speech therapy

American  

[speech ther-uh-pee] / ˈspitʃ ˈθɛr ə pi /

noun

1. the diagnosis and treatment of speech and communication problems, as stuttering and other fluency and articulation disorders, or aphasia and other expressive or receptive language disorders.

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speech therapy British  

noun

1. treatment to improve the speech of children who have difficulty in learning to speak, for example because of partial deafness or brain damage, or to help restore the power of speech to adults who have lost it or partly lost it through accident or illness

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• speech therapist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of speech therapy

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

But there are students who are not receiving speech therapy, who need it, and a lot of students who are receiving just some of the services that they need to access their education.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 31, 2026

For example, a student with intellectual disability may have an individualized education plan that includes speech therapy.

From Slate • Jul. 9, 2025

He was unable to speak or sing for weeks afterwards but went through intensive speech therapy and has made a full recovery.

From BBC • Nov. 26, 2024

But over three weeks of physical, occupational and speech therapy, “she was making good progress,” her husband, Iric Nathanson, said.

From New York Times • May 25, 2024

I started keeping watch over the speech therapy door, taking note of who came and went.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris