Did you know that communication disorders affect 5% to 10% of Americans?
Unfortunately, not everyone is so fortunate to be oblivious to their impairments. Sometimes speech impediments become obvious, often going unnoticed until social situations call for you to use your voice.
For this reason, it’s important to understand the different types of speech impediments. By having the knowledge to recognize them, you’ll be able to receive the help you need.
To help, we’re going to talk about the different speech disorders that you may be struggling with in the information below.
Articulation Disorders
This is a speech impairment that affects the production of speech sounds. There are many different types of articulation disorders, each of which can impact speech in different ways.
The most common type of articulation disorder is misarticulation. It’s characterized by the substitution, omission, or distortion of speech sounds. Other types include phonemic disorders, phonetic disorders, and motor speech disorders. Each type can have a different impact on speech, depending on the specific sounds that are affected.
Treatment for articulation disorders involves speech therapy. This can help to improve the production of speech sounds.
Fluency Disorders
Fluency disorders are types of speech impediments that make it difficult for a person to speak without interruption. The most common type of fluency disorder is stuttering. This is when a person has difficulty saying certain words or sounds.
Other types include cluttering. This is when a person speaks quickly and with many repetitions and pauses. And ataxia is when a person has difficulty coordinating their muscles to produce speech.
Respiration Disorders
Some common respiration disorders include laryngitis, vocal cord paralysis, and tracheomalacia. These disorders can cause severe problems with a person’s ability to produce speech.
Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx, which is the voice box. This can lead to hoarseness, loss of voice, and difficulty speaking.
Vocal cord paralysis is a condition in which the vocal cords are unable to move properly. This can cause difficulty producing sound, or a complete loss of voice.
Tracheomalacia is a condition in which the trachea, or windpipe, is weakened. This can cause a person to have difficulty breathing, and can also lead to problems with speech production.
Phonation Disorders
There are several types of phonation disorders, which can impede speech. One type is glottal insufficiency, which occurs when the glottis, or opening between the vocal cords, is too narrow. This narrowing can be caused by things like a tumor or paralysis of the vocal cords.
Another type is breath support deficiency. This means that the person lacks the ability to support their voice with breath. This can be caused by lung disease, obesity, or many other conditions.
Understanding the Different Types of Speech Impediments
There are many different types of speech impediments that are diagnosed today, ranging from mild to severe. These can be very frustrating for those who have them. But there are many different treatment options available that can help to improve the condition.
If you or someone you know has a speech impediment, be sure to reach out to a professional for help. With proper diagnosis and treatment, most people with a speech impediment can improve their communication skills.
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