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What are speech disorders?

A speech disorder is any condition that affects a person’s ability to produce sounds that create words. Damage to muscles, nerves, and vocal structures can cause it. Examples include stuttering and ataxia.

Speech is one of the main ways in which people communicate their thoughts, feelings, and ideas with others. The act of speaking requires the precise coordination of multiple body parts, including the head, neck, chest, and abdomen.

In this article, we explore what speech disorders are and the different types. We also cover the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of speech disorders.

What is a speech disorder?

Speech disorders affect a person’s ability to form the sounds that allow them to communicate with other people. They are not the same as language disorders.

Speech disorders prevent people from forming correct speech sounds, while language disorders affect a person’s ability to learn words or understand what others say to them.

However, both speech and language disorders can make it more difficult for a person to express their thoughts and feelings to others.

Speech disorders can affect people of all ages.

Some types of speech disorder include stuttering, apraxia, and dysarthria. We discuss each of these types below:

Stuttering refers to a speech disorder that interrupts the flow of speech. People who stutter can experience the following types of disruption:

• Repetitions occur when people involuntarily repeat sounds, vowels, or words.
• Blocks happen when people know what they want to say but have difficulty making the necessary speech sounds. Blocks may cause someone to feel as though their words are stuck.
• Prolongations refer to the stretching or drawing out of particular sounds or words.

The symptoms of stuttering can vary depending on the situation. Stress , excitement, or frustration can cause stuttering to become more severe. Some people may also find that certain words or sounds can make a stutter more pronounced.

Stuttering can cause both behavioral and physical symptoms that occur at the same time. These can include:

• tension in the face and shoulders
• rapid blinking
• lip tremors
• clenched fists
• sudden head movements

There are two main types of stuttering:

• Developmental stuttering affects young children who are still learning speech and language skills. Genetic factors significantly increase a person’s likelihood of developing this type of stutter.
• Neurogenic stuttering occurs when damage to the brain prevents proper coordination between the different regions of the brain that play a role in speech.

The brain controls every single action that people make, including speaking. Most of the brain’s involvement in speech is unconscious and automatic.

When someone decides to speak, the brain sends signals to the different structures of the body that work together to produce speech. The brain instructs these structures how and when to move to form the appropriate sounds.

For example, these speech signals open or close the vocal cords, move the tongue and shape the lips, and control the movement of air through the throat and mouth.

Apraxia is a general term referring to brain damage that impairs a person’s motor skills, and it can affect any part of the body. Apraxia of speech, or verbal apraxia, refers specifically to the impairment of motor skills that affect an individual’s ability to form the sounds of speech correctly, even when they know which words they want to say.

Dysarthria occurs when damage to the brain causes muscle weakness in a person’s face, lips, tongue, throat, or chest. Muscle weakness in these parts of the body can make speaking very difficult.

People who have dysarthria may experience the following symptoms:

• slurred speech
• speaking too slowly or too quickly
• soft or quiet speech
• difficulty moving the mouth or tongue

The symptoms of speech disorders vary widely depending on the cause and severity of the disorder. People can develop multiple speech disorders with different symptoms.

People with one or more speech disorders may experience the following symptoms:

• repeating or prolonging sounds
• distorting sounds
• adding sounds or syllables to words
• rearranging syllables
• having difficulty pronouncing words correctly
• struggling to say the correct word or sound
• speaking with a hoarse or raspy voice
• speaking very softly

Causes of speech disorders can include:

• brain damage due to a stroke or head injury
• muscle weakness
• damaged vocal cords
• a degenerative disease, such as Huntington’s disease , Parkinson’s disease , or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• cancer that affects the mouth or throat
• Down syndrome
• hearing loss

Risk factors that can increase the likelihood of a person developing a speech disorder include :

• being born prematurely
• having a low weight at birth
• having a family history of speech disorders
• experiencing problems that affect the ears, nose, or throat

A speech-language pathologist (SLP) is a healthcare professional who specializes in speech and language disorders.

An SLP will evaluate a person for groups of symptoms that indicate one type of speech disorder. To make an accurate diagnosis, SLPs need to rule out other speech and language disorders and medical conditions.

