Speech disorders refer to several conditions in which a person has difficulty communicating by mouth.
See also: Speech impairment
Alternative NamesArticulation deficiency; Voice disorders; Disfluency
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsSpeech is one of the primary ways we communicate with those around us. It is an effective way to monitor normal growth and development as well as to identify potential problems.
Disfluencies are rhythm disorders that are usually characterized by the repetition of a sound, word, or phrase. Stuttering is perhaps the most serious disfluency.
Articulation deficiencies involve sounds made incorrectly or inappropriately.
Voice disorders involve abnormalities in the quality, pitch, and loudness of the sound.
There are many potential causes of speech impairment. The most common cause is mental retardation. Other causes may include:
Delayed speech development is one of the common symptoms of developmentally delayed children. It occurs in 5 - 10% of all children. Boys are three to four times as likely to have speech disorders as girls.
SymptomsDisfluency:
Articulation Deficiency:
Voice disorders:
The following tests can help diagnose speech disorders:
A hearing test may also be done.
TreatmentThe best treatment is prevention and early intervention by a speech pathologist. Speech training is an involved and time-consuming endeavor that can have profound results with consistent treatment.
Expectations (prognosis)The prognosis depends on the cause of the disorder. Usually, speech can be improved with speech therapy. Prognosis improves with early intervention.
ComplicationsSpeech disorders may lead to psychosocial problems associated with ineffective communication.
Calling your health care providerCall your health care provider if:
Mental retardation and hearing loss make children more likely to develop speech disorders. At-risk infants should be referred to an audiologist for an audiology exam. Audiological and speech therapy can then be started, if necessary.
As young children begin to speak, some disfluency is common. Children lack a large vocabulary and have difficulty expressing themselves. This results in broken speech. If you place excessive attention on the disfluency, a stuttering pattern may develop. The best way to prevent stuttering, therefore, is to avoid paying too much attention to the disfluency.
Speech disorders refer to difficulties in producing or articulating sounds and words. They can range from mild dysfluencies, such as stuttering, to more severe impairments, such as apraxia of speech. Speech disorders can affect the clarity, rhythm, and speed of speech, making it challenging for individuals to communicate effectively. Treatment may involve speech therapy and other interventions to improve speech skills.
Scientists of speech pathology study various aspects of speech and language disorders. This includes the causes, development, diagnosis, and treatment of speech and language issues, such as stuttering, articulation disorders, language delays, and voice disorders. They may also research the effectiveness of different therapy techniques and interventions for individuals with communication difficulties.
Yes, children with speech and language disorders can attend regular schools. They may benefit from additional support such as speech therapy, individualized education plans (IEPs), and accommodations in the classroom to help them succeed academically and socially. It's important for parents and school staff to work together to create a supportive environment for the child.
The speech mechanism is important for producing clear and intelligible speech. It involves the coordination of various structures such as the lungs, vocal cords, tongue, lips, and jaw to create different sounds. Understanding the speech mechanism helps in diagnosing and treating speech disorders and improving communication skills.
Dysfluency refers to difficulty speaking fluently, characterized by interruptions in the flow of speech such as repetitions, prolongations, and blocks. It is commonly seen in individuals with speech disorders like stuttering.
Yes, a person's speech patterns, accent, vocabulary, and tone can provide clues to their identity, background, and personality. However, speech alone may not be sufficient for definitive identification and could be influenced by various factors like language ability or speech disorders.
Jon Eisenson has written: 'The psychology of speech' 'Examining for aphasia' 'Language and speech disorders in children' -- subject(s): In infancy & childhood, Language disorders, Language disorders in children, Speech disorders, Speech disorders in children 'Adult aphasia' -- subject(s): Aphasia 'Basic speech'
Kathryn M. Yorkston has written: 'Clinical management of dysarthric speakers' -- subject- s -: Articulation disorders, Diagnosis, Speech disorders, Speech therapy, Treatment 'Management of speech and swallowing disorders in degenerative diseases' -- subject- s -: Neurodegenerative Diseases, Deglutition Disorders, Complications, Speech Disorders, Therapy 'Assessment of intelligibility of dysarthric speech' -- subject- s -: Speech disorders
Suzanne Deplanck de Parrel has written: 'Les troubles de la phonation' -- subject(s): Speech disorders, Speech therapy 'Speech disorders' -- subject(s): Speech disorders, Speech therapy
Barbara Weitzner-Lin has written: 'Communication assessment and intervention with infants and toddlers' -- subject(s): Communication Disorders, Communicative disorders in children, Communicative disorders in infants, Infant, Language disorders, Preschool Child, Speech disorders, Speech disorders in children, Speech therapy for children, Therapy, Treatment
Barbara J. Hall has written: 'Speech, language, and hearing disorders' -- subject(s): Hearing disorders in children, Language disorders in children, Speech disorders in children
Jerome G. Alpiner has written: 'Speech and hearing disorders in children' -- subject(s): Communicative disorders in children, Speech disorders
Henry Head has written: 'Aphasia and kindred disorders of speech' -- subject(s): Aphasia, Speech disorders
Donald B Freed has written: 'Motor speech disorders' -- subject(s): Speech disorders
Pamela Grunwell has written: 'The analysis of phonological disability in children' 'Clinical phonology' -- subject(s): Comparative and general Grammar, Disorders of Speech, Language disorders, Phonetics, Phonology, Physiological aspects, Physiological aspects of Speech, Physiology, Speech, Speech disorders, Speech therapy, Speech therapy for children, Treatment 'Analyzing Cleft Palate Speech'
Yes, children with speech and language disorders can attend regular schools. They may benefit from additional support such as speech therapy, individualized education plans (IEPs), and accommodations in the classroom to help them succeed academically and socially. It's important for parents and school staff to work together to create a supportive environment for the child.
Scientists of speech pathology study various aspects of speech and language disorders. This includes the causes, development, diagnosis, and treatment of speech and language issues, such as stuttering, articulation disorders, language delays, and voice disorders. They may also research the effectiveness of different therapy techniques and interventions for individuals with communication difficulties.
Martin J. Ball has written: 'Methods in clinical phonetics' -- subject(s): Phonetics, Language disorders, Speech disorders 'Celtic Linguistics/Ieithyddiaeth Geltaidd: Readings in the Brythonic Languages Festschrift for T. Arwyn Watkins (Amsterdam Studies in the Theory and History ... IV: Current Issues in Linguistic Theory)' 'Instrumental Clinical Phonetics (Exc Business And Economy (Whurr))' 'Phonetics for Communication Disorders' 'Phonology for communication disorders' -- subject(s): Phonology, Phonetics, Speech disorders, English language, Speech Disorders 'Phonetics for speech pathology' -- subject(s): Phonetics, Speech therapy, Physiology, Speech, Hearing disorders, Speech disorders, Auditory perception 'Mutation in Welsh' -- subject(s): Mutation, Welsh language 'Methods in Clinical Phonetics (Methods In Communication Disorders (Whurr))'