Child Speech and Language Disorders
Speech Disorders
- Speech Sound Disorders: Articulation and Phonological Processes - Most children make some mistakes as they learn to say new words. A speech sound disorder occurs when mistakes continue past a certain age. Every sound has a different range of ages when the child should make the sound correctly. Speech sound disorders include problems with articulation (making sounds) and phonological processes (sound patterns).
- Stuttering - Stuttering affects the fluency of speech. It begins during childhood and, in some cases, lasts throughout life. The disorder is characterized by disruptions in the production of speech sounds, also called "disfluencies." Most people produce brief disfluencies from time to time. For instance, some words are repeated and others are preceded by "um" or "uh." Disfluencies are not necessarily a problem; however, they can impede communication when a person produces too many of them.
- Voice - We have all experienced problems with our voices, times when the voice is hoarse or when sound will not come out at all! Colds, allergies, bronchitis, exposure to irritants such as ammonia, or cheering for your favorite sports team can result in a loss of voice.
- Childhood Apraxia of Speech - Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is a motor speech disorder. Children with CAS have problems saying sounds, syllables, and words. This is not because of muscle weakness or paralysis. The brain has problems planning to move the body parts (e.g., lips, jaw, tongue) needed for speech. The child knows what he or she wants to say, but his/her brain has difficulty coordinating the muscle movements necessary to say those words.
- Dysarthria - Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder. It results from impaired movement of the muscles used for speech production, including the lips, tongue, vocal folds, and/or diaphragm. The type and severity of dysarthria depend on which area of the nervous system is affected.
Language Disorders
- Language-Based Learning Disabilities - Language-based learning disabilities are problems with age-appropriate reading, spelling, and/or writing. This disorder is not about how smart a person is. Most people diagnosed with learning disabilities have average to superior intelligence.
- Preschool Language Disorders - Preschool children (3 to 5 years old) with language disorders may have trouble understanding and talking. Some children have problems with understanding, also called receptive language. They may have trouble: Understanding what gestures mean, Following directions, Answering questions, Identifying objects and pictures, Taking turns when talking with others. Some children have problems talking, also called expressive language. They may have trouble: Asking questions, Naming objects, Using gestures, Putting words together into sentences, Learning songs and rhymes, Using correct pronouns, like "he" or "they", Knowing how to start a conversation and keep it going.
Social Language/Pragmatic Disorder
An individual may say words clearly and use long, complex sentences with correct grammar, but still have a communication problem - if he or she has not mastered the rules for social language known as pragmatics. Pragmatics involve three major communication skills:
Using language for different purposes, such as
Changing language according to the needs of a listener or situation, such as
Following rules for conversations and storytelling, such as
Using language for different purposes, such as
- greeting (e.g., hello, goodbye)
- informing (e.g., I'm going to get a cookie)
- demanding (e.g., Give me a cookie)
- promising (e.g., I'm going to get you a cookie)
- requesting (e.g., I would like a cookie, please)
Changing language according to the needs of a listener or situation, such as
- talking differently to a baby than to an adult
- giving background information to an unfamiliar listener
- speaking differently in a classroom than on a playground
Following rules for conversations and storytelling, such as
- taking turns in conversation
- introducing topics of conversation
- staying on topic
- rephrasing when misunderstood
- how to use verbal and nonverbal signals
- how close to stand to someone when speaking
- how to use facial expressions and eye contact
Source: http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/ChildSandL.htm