to make sound. Once they have identified a problem, the speech pathologist begins treatment. The speech pathologist will use "oral stimulation, activities that develop language and speech skills, and the practice of articulation, instructions in breathing, and sound support" (Hirsch). Speech pathologists work with both children and adults. The patients often suffer from a wide variety of problems: late development, cleft palate, hearing loss, mental retardation, brain damage, stroke, or emotional problems (Reich 177). It is important that children with suspected speech disorders be screened early because research has shown that these disorders can lead to learning disabilities later in life (Kalb and Namuth). The elderly often need assistance as their hearing declines with age.
             Speech pathologists, also called speech therapists, run many different tests on their patients. Once the tests have yielded a sufficient result (enough to make a diagnosis), the speech pathologist will create treatments for the patient. These may include verbal games. The speech pathologist may have the patient work with forming correct sounds, or they might work with breathing patterns. Sometimes the problem is psychological, and then the speech therapist will not only work with the patient and their verbal skills, but he or she might bring in another doctor. The speech pathologist is a member of a group working together for the good of the patient. This group might include: psychiatrists, psychologists, neurologists, otolarynologist, and social workers (Anderson and Snyder).
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