Speech disorders

1. What is "a communication disorder"?

Professionals talk about communication disorder when one or more areas of communication are affected. These areas include (Lechta, 2012):

• ability to make words or sentences;
• using proper vocabulary and comprehension of individual words;
• pronunciation and phonetic aspect speech;
• effective use of speech in social contact.

It means that speech disorders are just a part (although one of the most important parts) of a wider field of communication disorders (those can affect not only spoken language, but all kinds of human communication).

We must not confused communication disorders with a phenomenon of physiological speech deficiencies linked to the developmental stages, etc.

Possible causes od communication disorders

Speech disorders could be caused by brain damag -specifically in the speech centres - or by damage to speech organs. Speech organs consist of

• breathing organs,
• vocal cords, and
• articulators (these include lips, teeth, hard palate, soft palate, and various parts of the tongue).

However, speech could also be affected by mental issues or other serious disabilities (e.g. hearing impairment, autism spectrum disorder, or intellectual disability).

Catogories of speech disorders

Speech disordres may be sorted according to different features, e.g.:

• receptive disorders
• expressive disorders

or

• total disorders
• partial disorders

• symbolic disorders
• non-symbolic disorders

or

• organic disorders
• functional disorders

etc.

Look at the simple overview of classification of speech disorders published online:

2. An overview of speech disorders

List of the most frequented speech disorders is following:

3. How to treat persons with speech disorders

We must always take into account a kind of a particular speech disorder and use appropriate strategy in approach to a person. Some efficient forms and tool in communication with these people may be as follows:

Dysphasia

It's important to focus on the overall development of all aspects of a child's personality, i.e. psychomotor development, perception, ability to express himself/herself, etc. - not just on a spoken language (as it wouldn't be effective).

Aphasia

It depends on how exactly and to what extent the speech ability is damaged - whether the problem is in understanding of speech or its expression. The success of treatment depends on the degree of damage to the brain centers, the age of an individual, on his will and motivation to correct his/her speech, as well as the timeliness and quality of speech therapy.

Mutism

It is usually necessary to find and address the specific factors that caused the loss of speech. These can be mental problems of an individual, but also some issues in a family life or in other social environment. Forcing an individual to speak or emphasize his/her disorder does not help, and may have even an opposite effect.

Articulation disorders

The best way is to correcty any articulation inaccuracies during one's childhood; although it is possible to correct even in adults, they usually do not decide to visit a speech terapist and devote their time and effort to such a correction. Some articulation inaccuracies have even become as usual that they are considered a varinat of the phonetic norm.

Speech fluency disorders

Especially a communication with severely stuttering person can be a challenge; we have to respect his/her pace of speech, as well as other possible manifestations of this disorder (muscle twitching, special movements, etc.). As communication partners, we should be patient and not draw attention to the manifestations of the disorder.

Voice disorders

Some strategies are efficient both as a preventive and therapeutic at the same time. Especially these individuals need to maintain the principles of voice hygiene (not to shout, avoid colds, apply the soft voice beginnings in their speech, etc.). In some cases it can affect even their professional orientation, too.