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Communication Disorders

Communication Disorders

One of the most common disabilities is communication disorders: problems with speech and language. Although the terms speech and language are often used interchangeably, they are not the same. Language is the communication of ideas using symbols and includes written language, sign language, gestures and othermodes of communication in addition to oral speech. Speech refers to the formation and sequencing of sounds. It is quite possible to have a speech disorder without a language disorder or to have a language disorder without a speech disorder.


Speech and language disorders refer to problems in communication and related areas such as oral motor function. These delays and disorders range from simple sound substitutions to the inability to understand or use language or use the oral-motor mechanism for functional speech and feeding. Some causes of speech and language disorders include hearing loss, neurological disorders, brain injury, mental retardation, drug abuse, physical impairments such as cleft lip or palate, and vocal abuse or misuse. Frequently, however, the cause is unknown.


 

Characteristics

A child's communication is considered delayed when the child is noticeably behind his or her peers in the acquisition of speech and/or language skills. Sometimes a child will have greater receptive (understanding) than expressive (speaking) language skills, but this is not always the case.


Speech disorders refer to difficulties producing speech sounds or problems with voice quality. They might be characterized by an interruption in the flow or rhythm of speech, such as stuttering, which is called dysfluency. Speech disorders may be problems with the way sounds are formed, called articulation or phonological disorders, or they may be difficulties with the pitch, volume or quality of the voice. There may be a combination of several problems. People with speech disorders have trouble using some speech sounds, which can also be a symptom of a delay. They may say "see" when they mean "ski" or they may have trouble using other sounds like "l" or "r". Listeners may have trouble understanding what someone with a speech disorder is trying to say. People with voice disorders may have trouble with the way their voices sound.


A language disorder is an impairment in the ability to understand and/or use words in context, both verbally and nonverbally. Some characteristics of language disorders include improper use of words and their meanings, inability to express ideas, inappropriate grammatical patterns, reduced vocabulary and inability to follow directions. One or a combination of these characteristics may occur in children who are affected by language learning disabilities or developmental language delay. Children may hear or see a word but not be able to understand its meaning. They may have trouble getting others to understand what they are trying to communicate.


Causes

Known causes of communication disorders include:

  • Hearing Impairment: Full or partial hearing impairment may cause difficulty in speech and language development. An assessment of hearing ability is one of the first steps in the investigation of speech and language problems.
  • Physical Disability: Cleft lip and palate, or malformations of the mouth or nose may cause communication disorders. More involved disabilities such as cerebral palsy may preclude any speech at all and for these non-verbal children, augmentative communication methods may be used.
  • Developmental Disability: Some children (not all) with a developmental disability or Down syndrome may be slower to learn to talk and may need extra assistance.

Communication Disorders - Subtypes

Communication Disorders are characterized by difficulties with speech and language and include:

  • Speech Disorders
    • Developmental Phonological Disorders - these are a group of language disorders, whose cause is unclear, that affect children’s ability to develop easily understood speech patterns by the time they are four years old. Developmental phonological disorders can also affect children's ability to learn to read and spell.
    • Voice Disorders - consist of any change in the voice which affects the sound of the voice and ability to communicate in everyday situations. Voice disorders may occur from inappropriate use of the voice, medical conditions, following illness, damage to the nerves supplying the larynx, injury to the larynx or from neurological disorders.
    • Fluency Disorders - output problems which affect the ability of the speaker to control the timing and sequencing of sounds.

  • Language Disorders