U.S. Speech Therapy Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Type (Speech Disorders, Language Disorders, Neurological Conditions, Swallowing Disorders, and Others), By Age (Pediatrics and Adults), and Forecast, 2022-2029

The U.S. speech therapy market size was valued at USD 4.13 billion in 2021. The market is projected to grow from USD 4.35 billion in 2022 to USD 6.52 billion by 2029, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.0% during the forecast period. The COVID-19 pandemic has been unprecedented and staggering, with speech therapy experiencing lower-than-anticipated demand across the U.S. compared to pre-pandemic levels. Based on our analysis, the U.S. market exhibited a slower growth of 2.4% in 2020 as compared to 2019.

Speech-language pathology is a field of rehabilitation services provided by speech therapists or Speech-language Pathologists (SLP) treating speech impairment, language, communication, or swallowing problems among individuals. The therapy includes intervention services, focusing on improving a patient’s speech and abilities to understand and express language, including nonverbal language.

• According to the data published in WebMD LLC., in 2020, one in 12 kids in the U.S. face language and speech disorders.

Thus, the increasing prevalence of speech disorders among children and adults in the country is increasing the demand for speech-language pathology services among the U.S. population. This, coupled with increasing initiatives by the government to promote speech and therapy care among the affected population in the U.S., is surging the demand and adoption of speech therapy during the forecast period. Additionally, the presence of favorable reimbursement policies in the U.S. and the rising shift toward teletherapy are expected to offer lucrative growth opportunities to the market players.

COVID-19 IMPACT

Decline in Patient Visits Hindered Market Growth during COVID-19

The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic had a minimal impact on the market. A decline in the number of referrals to SLP was observed in the country during the pandemic, owing to lockdown restrictions imposed by the government. Also, limited infrastructure for virtual speech therapy limited the adoption rate of these therapies among the U.S. population.

• According to a research article by Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy in April 2021, it was reported that there were several difficulties while accessing teletherapy among school children in the U.S. during the pandemic. Some of these were poor attendance during tele-therapy sessions, children’s difficulty with WiFi access at home, and limited infrastructure for tele-therapy faced by both SLPs and the patients. This has significantly reduced the adoption of these services during the pandemic.

However, the U.S. government, on the other hand, reallocated speech-language pathologists to provide essential rehabilitation services to patients recovering from critical coronavirus cases. This compensated for the decline in inpatient visits in the U.S. from Q1 to Q4 2020.

• For instance, according to an article published by Health Leaders, it was observed that speech-language pathologists were efficient in providing rehabilitation services to critically ill COVID-19 patients for the damage caused by mechanical ventilators, which included injury to vocal cords and muscles.

This, along with reimbursement policies by the U.S. government for virtual services, augmented the demand for these services during 2020.

Also, during the post-pandemic situation, a significant shift was observed among the U.S. population for these services. This was further fueled by the introduction of virtual programs, special education, and awareness campaigns by major companies, which increased the adoption rate and have been instrumental in the increasing growth rate of the market during the study period.

• For instance, in May 2022, Speech & Hearing Center hosted an event in recognition of Better Hearing and Speech Month in the U.S. In this event, they distributed educational contents and medical kits at an affordable price to promote the awareness of speech therapy among the general population.

LATEST TRENDS

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Shift of Patients toward Teleconsultancy for Speech and Language Therapy

Speech and language therapy can be provided in various ways, including real-time visits via audio, video, or both, by avoiding actual contact between patients and therapists. Also, several medical associations have observed that teletherapy is an effective model for patients with articulation disorders, dysarthria, aphasia, and others.

For instance, in 2020, in response to the pandemic, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) published an official statement on the use of telepractice. It offered speech-language pathologists an opportunity to deliver care by using this new model during the pandemic.

Also, to improve user experience, market players are already taking the initiative and citing the opportunity to fulfill patients’ demands through teletherapy for deafness and other communication disorders. For instance, in July 2020, Therapy Solutions Inc. arranged a virtual summer camp at the Philadelphia Zoo for its younger patients to provide therapy sessions during the pandemic. Hence, such initiatives by market players and medical associations have led to the introduction of a new approach for consulting patients, i.e., teletherapy and is gaining huge acceptance among speech-language pathologists and the patient population in the country.

According to an article published by iTechArt in November 2021, it was reported that 60% of the surveyed speech language pathologists preferred telehealth for its convenience of use and easy accessibility throughout rural, urban, and suburban locations. Also, 68% of the surveyed speech therapists ensured that they would adopt telehealth services in the near future.

DRIVING FACTORS

Rising Prevalence of Speech & Language Disorders in the U.S. to Fuel Market Growth

The increasing number of people in the U.S. suffering from speech & language disorders, such as articulation, aphasia, stuttering, and others, generates a huge demand for effective treatment therapy.

• According to the National Aphasia Association, more than 2 million adults in the U.S. were suffering from aphasia in 2021.

Additionally, it is estimated by various studies that among all patients suffering from neurological conditions, such as Parkinson's and stroke, a higher percentage of patients suffer from speech and voice disorders that can affect the quality of life of a patient if not treated properly.

• For instance, according to an article by Parkinson’s Foundation in 2022, it was reported that every year nearly 60,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Also, according to a research article published in Springer Nature Limited in 2021, 90% of Parkinson’s disease patients develop Hypokinetic dysarthria, which is a complex motor speech impairment.

