Speech therapy is the assessment and treatment of communication problems and speech disorders. It is performed by a speech therapists.
Speech disorders affect the vocal cords, muscles, nerves, and other structures within the throat.

Causes may include:

• Vocal cord damage
• Muscle weakness
• Respiratory weakness
• Strokes
• Polyps or nodules on the vocal cords
• Vocal cord paralysis

People who have certain medical or developmental conditions may also have speech disorders. Common conditions that can lead to speech disorders are:

• Autism
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Atrokes
• Oral cancer
• Laryngeal cancer
• Dementia

Treatment varies and depends on the type of disorder. In speech therapy, a professional therapist will guide you through exercises that work to strengthen the muscles in your face and throat. You'll learn to control your breathing while speaking. Muscle-strengthening exercises and controlled breathing help improve the way your words sound. You'll also learn ways to practice smoother, more fluent speech.