From A Conversation Enabler

Alison De Souza, Speech Therapist

ESQ : How did you get involved with speech therapy?

ALISON DE SOUZA: I was always interested in anatomy and physiology and I used to work in the biomedical industry. But that was too molecular and lab-based, and I had little interaction with other people. I wanted to connect with people, and I wanted a balance between arts and science. My mother, who worked in education, suggested I explore speech therapy.

ESQ : Is speech therapy the same as elocution lessons?

ALISON DE SOUZA: Nope. To put it broadly, speech therapy, also known as speech-language therapy or speechlanguage pathology, is the assessment and management of communication and swallowing difficulties/disorders in children and adults.

ESQ : Wait, ‘swallowing’? What’s that got to do with areas of speech?