A condition that makes it difficult to communicate is called a speech impairment (sometimes called speech disorder or speech impediment). Generally, there are multiple types of this disorder. Some people are born with disorders that negatively affect speech. Moreover, some people may develop speech impairment due to certain injuries. Usually, this condition is treated with speech therapy.
In other words, when this condition occurs, you may not understand what other people are saying. If the condition is left untreated, it may lead to other problems, including problems with learning to read and write. According to some research, children with speech disorders may also develop certain mental health problems (such as anxiety or depression).
Types of Speech Impairment
Healthcare professionals have categorized this condition into different types. These include:
- Fluency disorders
- Orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMD)
- Speech sound disorders
- Voice disorders
Fluency Disorders
These conditions affect the flow of an individual’s speech. In normal circumstances, people are fluent when speaking continuously and smoothly. However, if they develop fluency disorders, the speech may involve repeated interruptions. Check below some examples of fluency disorders:
- Stuttering – In such cases, people stutter and they sound like they are trying to say a sound, word, or syllable, but it is not coming out.
- Cluttering – People with this type of fluency disorder often speak quickly without cutting off parts of words.
Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMD)
This is another type of speech impairment, and it negatively affects how you use or move the face, mouth, and tongue muscles. In most cases, people with OMD have difficulty making sounds such as “s” or “sh”.
Speech Sound Disorders
The following diseases negatively affect the ability to make sounds clearly. Check below some examples of speech sound disorders:
- Childhood apraxia of speech
- Dysarthria
- Articulation disorders
- Apraxia in adults
Voice Disorders
There are some voice disorders that may impact the way you speak. For example:
- Hoarseness
- Laryngitis
- Spasmodic dysphonia
How Common Are Speech Disorders?
About 5% of all children between the ages of 3 and 17 have a speech impairment in the United States. However, it often lasts a week or a little longer. Roughly 2% of children who develop voice disorders also have problems with the ability to speak.
When it comes to adults, it is difficult to estimate how many people have speech disorders because speech impairments are mostly linked to another health condition. For instance, about 10% of the United States population stutters.
Symptoms
The symptoms often occur differently among people with speech disorders because they depend on the exact cause. For instance, people with stuttering cannot control the muscles used for speaking, which leads to repeated sounds or syllables. However, people with voice disorders may also experience voice issues, leading to uneven or shaky sounds.
Causes
It is not always possible to determine what causes a voice disorder. Generally, anything that causes damage to the brain or nerves may negatively affect the ability to speak. Check below some causes of speech disorders:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Neurodevelopmental diseases, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), epilepsy, autism spectrum disorder, and others
- Other health conditions, including dementia, brain tumors, or stroke
What Are The Potential Complications of Speech Impairment?
Those who develop this condition may also experience some complications, especially if they do not get treatment. Check below some examples:
- Articulation problems (difficulty making sounds and words)
- Fluency or language disorders
- Voice disorders
- Mental health disorders (including anxiety, depression, decreased self-confidence, and others)
- Social isolation
- Academic difficulties
- Motor skill problems
This document does not contain all the possible complications of this disorder. However, you can consult with your healthcare professional about ways to reduce the risk or even prevent previous complications.
While there is no way to prevent speech disorders, you can take some steps to prevent voice disorders. These conditions may negatively affect the ability to speak.
Diagnosis
Usually, the diagnosis of this disorder begins with a comprehensive physical examination. Your child may also be referred to a pediatrician for a developmental evaluation. If he/she suspects a speech disorder, you or your child may be referred to a speech-language pathologist (SLP). This is a healthcare professional specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders that impact the ability to speak.
Treatment
While the primary treatment for people with speech impairment is speech therapy, doctors may also recommend voice therapy. You may need voice therapy if the ability to speak is affected by a voice disorder.
Sometimes, people may get rid of speech impairment with speech therapy. This treatment is less effective if a speech disorder occurs due to an underlying condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I go to the emergency room?
Immediately contact 911 or go to the nearest emergency room (ER) if you notice someone suddenly lose the ability to speak. This can be a symptom of stroke or head injury that affects the way a person speaks. Check below some warning signs of a stroke:
- Sudden loss of balance and vision in one or both eyes
- Muscle weakness or paralysis that causes a droop on one or both sides of the face
What is the difference between a speech impairment and a language disorder?
While speech disorders occur when a person’s mouth, jaw, tongue, and vocal tract do not work together to make sounds and words, language disorders occur when someone does not understand what other people are saying.
How do you treat speech impairment?
Usually, doctors recommend the following treatments for people with speech disorders. These include relaxation strategies, breathing techniques, posture control, oral-motor exercises, speech therapy, and others. Ask your healthcare professional if you have any other questions.
