Talehjelp

Talehjelp is a Norwegian term referring to assistance with spoken communication. It covers a range of measures and tools designed to support individuals who have difficulty speaking or who want to improve their speaking abilities. In healthcare and education, talehjelp is typically provided by speech-language pathologists (logopedists) and other professionals. Core activities include assessment of speech, language, and communication abilities; development of individualized intervention plans; and training in articulation, pronunciation, voice, fluency, and expressive language. Talehjelp also encompasses strategies for functional communication in daily life, such as conversation skills and public speaking.

In addition to clinical therapy, talehjelp extends to assistive technologies and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Examples include communication boards, symbol-based systems, text-to-speech apps, and dedicated speech-generating devices that enable expression for those with limited or no spoken output. For people with stuttering, dysarthria, aphasia, or language delays, talehjelp aims to enhance participation in school, work, and social settings.

Contexts for talehjelp include education, healthcare, and workplace environments. The overarching goals are to improve intelligibility, confidence, and social participation, enabling individuals to communicate more effectively in various aspects of life.

Challenges and accessibility vary by region and funding, influencing the availability of specialists and services. The field of speech-language pathology emerged in the early 20th century and is integrated in Norwegian-speaking contexts with inclusive education and universal design for learning.

Etymology: from tale (speech) and hjelp (help). See also logopedi, AAC, stuttering therapy, dysarthria.