Speech and Language Therapy
At the BHT CLINIC Speech and Language Therapy Department, we offer personalized evaluation and therapy services for communication, voice, and swallowing disorders in children and adults.
About the department
Communication is one of the most fundamental and indispensable needs of human life. We need healthy speech and language skills to express our thoughts, build social bonds, and maintain our daily lives independently. At the BHT CLINIC İstanbul Tema Hastanesi Speech and Language Therapy Department, we offer comprehensive services aimed at maximizing the communicative potential of individuals of all ages. We are a reliable center for families seeking a pediatric speech therapist and a modern healthcare destination for adult patients in need of speech therapy.
We provide services across a wide spectrum, from developmental language delays in childhood to speech loss caused by neurological diseases in adulthood. Our department focuses not only on the act of speaking itself but on all interconnected processes such as language comprehension, voice production, breath coordination, and swallowing functions. Working with a multidisciplinary approach, our specialists are in constant communication with the Otorhinolaryngology (ENT), Neurology, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Physical Therapy departments.
Our goal is to enable our patients to express themselves freely and improve their quality of life. We use evidence-based methods in the light of modern science in our personalized therapy programs. We stand by you at every step of your or your child's communication journey in a warm, supportive, and reassuring therapy environment.
SCOPE OF SERVICES
WHEN SHOULD YOU CONSULT?
Which Conditions Are Treated?
Speech and language therapy is a highly sought-after service. In our department, a wide range of communication and swallowing problems seen in children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly are successfully evaluated and treated.
Delayed Speech and Language
This is a condition where a child's language skills fall behind the expected level for their chronological age. Within the scope of delayed speech treatment, the child's receptive (understanding) and expressive (speaking) language skills are evaluated in detail. By identifying why the child is not speaking or using fewer words than their peers, play-based and natural interaction-based therapy plans are created.
Stuttering and Fluency Disorders
This occurs when the natural flow of speech is interrupted by repetitions, prolongations, or blocks (pauses). Although stuttering usually begins in childhood, it can continue into adulthood or, rarely, emerge later in life. During stuttering treatment, techniques to increase speech fluency are taught, while skills to manage anxiety and stress during communication are also supported.
Aphasia and Neurological Language Disorders
This is the loss of speech and language resulting from damage to the language centers of the brain due to causes such as stroke, brain hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury, or tumors. Aphasia treatment involves an intensive and structured process aimed at enabling the patient to communicate again. Depending on the patient's condition, the goal is to restore word-finding, sentence comprehension, reading, and writing skills.
Voice Disorders
This is when the volume, pitch, or quality of the voice is inappropriate for the person's age and gender. After the medical treatment of conditions such as nodules, polyps, cysts, or vocal cord paralysis, voice therapy is applied to teach the correct and healthy use of the voice. Vocal hygiene training is also provided for professional voice users (teachers, singers, call center employees).
Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia)
This is the inability to safely transfer food or liquids from the mouth to the stomach. It can develop due to neurological diseases, head and neck cancers, or aging. In swallowing disorders therapy, special exercises, maneuvers, and diet modifications are applied to ensure safe swallowing. This minimizes the risk of food entering the lungs (aspiration) during feeding.
Articulation and Phonological Disorders
This is when an individual cannot produce certain sounds (letters) in their native language correctly or uses them in the wrong places within a word. For example, substituting one sound for another, such as saying 'wabbit' instead of 'rabbit', falls into this category. During therapy, the correct placement and form of incorrectly produced sounds are taught to increase speech intelligibility.
Diagnostic Methods
The first step to a successful therapy process is an accurate and comprehensive evaluation. A detailed medical history and clinical observation process are conducted for every patient who applies to our department. Natural observations in a play environment are prioritized for pediatric patients, while structured clinical interviews are used for adults.
During the diagnostic phase, standardized speech and language tests appropriate for the patient's age group and complaints are administered. Through these tests, the individual's language development or current language skills are objectively measured. For voice and swallowing disorders, we collaborate with Otorhinolaryngology and Neurology specialists; endoscopic or radiological imaging results are reviewed by the therapist, and the therapy plan is shaped based on these data.
