcome a stuttering problem.

However, speech therapy is nowhere near what you have in mind. The benefits of speech therapy for seniors are far beyond overcoming a stuttering problem. 

From helping to overcome swallowing disorders to reducing the risk of dementia, this is an important therapy for you or your aged loved ones.

What is speech therapy?

Speech therapy is the evaluation and treatment of speech disorders that affect a person’s ability to communicate with others, express themselves, and understand others.

Speech therapy for seniors is more focused on catering to the needs of the elderly community.

It addresses issues such as language comprehension, speech clarity, fluency, cognitive-communication, social communication, and swallowing disorders.

A speech therapist, also known as a speech-language pathologist (SLP), assesses the level of the disorder and provides tailored speech therapy strategies to address the individual’s specific needs.

Benefits of speech therapy for seniors

There are several benefits of speech therapy for seniors, including:

1. Improves swallowing problems

One of the key benefits of speech therapy for seniors is addressing swallowing difficulties, also known as dysphagia. 

As we age, the muscles involved in swallowing can weaken, making it hard to eat and drink safely. 

This can lead to choking or aspiration (food or liquid entering the lungs). 

Speech therapists are trained to evaluate swallowing problems and teach exercises to strengthen the affected muscles. 

They can recommend changes in food consistency and eating techniques to make swallowing easier and safer. 

2. Addresses cognitive-communication disorders

Another important benefit of speech therapy for seniors is helping with cognitive-communication disorders

These disorders affect a person’s ability to communicate because they cause problems with memory, attention, problem-solving, and other cognitive skills. 

This can happen after a stroke, brain injury, or due to age-related mental health conditions like dementia. 

Speech therapy can help seniors improve their communication skills through speech therapy exercises that target cognitive function, like word games, storytelling, sentence building, etc. 

Improving any cognitive-communication disorder will help to enhance the senior’s ability to participate in conversations and maintain social connections.

3. Reduces risk of dementia

While speech therapy cannot prevent dementia, some professionals suggest that cognitive exercises—a type of speech therapy exercise—may help maintain cognitive function.

This is effective because by working on memory, language, and problem-solving skills, older adults can constantly keep their minds active and potentially reduce the progression of cognitive decline.

4. Enhances social independence

The benefits of speech therapy for seniors also extend to their social lives. 

When seniors have difficulty communicating or swallowing, there is every tendency to want to withdraw from social activities, leading to social isolation and, sometimes, depression. 

Improving their communication skills through speech therapy can help seniors regain confidence and participate more fully in social interactions. 

This improves their overall well-being and quality of life.

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels 

5. Improves speech clarity

Improved speech clarity is one of the most direct benefits of speech therapy for seniors. 

Some seniors may have difficulty speaking clearly due to age-related changes, stroke, or other neurological conditions. 

Speech therapists often work with seniors to improve their articulation, clarity, and fluency. 

This enables seniors to be better understood by others, reducing frustration and improving communication.

6. Stroke rehabilitation

Strokes can negatively affect communication, speech, language comprehension, reading, and writing. 

Speech therapy for seniors has been said to have a role to play in stroke rehabilitation. It should be initiated immediately after a stroke to increase the chances of full recovery.

Speech therapists work with stroke survivors to rebuild language skills and improve speech clarity. 

7. Improves coordination of speech-related muscles

The muscles used for speaking can weaken or become uncoordinated as one grows older or after a neurological event like a stroke. 

This can lead to slurred speech, difficulty pronouncing certain sounds, or problems with voice projection. 

Speech therapists use exercises to strengthen and improve the coordination of these muscles, including those in the tongue, lips, jaw, and throat. 

This improved muscle control is a significant benefit of speech therapy for seniors, leading to clearer speech and enhanced communication.

8. Strengthens the vocal cords

Just like any other muscle in the body, the vocal cords can weaken with age or due to certain medical conditions, resulting in a hoarse, weak, or breathy voice. 

Speech therapists can provide exercises to strengthen the vocal cords, improve vocal quality, and increase vocal endurance. 

However, these exercises will not completely restore the vocal cords to their original elastic state but only strengthen them so that they do not significantly impact the voice.

9. Improves quality of life

The cumulative benefit of speech therapy for seniors is an improved quality of life

Improved communication reduces frustration and isolation, increasing self-esteem and overall well-being. 

It allows older adults to continue living fulfilling and engaged lives.

What to expect during speech therapy

Remember that speech therapy aims to help improve communication and swallowing. Here is what to expect during speech therapy:

1. Speech assessment

This is usually the first step, during which a speech therapist assesses the level of communication and swallowing difficulty you or your loved older adult is experiencing.

They check for speech clarity, word formation, level of understanding of words, and how your voice sounds. 

This helps the therapist determine which areas need the most attention and which specific exercises are most appropriate.

2. Cognitive exercises

During speech therapy, cognitive exercises are used to assess and improve brain function that may be affecting communication. 

All the exercises involved are designed to help with memory, attention, and problem-solving, which are all important for good communication. 

Examples include remembering word lists, following instructions, or working on simple puzzles.

3. Swallowing exercises

Since speech therapy isn’t solely about communication, the therapist may include some swallowing exercises specifically for seniors with trouble swallowing. 

These exercises target the muscles involved in swallowing and might involve tongue movements, different swallowing techniques, or changes in posture while eating. 

The goal is to make swallowing safer and easier and prevent choking problems.

Photo by Alex Green on Pexels 

Conclusion

There are numerous benefits of speech therapy for seniors, from improving swallowing problems to addressing cognitive-communication disorders and improving speech clarity.

When getting speech therapy, a professional speech therapist will first assess the person’s level of speech impairment to determine whether it is a direct speech impediment or an underlying cognitive cause.

This assessment helps tailor therapeutic services to suit the individual’s needs, enabling seniors to achieve the highest possible level of speech function based on their diagnosis.

If you are looking for professional speech therapy for you or your loved older ones, request a consultation at Serenity Pas Therapy today!

READ MORE: DEBUNKING 8 COMMON MYTHS ABOUT SPEECH THERAPY – Serenity Pas Therapy