Logopædi

Logopædi, also known in English as logopedics or speech-language pathology, is the health science and profession dedicated to the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of communication and swallowing disorders across the lifespan. The term combines roots referring to speech and education/learning, and it is used in several European languages. The field covers a wide range of conditions affecting speech sounds, language development and comprehension, voice, fluency, social communication, and swallowing safety.

Practitioners in logopædi, or speech-language pathologists, develop individualized therapy plans after screening and comprehensive assessment. They work with children who have articulation or language delays, as well as with adults who have acquired communication disorders due to stroke, brain injury, neurodegenerative diseases, or other conditions. Services may occur in clinics, schools, hospitals, and private practices, and increasingly through telepractice. Teams often include educators, doctors, and other therapists to support rehabilitation and participation in daily life.

Education and professional regulation typically require a specialized degree in logopædi or speech-language pathology, supervised clinical practice, and licensure or certification, with continuing education to maintain credentials. Evidence-based practice guides assessment and intervention, using standardized tests and, when appropriate, instrumental methods for voice, swallowing, or airway assessment.

Logopædi emphasizes collaboration with families and communities, aiming to improve communication access and inclusion. The field also engages in research on early language development, neurogenic communication disorders, stuttering, and dysphagia, continually refining approaches to support safer and more effective communication.