In the field of health and communication, two fundamental disciplines are speech therapy and phoniatrics. Both deal with the study and treatment of disorders related to language and voice, but there are fundamental differences between both specializations. In this article, we will explore the three main differences between speech therapy and phoniatrics.
Difference in treatment approach
One of the Key differences between speech therapy and phoniatrics lies in their treatment approach. Speech therapy focuses on the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of speech, language, communication, voice and swallowing disorders. Speech therapists work with patients of all ages, from young children with delays in speech development to adults with brain injuries that affect their ability to communicate.
On the other hand, phoniatrics focuses specifically on the study and treatment of voice and articulation disorders. Phoniatricians are specialists in evaluating voice problems, such as dysphonia, vocal cord nodules or articulation disorders, and designing treatment strategies to improve patients' vocal quality and articulation.
Multidisciplinary approach of speech therapy
Speech therapy tends to have a more multidisciplinary approach than speech therapy. Speech therapists work closely with other health professionals, such as doctors, psychologists, occupational therapists and educators, to comprehensively address the needs of their patients. This is because many language and communication disorders are interrelated with other aspects of physical and mental health.
For example, a child with autism may need speech therapy sessions to improve his or her verbal communication skills. , but you may also benefit from the intervention of a psychologist to address emotional and behavioral aspects. In this sense, speech therapy is considered a holistic discipline that takes into account not only purely linguistic aspects, but also the emotional and social implications of speech and communication disorders.
Required training and specialization
Another important difference between speech therapy and phoniatrics is found in the training and specialization requirements necessary to practice each profession. In general, a speech therapist must complete a university degree in speech therapy or speech therapy, which usually lasts four years. Subsequently, it is common for speech therapists to specialize in specific areas, such as speech rehabilitation for patients with brain damage or voice therapy for professionals who abuse their voice in their work.
For their part, Phoniatrics is a medical specialty that requires studying Medicine and, subsequently, specializing in Otorhinolaryngology with a focus on phoniatrics. This training process covers a considerable duration, since a speech therapist must acquire knowledge both in the anatomy and physiology of the voice and in specific pathologies of the vocal cords and vocal tract.
Coordination between speech therapists and speech therapists Given the complementarity of speech therapy and phoniatrics in the treatment of speech and voice disorders, it is common for professionals from both disciplines to work in a coordinated manner in certain cases. For example, a patient with chronic dysphonia may require both voice therapy with a speech therapist to address the underlying medical cause of the problem and speech therapy with a speech therapist to improve articulation and speech fluency.
In this sense, collaboration between speech therapists and speech therapists is beneficial to offer patients a comprehensive and personalized approach, which addresses both the medical and linguistic aspects of their disorders. This synergy between both disciplines contributes to optimizing therapeutic results and improving the quality of life of patients with language and voice disorders.
In conclusion, although speech therapy and phoniatrics share the common objective of improving communication and patient voice present significant differences in terms of treatment approach, training and specialization. Both disciplines are complementary and mutually benefit by collaborating in addressing speech and voice disorders. The interdisciplinarity between speech therapists and speech therapists contributes to offering patients comprehensive, quality care that meets all their needs in the field of communication and voice.