An SLP will review a person’s medical and family history. They will also examine how a person moves their lips, jaw, and tongue and may inspect the muscles of the mouth and throat.

Other methods of evaluating speech disorders include:

• Denver articulation screening examination . This test evaluates the clarity of a person’s pronunciation.
• Prosody-voice screening profile . SLPs use this test to examine multiple aspects of a person’s speech, including pitch, phrasing, speech patterns, and speaking volume.
• Dynamic evaluation of motor speech skills (DEMSS) manual . The DEMSS is a comprehensive guide for helping SLPs diagnose speech disorders.

The type of treatment will typically depend on the severity of the speech disorder and its underlying cause.

Treatment options can include:

• speech therapy exercises that focus on building familiarity with certain words or sounds
• physical exercises that focus on strengthening the muscles that produce speech sounds

We discuss some of the treatment options for speech disorders below:

Target selection

Target selection involves a person practicing specific sounds or words to familiarize themselves with particular speech patterns. Examples of therapy targets may include difficult words or sounds that trigger speech disruptions.

Contextual utilization

For this approach, SLPs teach people to recognize speech sounds in different syllable-based contexts.

Contrast therapy

Contrast therapy involves saying word pairs that contain one or more different speech sounds. An example word pair might be “beat” and “feet” or “dough” and “show.”

Oral-motor therapy

The oral-motor therapy approach focuses on improving muscle strength, motor control, and breath control. These exercises can help people develop fluency, which produces smoother speech that sounds more natural.

Ear devices are small electronic aids that fit inside the ear canal. These devices can help improve fluency in people who have a stutter.

Some ear devices replay altered versions of the wearer’s voice to make it seem as though someone else is speaking with them. Other ear devices produce a noise that helps control stuttering.

Some speech disorders can cause people to develop anxiety disorders. Stressful situations can trigger anxiety, resulting in more pronounced speech disorder symptoms. Anxiety medications may help reduce symptoms of speech disorders in some people.

Speech disorders affect a person’s ability to produce sounds that create words. They are not the same as language disorders, which make it more difficult for people to learn words or understand what others are saying to them.

Types of speech disorder include stuttering, apraxia, and dysarthria. There are many possible causes of speech disorders, including muscles weakness, brain injuries, degenerative diseases, autism, and hearing loss.

Speech disorders can affect a person’s self-esteem and their overall quality of life. However, speech therapy, breathing exercises, and, sometimes, anti-anxiety medications can help improve speech and reduce symptoms.

• Anxiety / Stress
• Ear, Nose, and Throat
• Neurology / Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation / Physical Therapy

How we reviewed this article:

• Hearnshaw, S., et al. (2018). The speech perception skills of children with and without speech sound disorder [Abstract]. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0021992417300679
• Language and speech disorders in children. (2019). https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/language-disorders.html#problems
• Speech sound disorders — articulation and phonology. (n.d.). https://www.asha.org/PRPSpecificTopic.aspx?folderid=8589935321&section=Treatment
• Statistics on voice, speech, and language. (2016). https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/statistics-voice-speech-and-language#2
• Stuttering. (2017). https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/stuttering

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What Is a Speech Sound Disorder?

Elizabeth is a freelance health and wellness writer. She helps brands craft factual, yet relatable content that resonates with diverse audiences.

Daniel B. Block, MD, is an award-winning, board-certified psychiatrist who operates a private practice in Pennsylvania.

Halfpoint Images / Getty Images

Speech sound disorders are a blanket description for a child’s difficulty in learning, articulating, or using the sounds/sound patterns of their language. These difficulties are usually clear when compared to the communication abilities of children within the same age group.

Speech developmental disorders may indicate challenges with motor speech. Here, a child experiences difficulty moving the muscles necessary for speech production. This child may also face reduced coordination when attempting to speak.

Speech sound disorders are recognized where speech patterns do not correspond with the movements/gestures made when speaking.  

Speech impairments are a common early childhood occurrence—an estimated 2% to 13% of children live with these difficulties. Children with these disorders may struggle with reading and writing. This can interfere with their expected academic performance. Speech sound disorders are often confused with language conditions such as specific language impairment (SLI).

This article will examine the distinguishing features of this disorder. It will also review factors responsible for speech challenges, and the different ways they can manifest. Lastly, we’ll cover different treatment methods that make managing this disorder possible.

