Questionnaire: Should I See a Speech Therapist?

By: Beth Morrisey MLIS - Updated: 6 Sep 2010 | *Discuss

 

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Speech therapists can work wonders to help people overcome speech and language disorders, so seeing a speech therapist may be a good idea for those who feel that they could make their verbal communications more efficient.

To help you decide if you might benefit from seeing a speech therapist we have put together the questionnaire below. Simply answer each question with a "yes" or "no" and add up your answer totals to find out your result.

1. Have you ever been diagnosed with a speech or language disorder?
2. Has seeing a speech therapist ever been suggested to you in the past?
3. Do you find that your speech problems become more troublesome when you are among strangers?
4. Is your speech problem the same whether you feel relaxed or not?
5. Does your speech problem divert your attention from the tasks at hand?
6. Do you worry about your speech problem when you must complete an interview or give a presentation?
7. Have you ever avoided a social function because of your speech problem?
8. Do you find that you have/had trouble with oral exams even if you knew the material and could sit a written exam well?
9. Do you feel that your career plans have changed because of your speech problem?
10. Do you feel that others believe you to be less intelligent because of your speech problem?
11. Do you prefer solitary hobbies because of your speech problem?
12. Do you feel that you are missing out on life because your speech problem is holding you back?

Should You See A Speech Therapist?

If you answered "yes" to between one and four questions then you may want to give yourself some more time before booking in with a speech therapist. Concentrate on staying relaxed and seeing if this helps your speech problem at all. Also, try keeping a diary of when your speech problem is present and see if you can find any pattern to when it is better and when it is worse. However, if a professional has diagnosed you with a speech disorder or recommended speech therapy then you do not want to delay in seeking this help.

If you answered "yes" to between five and eight questions then you may want to consider seeing a speech therapist. A speech therapist can help determine if you have a speech disorder and help you with the most appropriate treatment for the disorder. Even if you do not have a speech disorder, a speech therapist should be able to help you become more comfortable with verbal communication and feel more comfortable when you speak. But again, if you have been diagnosed with a speech disorder and/or speech therapy has been suggested to you in the past then you should seek help from a speech therapist without delay.

If you answered "yes" to nine or more questions then you should consider seeing a speech therapist. It is clear that your verbal communication is not as efficient as it could be and that your speech problem gets in the way of your daily life. A speech therapist can help you to cope with or overcome a speech problem and help you take more control over your daily life. Ask your GP or an education professional about referrals for speech therapists, or consider seeing a speech therapist privately if you do not want to wait.

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