Articulation disorders involve difficulty producing specific speech sounds clearly and accurately, which can affect how easily others understand what is being said. In adults, these difficulties are often long-standing and may include residual speech sound errors that were not fully addressed.

Common examples of articulation differences in adults may include:

• Lisps (e.g., /s/ or /z/ sound distortions)

• Persistent difficulty with sounds such as /r/, /l/, or “th”

Speech therapy for articulation disorders focuses on improving precision, consistency, and clarity of sound production. Therapy may include targeted sound practice, increased awareness of areas used to produce the speech sound, and strategies to support carryover into everyday communication. The goal is clearer, more confident speech in real-world situations.

Speech therapy can help those who stutter and experience disruptions in the flow of speech such as blocks, word and sound repetitions, and/or prolongations.

Therapy focuses on improving fluency, building confidence in communication, reducing potential fear in certain speaking situations, and regaining control of speech.

Cluttering therapy addresses rapid or disorganized speech that can make speech difficult to understand, especially in conversation. Therapy helps individuals grow awareness of speech patterns, slow down, and improve clarity.

An accent is a difference in the way one pronounces sounds because of differences in the way articulators like the tongue, jaw, lips, move in various languages. For example, the ‘th’ sound in English is not present in all languages. Therefore, when one is learning English, they may use a more accessible sound like ‘s’ or ‘f’. In which case, “thin” could be pronounced as “sin” or “fin”.

At Speech and Vocal Wellness Clinic, we believe that Accent Modification isn’t about “fixing” the way you speak. It’s about expanding speech patterns and increasing clarity in English so you can express yourself fully and without barriers, while still honouring your unique voice.

Cognitive communication therapy helps people improve organization, memory, attention, and problem-solving skills that support effective communication. You may benefit from speech therapy if you experience:

• Changes in communication after a motor vehicle accident (MVA), stroke, or brain injury

• Difficulty following conversations or remembering details

• Trouble organizing tasks, managing schedules, or planning ahead

• Challenges with attention, multitasking, or switching between tasks

• Slower processing of information or difficulty finding words

• Trouble participating in work, school, or social interactions

• Difficulty understanding multiple instructions at a time

• Feeling mentally fatigued or overwhelmed during everyday tasks

• Having difficulty re-telling stories

Aphasia is a language disorder caused by damage to the brain, often from a stroke, brain injury, or other neurological conditions, that affects speaking, understanding, reading, or writing.

You may benefit from speech therapy if you had a recent brain injury and experience:

• Difficulty finding the right words or naming objects

• Trouble understanding what others are saying

• Problems reading, writing, or following instructions

• Speaking in short phrases or sentences instead of full thoughts

• Mixing up words or using the wrong word in a sentence

• Challenges participating in conversations at home, work, or socially

• Frustration or anxiety when trying to communicate