Symptoms of Speech Sound Disorder

A speech sound disorder may manifest in different ways. This usually depends on the factors responsible for the challenge, or how extreme it is.

There are different patterns of error that may signal a speech sound disorder. These include:

• Removing a sound from a word
• Including a sound in a word
• Replacing hard to pronounce sounds with an unsuitable alternative
• Difficulty pronouncing the same sound in different words (e.g., "pig" and "kit")
• Repeating sounds or words
• Lengthening words
• Pauses while speaking
• Tension when producing sounds
• Head jerks during speech
• Blinking while speaking
• Shame while speaking
• Changes in voice pitch
• Running out of breath while speaking

It’s important to note that children develop at different rates. This can reflect in the ease and ability to produce sounds. But where children repeatedly make sounds or statements that are difficult to understand, this could indicate a speech disorder.

Diagnosis of Speech Sound Disorders

For a correct diagnosis, a speech-language pathologist can determine whether or not a child has a speech-sound disorder.

This determination may be made in line with the requirements of the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria . These guidelines require that:

• The child experience persistent difficulty with sound production (this affects communication and speech comprehension)
• Symptoms of the disorder appear early during the child’s development stages
• This disorder limits communication. It affects social interactions, academic achievements, and job performance.
• The disorder is not caused by other conditions like a congenital disorder or an acquired condition like hearing loss . Hereditary disorders are, however, exempted. 

Causes of Speech Sound Disorders

There is no known cause of speech sound disorders. However, several risk factors may increase the odds of developing a speech challenge. These include:

• Gender : Male children are more likely to develop a speech sound disorder
• Family history : Children with family members living with speech disorders may acquire a similar challenge.
• Socioeconomics : Being raised in a low socioeconomic environment may contribute to the development of speech and literacy challenges.
• Pre- and post-natal challenges : Difficulties faced during pregnancy such as maternal infections and stressors may worsen the chances of speech disorders in a child. Likewise, delivery complications, premature birth, and low-birth-weight could lead to speech disorders.
• Disabilities : Down syndrome, autism , and other disabilities may be linked to speech-sound disorders.
• Physical challenges : Children with a cleft lip may experience speech sound difficulties.
• Brain damage : These disorders may also be caused by an infection or trauma to a child’s brain . This is seen in conditions like cerebral palsy where the muscles affecting speech are injured.

Types of Speech Sound Disorders

By the time a child turns three, at least half of what they say should be properly understood. By ages four and five, most sounds should be pronounced correctly—although, exceptions may arise when pronouncing “l”, “s”,”r”,”v”, and other similar sounds. By seven or eight, harder sounds should be properly pronounced. 

A child with a speech sound disorder will continue to struggle to pronounce words, even past the expected age. Difficulty with speech patterns may signal one of the following speech sound disorders:

This refers to interruptions while speaking. Stuttering is the most common form of disfluency. It is recognized for recurring breaks in the free flow of speech. After the age of four, a child with disfluency will still repeat words or phrases while speaking. This child may include extra words or sounds when communicating—they may also make words longer by stressing syllables.

This disorder may cause tension while speaking. Other times, head jerking or blinking may be observed with disfluency. 

Children with this disorder often feel frustrated when speaking, it may also cause embarrassment during interactions. 

Articulation Disorder

When a child is unable to properly produce sounds, this may be caused by inexact placement, speed, pressure, or movement from the lips, tongue, or throat.  

This usually signals an articulation disorder, where sounds like “r”, “l”, or “s” may be changed. In these cases, a child’s communication may be understood by only close family members.

Phonological Disorder

A phonological disorder is present where a child is unable to make the speech sounds expected of their age. Here, mistakes may be made when producing sounds. Other times, sounds like consonants may be omitted when speaking.  

Voice Disorder

Where a child is observed to have a raspy voice, this may be an early sign of a voice disorder. Other indicators include voice breaks, a change in pitch, or an excessively loud or soft voice.  

Children that run out of breath while speaking may also live with this disorder. Likewise, children may sound very nasally, or can appear to have inadequate air coming out of their nose if they have a voice disorder.