Thus, such statistics, along with the presence of favorable reimbursement policies for speech-language pathology services in the U.S., are improving the demand for these therapies in the country, and will subsequently propel the U.S. speech therapy market growth during the forecast period.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

High Cost of Treatment and Shortage of Speech Therapists Responsible for Hindering Market Growth

The increasing prevalence of speech disorders, coupled with the rising early diagnosis rate and demand for effective treatment, are major factors anticipated to propel the need for this therapy in the U.S. However, the cost-to-benefit ratio of the therapy is not justified. For instance, according to an article published by the National Centre for Biotechnology Information, it was observed that speech disorders, such as apraxia and stuttering, could easily take around 6 to 18 months of treatment. However, still, the condition cannot be fully cured. Also, according to CostHelper, Inc., speech therapy can cost around USD 250 to USD 700 for an evaluation and USD 100 to USD 250 per hour for ongoing sessions. This huge cost structure is not affordable for the majority of the U.S. population and hence limits the adoption rate of this service.

Also, the shortage of SLP has been observed across the country. According to the Chairman of Texas Woman's University, in Texas, there is a need for speech therapists to assess and treat more than 200,000 public school students between the ages of 3 to 21 every year. Thus, the high cost of these services and the shortage of speech-language pathologists result in the unavailability of such therapy in rural areas of the U.S. and subsequently restrict the growth of the market in the country.

SEGMENTATION

By Type Analysis

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Rising Prevalence of Key Speech Disorders Led to Segmental Dominance

Based on type, the market is segmented into speech disorders, language disorders, neurological conditions, swallowing disorders, and others. The speech disorders segment held a dominant share in 2021, which is attributable to the increasing prevalence of a number of speech disorders, including aphasia, apraxia, articulation disorders, and others. This is resulting in the rising patient population in the U.S. and leading to the rising demand for available treatment options. The neurological conditions segment is expected to register a significant CAGR due to the increasing number of patients seeking effective therapy for neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disorders and dysarthria.

• According to the data published by Parkinson's Foundation, in 2020, every year, around 60,000 patients in the U.S are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, and around 70.0% to 90.0% of these patients suffer from dysarthria.

On the other hand, the language, swallowing disorders, and other segments are anticipated to grow at a comparatively moderate CAGR during the forecast period due to the increasing number of rehabilitation service-providing companies in the U.S. and the gradually increasing patient population with aphasia and traumatic brain injury undergoing rehabilitation therapy.

By Age Analysis

Pediatrics Segment to Dominate Market during Forecast Period

Based on age, the market is categorized into pediatrics and adults. Among them, the pediatrics segment held a dominating share in 2020. The dominance is due to the increasing incidence of speech-language and swallowing disorders among children and the surging initiatives by the government to provide care across all schools and education facilities in the U.S. This is alternatively increasing the number of diagnosed children requiring this therapy and boosting the demand and adoption of the service.

• According to the data published in WebMD LLC. In 2020, 1 in 12 kids in the U.S. faced language and speech disorders.

However, the adult segment is anticipated to grow at a significant CAGR owing to the rising prevalence of speech and voice disorders among the adult population in the country.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Inorganic Growth Strategies and Launch of New Clinics by Key Players Led to Market Dominance

The market is characterized by the presence of tier 1, tier 2, and tier 3 players. Expansion of healthcare settings across the U.S. by the key companies is one of the primary reasons attributed to the increasing U.S. speech therapy market share of the tier 1 companies such as Kindred Healthcare, LLC, Genesis Rehab Services, and BenchMark Physical Therapy Institute during the study period.

• For instance, in February 2020, Kindred Healthcare, LLC and UofL Health announced a joint venture to build and operate an inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Louisville, Kentucky to focus on acute rehabilitation for patients who suffer from injuries or disorders.

Also, a few market players, including Reliant Rehabilitation and Humanus Corporation are focusing on adopting growth strategies, such as partnerships and mergers, on expanding their customer base in the U.S.

• In November 2020, Diversicare Healthcare Services, Inc. selected Reliant Rehabilitation as its therapy services provider in order to provide the highest quality therapy services to its patients in the U.S.

Other prominent players operating in the U.S. market include Smart Speech Therapy, Therapy Solutions Inc., and Rehabilitation Associates, Inc.

LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED:

• Kindred Healthcare, LLC (U.S.)


• Genesis Rehab Services (U.S.)


• BenchMark Physical Therapy Institute (U.S.)


• Reliant Rehabilitation (U.S.)


• Humanus Corporation (U.S.)


• Smart Speech Therapy (U.S.)


• Therapy Solutions Inc. (U.S.)


• Rehabilitation Associates, Inc. (U.S.)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• June 2022- UCI Health and Kindred Healthcare, LLC. announced a joint venture to build and operate 52-bed, 68,000 sq. ft. inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Orange County.


• May 2022 - BenchMark Physical Therapy Institute opened an Indian Springs Village outpatient clinic in the Birmingham area to provide physical therapy, including manual therapy, injury prevention, and speech therapy.


• March 2021 - Kindred Healthcare, LLC and OSF HealthCare announced a partnership agreement to provide rehabilitation and Long-term Acute Care (LTAC) hospital services in central Illinois.


• March 2021 - BenchMark Physical Therapy Institute opened its Lexington-Hamburg outpatient clinic in the U.S. This new clinic aims to provide services such as physical therapy, and speech therapy.


• November 2020 - Diversicare Healthcare Services, Inc. selected Reliant Rehabilitation as its therapy services provider in order to provide the highest quality therapy services to its patients in the U.S.

REPORT COVERAGE

An Infographic Representation of U.S. Speech Therapy Market

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The U.S. speech therapy market research report provides a granular overview of the industry by performing corporate analysis and accurate data. It focuses on key aspects such as leading companies, type, and age. Besides, it offers insights into market trends and highlights key industry developments. In addition to the factors mentioned above, the report analyzes and understands several factors that have contributed to the growth of the market in recent years.

Report Scope & Segmentation