Professional speech pathologists promote the effective functioning of speech, hearing, and language mechanisms in individuals by properly evaluating, identifying, managing, and preventing speech, language, voice, fluency, cognitive, and other related communication disorders, as well as feeding and swallowing problems. They diagnose and evaluate speech problems, such as fluency (stuttering) and articulation, voice disorders, and language problems, such as aphasia and delayed language, and related disorders, such as dysphagia (swallowing difficulties).