Childhood apraxia of speech occurs when a child lacks the proper motor skills for sound production. Children with this condition will find it difficult to plan and produce movements in the tongue, lips, jaw, and palate required for speech.  

Treatment of Speech Sound Disorder

Parents of children with speech sound disorders may feel at a loss for the next steps to take. To avoid further strain to the child, it’s important to avoid showing excessive concern.

Instead, listening patiently to their needs, letting them speak without completing their sentences, and showing usual love and care can go a long way.

For professional assistance, a speech-language pathologist can assist with improving a child’s communication. These pathologists will typically use oral motor exercises to enhance speech.

These oral exercises may also include nonspeech oral exercises such as blowing, oral massages and brushing, cheek puffing, whistleblowing, etc.

Nonspeech oral exercises help to strengthen weak mouth muscles, and can help with learning the common ways of communicating.

Parents and children with speech sound disorders may also join support groups for information and assistance with the condition.

A Word From Verywell

It can be frustrating to witness the challenges in communication. But while it's understandable to long for typical communication from a child—the differences caused by speech disorders can be managed with the right care and supervision. Speaking to a speech therapist, and showing love o children with speech disorders can be important first steps in overcoming these conditions.

Eadie P, Morgan A, Ukoumunne OC, Ttofari Eecen K, Wake M, Reilly S. Speech sound disorder at 4 years: prevalence, comorbidities, and predictors in a community cohort of children . Dev Med Child Neurol . 2015;57(6):578-584. doi:10.1111/dmcn.12635

McLeod S, Harrison LJ, McAllister L, McCormack J. Speech sound disorders in a community study of preschool children . Am J Speech Lang Pathol . 2013;22(3):503-522. doi:10.1044/1058-0360(2012/11-0123)

Murphy CF, Pagan-Neves LO, Wertzner HF, Schochat E. Children with speech sound disorder: comparing a non-linguistic auditory approach with a phonological intervention approach to improve phonological skills . Front Psychol . 2015;6:64. Published 2015 Feb 4. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00064

Penn Medicine. Speech and Language Disorders-Symptoms and Causes .

PsychDB. Speech Sound Disorder (Phonological Disorder) .

Sices L, Taylor HG, Freebairn L, Hansen A, Lewis B. Relationship between speech-sound disorders and early literacy skills in preschool-age children: impact of comorbid language impairment . J Dev Behav Pediatr . 2007;28(6):438-447. doi:10.1097/DBP.0b013e31811ff8ca

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Speech Sound Disorders: Articulation and Phonology .

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Speech Sound Disorders .

MedlinePlus. Phonological Disorder .

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Articulation Disorder .

National Institute of Health. Phonological Disorder.

Lee AS, Gibbon FE. Non-speech oral motor treatment for children with developmental speech sound disorders . Cochrane Database Syst Rev . 2015;2015(3):CD009383. Published 2015 Mar 25. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009383.pub2

By Elizabeth Plumptre Elizabeth is a freelance health and wellness writer. She helps brands craft factual, yet relatable content that resonates with diverse audiences.

Types of Speech Disorders: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

Understand the different types of speech disorders and the available treatments to help improve speech and communication.

Speech disorders are conditions that affect a person's ability to produce speech sounds correctly or fluently. There are several different types of speech disorders, each with its own unique causes, symptoms, and treatments.

Articulation disorders are the most common type of speech disorder. They occur when a person has difficulty pronouncing certain sounds or words. This can make their speech difficult to understand, and may lead to social, academic, and emotional difficulties. Treatment for articulation disorders typically involves working with a speech therapist to learn how to produce the correct sounds and to practice them regularly.

Another type of speech disorder is fluency disorders, which include stuttering and cluttering. These disorders affect a person's ability to speak fluently and smoothly, and may cause them to repeat sounds or words, pause frequently, or speak too quickly. Treatment for fluency disorders may involve therapy to help the person learn strategies to control their speech and reduce their anxiety about speaking.

Language disorders are another type of speech disorder that affect a person's ability to understand and use language correctly. This can make it difficult for them to communicate effectively, and may lead to academic and social difficulties. Treatment for language disorders typically involves working with a speech therapist to develop language skills through a range of activities and exercises.

