Perhaps you’ve had a sports injury, and you’re having trouble swallowing or speaking—or maybe your little one isn’t developing communication skills at the same pace as their peers. That’s where a speech pathologist comes in. The specialists at Family Physical Therapy & Sports Center in Kearney, NE, treat patients of all backgrounds and ages.

Before you visit, it helps to learn about what these experts do.

What Is a Speech Pathologist?

Speech pathologists are trained in the development and disorders of communication and swallowing. They have studied anatomy, physiology, linguistics, human and language development, and a wide range of other applicable topics. They are sometimes called speech therapists or speech-language pathologists (SLPs).

What Do They Do?

Upon meeting, your speech pathologist will perform some assessments to determine the difficulties you’re having and their severity. They’ll talk with you to determine the cause of the difficulties, which is typically a communication disorder or an injury. Then, they will explain what they find and recommend ways to manage and treat your condition. They may consult with school teachers, family members, colleagues, and others to ensure the success of the treatment program.

Some of the most common problems speech pathologists treat are speech delays and disorders, language delays, verbal and nonverbal expression, and fluency disorders such as stuttering. They also work with cognitive-communicative disorders such as social communications skills and problem-solving, as well as swallowing and feeding disorders.

If you need the help of a speech pathologist or a physical therapist, the experts at Family Physical Therapy & Sports Center can provide all the care you need. They work with patients of all ages on all types of rehabilitation and management. Call (308) 698-2820 to schedule an appointment with their team, and leave a review on their Yelp page. They will give you all the tools you need to live a healthy, happy life.