Physical Disability is a term that covers a wide range of disabilities that may affect the ability to use the muscles of the body e.g. head, limbs and mid body. Individuals with a physical disability may have difficulties with speech due to difficulties co coordinating the muscles of the body involved in speech e.g., breathing muscles, vocal cords/voice box, tongue and lips.
Physical disability may be present from birth or may occur in later life due to a neurological/brain illness or stroke or head injury.
Approaches
A Speech and Language Therapist will be able to assess and pinpoint the aspects of the physical disability that are affecting communication and to advise/provide intervention. Individuals with Physical Disability include those with conditions such as Cerebral Palsy, Friedrich’s ataxia and Motor dyspraxia.
In helping individuals with speech and language difficulties related to a physical disability, the Speech and Language Therapist works on a number of different areas such as early communication skills, play skills, motor speech skills ( working on muscles that affect speech production such as tongue, lips, jaw etc ) Augmentative and alternative methods of communication (signing, communication boards, non-verbal skills. There are also ‘high tech’ Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), communication devices and switches available.