Overall, there are many different types of speech disorders, each with its own unique causes, symptoms, and treatments. If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties with speech or language, it's important to seek out the services of a qualified speech therapist for evaluation and treatment.

Ready to Start Your Speech Therapy Search?

Now that you know what to look for and which questions to ask, you can browse the Speech Therapy List's database of certified Speech Therapy professionals for free. Speech Therapy list is a free platform aimed at making it easier for people who need critical speech services to find certified professionals. You don't need an account, and there's no fees.

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Many disorders can affect our ability to speak and communicate. They range from saying sounds incorrectly to being completely unable to speak or understand speech. Causes include:

• Hearing disorders and deafness
• Voice problems , such as dysphonia or those caused by cleft lip or palate
• Speech problems like stuttering
• Developmental disabilities
• Learning disabilities
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Brain injury

Some speech and communication problems may be genetic. Often, no one knows the causes. By first grade, about 5% of children have noticeable speech disorders. Speech and language therapy can help.

NIH: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

• Speech and Language Impairments (Center for Parent Information and Resources) Also in Spanish

• Speech to Speech Relay Service (Federal Communications Commission)
• Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) (Federal Communications Commission)
• Aphasia vs. Apraxia (American Stroke Association)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Communication strategies for adults in palliative care: the speech-language therapists' perspective.
• Article: Pain assessment tools in adults with communication disorders: systematic review and...
• Article: Evidence for the factor structure of formal thought disorder: A systematic...
• Speech and Communication Disorders -- see more articles
• Speech Problems (Nemours Foundation)
• Apraxia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Dysarthria (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Phonological disorder (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Selective mutism (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Speech impairment in adults (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.

Monica Marzinske, CCC-SLP

Speech-language therapy.

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Speaking clearly: Help for people with speech and language disorders

• Speech-Language

Speaking and language abilities vary from person to person. Some people can quickly articulate exactly what they are thinking or feeling, while others struggle being understood or finding the right words.

These struggles could be due to a speech or language disorder if communication struggles cause ongoing communication challenges and frustrations. Speech and language disorders are common.

It's estimated that 5% to 10% of people in the U.S. have a communication disorder. By the first grade, about 5% of U.S. children have a noticeable speech disorder. About 3 million U.S. adults struggle with stuttering and about 1 million U.S. adults have aphasia. These conditions make reading, speaking, writing and comprehending difficult.

People with speech and language disorders can find hope in rehabilitation. Speech-language pathologists can evaluate and treat these disorders. This can lead to a happier, healthier and more expressive life.

Types of speech and language disorders

Speech and language disorders come in many forms, each with its own characteristics:.

• Aphasia People with aphasia have difficulty with reading, writing, speaking or understanding information they've heard. The intelligence of a person with aphasia is not affected.
• Dysarthria People with dysarthria demonstrate slurred or imprecise speech patterns that can affect the understanding of speech.
• Apraxia A person with this disorder has difficulty coordinating lip and tongue movements to produce understandable speech.
• Dysphagia This condition refers to swallowing difficulties, including food sticking in the throat, coughing or choking while eating or drinking, and other difficulties.
• Stuttering This speech disorder involves frequent and significant problems with normal fluency and flow of speech. People who stutter know what they want to say but have difficulty saying it.
• Articulation disorder People with this disorder have trouble learning how to make specific sounds. They may substitute sounds, such as saying "fum" instead of "thumb".
• Phonological disorder Phonological processes are patterns of errors children use to simplify language as they learn to speak. A phonological disorder may be present if these errors persist beyond the age when most other children stop using them. An example is saying "duh" instead of "duck."
• Voice Voice disorders include vocal cord paralysis, vocal abuse and vocal nodules, which could result in vocal hoarseness, changes in vocal volume and vocal fatigue.
• Cognitive communication impairment People with cognitive communication impairment have difficulty with concentration, memory, problem-solving, and completion of tasks for daily and medical needs.

Speech and language disorders are more common in children. It can take time to develop the ability to speak and communicate clearly. Some children struggle with finding the right word or getting their jaws, lips or tongues in the correct positions to make the right sounds.

In adults, speech and language disorders often are the result of a medical condition or injury. The most common of these conditions or injuries are a stroke, brain tumor, brain injury, cancer, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, Lou Gehrig's disease or other underlying health complications.

