Being a Speech Therapist in Singapore at Bridging the Gap: How To Get Started and Become the Best Speech Therapist You Can Be
Speech Therapy aims to intervene and help individuals with concerns on communication such as speech, language, voice, fluency, and other cognitive communication, as well as swallowing disorders.
Speech Therapists (also known as Speech-Language Pathologists) work with individuals ranging from infants to elderly ages, to provide assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of communication disorders. Their ultimate goal is to help individuals achieve effective communication in all areas of life, including home, work, school, and social situations.
At Bridging the Gap, our speech therapists will conduct two assessments to identify your child’s strengths and weaknesses and develop a customized intervention plan tailored to his or her specific needs.
Methodologies Our Speech Therapists Use:
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Articulation Therapy
Focuses on helping children to pronounce sounds correctly through proper tongue, lip, and jaw movements.
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Language Therapy
Intervenes to address language disorders such as difficulty with vocabulary, grammar, and syntax. Activities such as reading, writing and storytelling may be involved.
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Fluency Therapy
Addresses issues and concerns on stuttering or other fluency disorders. Techniques that are helpful may include breathing exercises, speaking at a slower rate, and practicing speaking in a relaxed environment.
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Voice Therapy
Aims to help children with concerns on voice disorders such as hoarseness or a weak voice. Exercises involved in this therapy are improvement of breathing and vocal cord function, and techniques on strained voice reduction.
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Cognitive-Communication Therapy
Used to assist children who have difficulty with memory, attention and problem-solving. Some activities in the session may include the enhancement of memory and attention, as well as strategies and techniques for daily communication.
What Does A Speech Therapist Do?
1. Conduct Assessments
An evaluation on a child’s social communication, language, play skills, voice, fluency, and swallowing abilities to determine the nature or extent of one’s disorder.
2. Develop Treatment Plans
A customized treatment plan will be created based on the given assessment; one that is tailored to develop intervention targeting specific goals necessary for the child.
3. Provide Therapy
These sessions may be one-on-one or in a group setting. Play-based activities and exercises to help children improve communication and swallowing abilities will be facilitated.
Therapy out of the clinical room – addressing the child’s sensory needs too
4. Work With Other Healthcare Professionals
To ensure that a child receives comprehensive care, collaboration with other healthcare professionals (e.g., developmental paediatricians, occupational therapists, physical therapist) is involved.
5. Utilize Relevant Technology
Alternative communication devices may be used to help children improve their communication skills.
Who Needs Speech Therapy?
- Children experiencing speech and language delays or disorders
- Child with social communication deficits or disorders
- Individuals with neurological disorders
- Individuals with voice disorders
- Individuals with fluency disorders
- Individuals with swallowing difficulties
*In general, speech therapy is beneficial for individuals of all ages who experience communication and/or swallowing difficulty or concerns that adversely affects their day to day living.
How Does Speech Therapy Help Children?
- Develop conversational and communication skills to improve interactions with others
- Communicate and express thoughts, ideas, and needs in a clearer way
- Behave in various social situations and settings appropriately
- Follow the rules for conversation, which includes personal space and choice of words
- Improve articulation and clarity of words for less confusion and frustration from both communicator and communication partner(s)
- To understand non-verbal communication skills such as facial expressions or body language
- Put words together to form correct sentence structures
- Understand the meaning of more words and how to use them
- Use alternative communication devices such as picture exchange communication systems, AAC or text-to-speech programs
Goals of Speech Therapy
1. Improve Speech Production
2. Enhance Language Skills
3. Develop and Enhance Social Communication & Skills
4. Improve Swallowing Abilities
5. Improve Quality of Life
6. Betters Academic and/or Occupational Performance
Hear From Our Principal Speech Therapist
Xiao Ying graduated in 2012 with Master of Science in Speech and Language Pathology from the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. She is a Fully registered Speech and Language Therapist with the Allied Health Professional Council. She has over 10 years of experience in the field. Her areas of specialization include speech, language, fluency (stuttering) and social communication delays/ disorders, and communication difficulties associated with other disorders, such as the Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Intellectual Disability, and Cerebral Palsy.
Other than supporting the communication needs of children spanning from 1 to 18 years old at the Child Development Unit and the Rehabilitation Centre in NUH as a Senior Speech Therapist, she also provided direct intervention with children and worked with their parents/ caregivers, teachers, doctors, and other allied health professionals to support their communication needs outside of the therapy room.
Xiao Ying believes that human connection is an integral part of the human experience. She strives to understand and connect with each child, and to create a learning experience for them that they enjoy and seek. It is her privilege to be able to help the children who struggle with communication connect with their parents/ caregivers, their teachers, their friends, and the other significant people in their lives.
How To Become A Speech Therapist In Singapore?
1. Obtain A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree In Speech and Language Therapy From A Recognized Institution
There are several universities in Singapore and around the world that offer degree programs in Speech and Language Therapy. Check with the Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC) in Singapore for a list of recognized institutions.
2. Complete a Clinical Practicum
Most Speech and Language Therapy programs require students to complete a certain number of clinical hours working with clients under the supervision of a licensed speech therapist.
3. Register with The Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC)
In Singapore, speech therapists are regulated by the AHPC. To practice as a speech therapist, you must register with the AHPC and obtain a valid license.
4. Meet Continuing Education Requirements
To maintain your license to practice as a speech therapist in Singapore, you must meet continuing education requirements set by the AHPC.
5. Apply For Jobs or Start A Private Practice
Once you have obtained your degree, completed your clinical practicum, and obtained your license, you can apply for jobs as a speech therapist in hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centres, or other healthcare settings.
Alternatively, you may choose to start your own private practice.
Hear From Our Parents
I have been seeing great improvements on my child in terms of the clarity of his words. So happy to hear that he has been using his words to say what he wants. And I’m grateful that I can finally have a conversation with my son!
Nate’s Mummy
My daughter is always so excited to go to Bridging the Gap! She loves the gym and the teachers too. Me and my wife are so relieved to see her so eager to go to school. Also, we are happy to see that she can say what she wants, and she also starts to play with us at home too.
Arya’s Daddy
My little girl has been very shy and doesn’t have the courage to talk and play with her friends because most of the time she is not understood by her friends. Now, she is more confident and does not speak so fast now. Happy with what we have been seeing from our daughter!
Daisy’s Mummy