Okay, so you need to find a speech therapist. It could be to help you following a stroke, if you are having problems swallowing, or to help your child learn to speak. Perhaps you are tired of living with the daily challenges of stuttering or difficulty pronouncing certain sounds. Where do you turn to in order to locate a speech therapist who can help you?

Speech-language pathologists are the professionals who evaluate and treat speech, language, and other related disorders. Speech-language pathologists can work widely with a variety of communication disorders. Others develop a more narrow professional focus, working with childhood language delays, adult rehabilitation, or stuttering. It is important to understand a clinician's background and experience in working with a particular disorder. So how do you begin a search for a properly credentialed speech therapist?

A good starting point is the website of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). ASHA provides credentials for both speech language pathologists and audiologists. On this website, you will find directories which will help you locate certified speech-language pathologists in your area. You will also find helpful consumer information related to speech, language, and swallowing disorders.