Treatment Methods and Applications
There is no one-size-fits-all treatment approach in speech and language therapy; each individual's needs, strengths, and social environment are different. Therefore, all therapy programs at BHT CLINIC are designed to be completely personalized.
Therapies for children are generally play-based. By using materials and activities that attract the child's attention, the development of speech and language skills is supported within a natural process. Family education is an integral part of pediatric therapy; parents are taught supportive exercises they can do at home.
For adults, more structured cognitive-linguistic exercises, breath and voice coordination practices, and maneuvers to strengthen swallowing muscles are applied. Keeping the patient's motivation high and increasing communication success in daily life are our main goals during the therapy process.
Technology and Team
BHT CLINIC İstanbul Tema Hastanesi is a JCI-accredited healthcare institution providing services at international quality standards. As a reflection of this understanding of quality, our Speech and Language Therapy department consists of expert therapists who follow current scientific approaches.
Our therapy rooms are designed both to make children feel comfortable and safe, and to meet the privacy and comfort needs of our adult patients. Thanks to the multidisciplinary working environment our hospital provides, other medical conditions accompanying speech and language problems can be rapidly evaluated by relevant specialist physicians under the same roof.
When Should You See a Specialist?
Early intervention in communication and swallowing problems directly affects treatment success. If you or your child experience one or more of the following situations, it is recommended to consult a specialist without delay:
- For children: If they are not producing meaningful words by 18 months, cannot form simple sentences by age 2-3, their speech is not understood by people outside the family, or you observe stuttering while they speak.
- For adults: If there is a loss in speaking, understanding, reading, or writing skills following a stroke or brain trauma.
- Voice issues: If you experience hoarseness, voice breaks, vocal fatigue, or breathlessness lasting longer than two weeks.
- Swallowing issues: If you frequently cough or feel like choking while eating or drinking, or feel that food is getting stuck in your throat.
- Fluency issues: If you repeat or prolong words or syllables, or have difficulty starting to speak.
Appointment and Consultation Process
We are here to support the communication skills and improve the quality of life for you or your loved ones. It is very easy to get detailed information about the services offered at the BHT CLINIC İstanbul Tema Hastanesi Speech and Language Therapy department and to schedule an evaluation session.
To book your appointment, you can call our 24/7 call center at 0850 811 34 00 or quickly complete your process through our online appointment page. During your first consultation, a detailed evaluation will be made, and the most suitable therapy roadmap will be determined together with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can stuttering be completely cured?
Stuttering can largely be brought under control, especially when noticed in early childhood and supported with appropriate therapy methods. In adults, the main goal of therapy is to teach techniques that increase speech fluency and manage anxiety during communication, thereby improving the quality of life.
When should my child start speaking?
Generally, babies are expected to say their first meaningful words between 12-18 months. By the time they reach 2 years of age, they are expected to have a vocabulary of at least 50 words and form simple two-word sentences. If there is a significant delay in these developmental milestones, a speech and language therapist should be consulted without delay.
Is speech and language therapy effective for adults?
Yes, therapy is highly effective in conditions seen in adults such as aphasia (language loss after a stroke), voice disorders, stuttering, and swallowing disorders. Thanks to the brain's ability to reorganize itself, lost skills can be regained in adulthood, or the current condition can be significantly improved.
Should I apply directly to you for hoarseness?
For hoarseness lasting longer than two weeks, it is medically necessary to first be examined by an Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) specialist. If the ENT specialist evaluates your vocal cords and deems it appropriate, support is sought from a speech and language therapist to learn how to use the vocal cords correctly and ensure vocal hygiene.
How long does the therapy process take?
The duration of therapy varies from person to person depending on the type and severity of the problem, the patient's age, motivation, and regular participation in therapy. In some cases, significant progress is made within a few months, while in neurological or more complex cases, this process may spread over a longer period.
Physicians in this department
The physician list for this unit is being updated. Please call 0850 811 34 00 for appointments and information.