Speech disorders: Types, symptoms, causes, and treatment

 

Speech Disorders

When an individual is not capable to create words or produce sounds that are necessary to speak, the condition is stated as a speech disorder. Some people miscalculate speech disorders as speech-language disorders, but speech disorders are not precisely like language disorders. Speech disorders avoid an individual from making accurate sounds and language disorders are described as debility to learn words or understand what others say. Speech and language disorders prevent a person from expressing his/her opinions and feelings to others.

Most common types of speech disorders:

Stuttering

This speech disorder interferes with the movement of speech. Stuttering involves troubles including repetition (reluctantly repeats words, sounds, or vowels), blocks (speech sounds or words are stuck), prolongation (stretching of specific sounds or words). Symptoms of stuttering may vary and may become serious in case of stress, frustration, or excitement. Stuttering may reflect both physical and developmental symptoms including unexpected head movements, speedy blinking, clasped fists, lip shivers, and strained face and shoulders.

Apraxia of speech

The typical term apraxia is used for brain harm that weakens the motor skills of a person and it may influence any specific part of the body. Verbal apraxia or apraxia of speech meant the diminishing of motor skills that impacts the person’s competence to form appropriate sounds or speech. They know what they intend to speak but still are incapable to create the right sounds.

Dysarthria

This speech disorder appears due to brain destruction that impairs the muscles in the lips, tongue, face, throat, or chest of the person. Ineffective muscles in these body parts make it complicated to communicate. Symptoms of dysarthria include mumbling, incoherent speech, quiet or soft speech, speaking very rapidly or too gradually, and problems moving the tongue or mouth.

Orofacial myofunctional disorders

These disorders arise because of unusual movement models of the mouth and face. Unusual growth and development of facial muscles and bones can develop in problematic speech. People with orofacial myofunctional disorders may have difficulty talking, eating, drinking, swallowing, and breathing through the nose.

Articulation disorders

Articulation or speech sound disorders are most popular in very young kids. These children are not capable to generate certain sounds. Certain sounds or words may be altered when trying to speak, such as producing ‘th’ sound instead of ‘s’ sound.

Voice disorders

Resonance or voice disorders appear when there is a difficulty with volume, pitch, or voice quality that makes the hearer inept to recognize what is said. These disorders may also produce distress or pain when speaking.

Symptoms

The indications and symptoms of speech disorders vary depending on the root cause and brutality of the disorder. The most widespread symptoms of speech disorders include:

·         Gentle speaking

·         Misrepresenting sounds

·         Repeating or elongating sounds

·         Combining syllables or sounds to words

·         Reshuffling syllables

·         Problem pronouncing right words

·         Battling to produce the exact sound or word

·         Hoarse voice

Causes

Speech is the approach to communication. Speech expands inherently just like other types of growth and development. Speech-language disorders are common amongst preschool-age kids and influence the nerves, muscles, vocal cords, and other structures in the interior of the throat.

·         Muscle fragility

·         Brain harm due to a head injury or stroke

·         Vocal cord unresponsiveness

·         Nodules or growths on vocal cords

·         Injured vocal cords

·         Respiratory weakness

Certain progressive or medical conditions may also cause speech disorders

·         Deteriorating diseases such as Parkinson’s disease

·         Autism

·         Dementia

·         Hearing loss

·         Down syndrome

·         Laryngeal cancer

·         Oral cancer

Risk factors that upsurge the likelihoods of developing a speech disorder:

·         Being a male

·         Prematurely born

·         Low birth weight

·         Family history of having speech disorders

·         Nose, ears, or throat associated problems

Treatment

Most speech disorders are not precisely curable, but speech therapy can enhance speech or help adjust alternate communication practices. Sometimes speech disorder sufferers know what they need to say but are not capable to articulate their concepts and feelings. It may cause depression and self-esteem problems. Speech disorders can impact people at any age, but kids are more prone to have them. Speech disorders can be handled with early treatment.

Speech therapists help understand the right way to make sounds and better their speaking. They act together through playing, talking, pictures, books, and other ideas to help encourage communication. Usually, the type of treatment depends on the primary cause and harshness of the speech disorder. Speech disorder treatment options include speech therapy ideas and exercises that aim at creating knowledge of certain sounds or words. Some physical exercises reinforce the speech sounds generating muscles.

 

Articulation therapy

The purpose of articulation therapy is sound and articulation creation. The therapy entails exercises and plays activities to appropriate syllables and sounds in words and sentences.  Speech therapists use age-fitting speech therapy ideas depending on the specific demands of the child. They demonstrate and teach the child how to produce certain sounds and how to move tongue and lips to make certain sounds.

Oral motor therapy

Speech therapies consist of a variety of oral exercises to enhance speech, feeding, drinking and swallowing.  It includes facial massage and several exercises of jaw, lip, and tongue to intensify different mouth muscles. It improves swallowing, drinking, eating, and sound. The therapist may also use various temperatures and food textures to boost the oral consciousness of the child during eating and swallowing.

Speech therapy ideas, tips, and tricks for parents

Parents are urged to spend time talking to their children, keep away from stressful communal circumstances as much as possible. Parents can pick up some speech therapy ideas from the speech therapist. They can perform speech-enhancing activities and exercises at home along with the therapy sessions. There is a range of speech therapy ideas parents can execute at home to boost speech skills in children.

·         Parents should not express too much worry about the child’s disorder because it can make the child more self-conscious that can make the condition worse.

·         Heed to the kid uncomplainingly, don’t interfere when the child is talking, make eye contact and convey your affection and acceptance.

·         When children try to communicate or produce words, don’t complete their sentences.

·         Every time speak gradually to your child, he will frequently try to copy you.

·         Establish a calm and comfortable atmosphere at home to make your child talk freely and at ease.

·         Praise the child when he speaks correctly or even puts effort to speak. Handle your child gently and positively to encourage better speech.

Speech therapy for adults

For adults, speech therapy commences with an evaluation to check the requirements and ideal treatment. It can help you with speech, language, and cognitive-communication. Speech therapy exercises may entail conversational strategies to better social communication. Exercises to bolster oral muscles, breathing exercises for tone. Memory, organization, problem-resolving, and other behaviors to enhance cognitive-communication.

The bottom line

Speech disorders are not an unusual problem so there is no need to panic or worry. It's better to get diagnosed and consult a speech therapist. Speech disorders are most seen in young children. Immediate intervention and the right treatment can enhance communication and heighten self-confidence. The after-effects of speech therapy are significant in children.