Treatment options

Speech and language disorders can be concerning, but speech-language pathologists can work with patients to evaluate and treat these conditions. Each treatment plan is specifically tailored to the patient.

Treatment plans can address difficulties with:

• Speech sounds, fluency or voice
• Understanding language
• Sharing thoughts, ideas and feelings
• Organizing thoughts, paying attention, remembering, planning or problem-solving
• Feeding and swallowing
• Vocabulary or improper grammar use

Treatment typically includes training to compensate for deficiencies; patient and family education; at-home exercises; or neurological rehabilitation to address impairments due to medical conditions, illnesses or injury.

Treatment options are extensive and not limited by age. Children and adults can experience the benefits of treatment.

If you or a loved one are struggling with speech and language issues, you are not alone. Millions of people experience similar daily challenges. Better yet, help is available.

Monica Marzinske is a speech-language pathologist  in New Prague , Minnesota.

Related Posts

Five Common Speech Disorders in Children

You have determined that your child has more than just a speech delay, now what? How do you determine what kind of speech disorder your child has and more importantly, what do you do about it? We have listed below five common speech disorders in children. Of course, we always recommend a visit to your pediatrician if you feel your child has any of these symptoms, and an appointment with an SLP may be necessary to begin an effective speech therapy treatment plan.

5 Common Speech Disorders in Children:

Articulation Disorder: An articulation disorder is a speech sound disorder in which a child has difficulty making certain sounds correctly.  Sounds may be omitted or improperly altered during the course of speech. A child may substitute sounds (“wabbit” instead of “rabbit”) or add sounds improperly to words. Young children will typically display articulation issues as they learn to speak, but they are expected to “grow out of it” by a certain age.  If the errors persist past a standard developmental age, which varies based on the sound, then that child has an articulation disorder.

The most common articulation disorders are in the form of a “lisp” – when a child does not pronounce the S sound correctly – or when a child cannot pronounce the R sound correctly. He may say “wabbit” instead of “rabbit” or “buhd” or instead of “bird.”

Apraxia of Speech is a communication disorder affecting the motor programming system for speech production.  Speech production is difficult – specifically with sequencing and forming sounds. The person may know what he wants to say, but there is a disruption in the part of the brain that sends the signal to the muscle for the movement necessary to produce the sound.  That leads to problems with articulation as well as intonation and speaking stress and rhythm errors. Apraxia of Speech can be discovered in childhood (CAS), or might be acquired (AOS) resulting from a brain injury or illness in both children and adults.

Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is an inherited genetic disorder that is the most common cause of inherited intellectual disabilities in boys as well as  autism  (about 30% of children with FXS will have autism). It also affects girls, though their symptoms tend to be milder. It is greatly under-recognized and second only to  Down syndrome  in causing intellectual impairment.

FXS occurs when there is a mutation of FMRI gene and is an inherited disorder.  If a child received a pre-mutated X chromosome from one of his parents (as a carrier), then he is at greater risk of developing FXS.  Diagnosing Fragile X Syndrome is not easy for parents and doctors at the beginning of a child’s life.  Few outward signs are noticeable within the first 9 months. These signs may include an elongated face and protruding eyes.

Intellectual disabilities, speech and language problems, and social anxiety occur most frequently in children with Fragile X. Speech symptoms include repetition of words and phrases, cluttered speech and difficulties with the pragmatics of speech. All of FXS’s symptoms can range from mild to very severe.

Stuttering occurs when speech is disrupted by involuntary repetitions, prolonging of sounds and hesitation or pausing before speech. Stuttering can be developmental, meaning it begins during early speech acquisition, or acquired due to brain trauma. No one knows the exact causes of stuttering in a child.  It is considered to have a genetic basis, but the direct link has not yet been found. Children with relatives who stutter are 3 times as likely to develop stuttering. Stuttering is also more typical in children who have congenital disorders like  cerebral palsy .

A child who stutters is typically not struggling with the actual production of the sounds—stress and a nervousness trigger many cases of stuttering. Stuttering is variable, meaning if the speaker does not feel anxious when speaking, the stuttering may not affect their speech.

Language disorders can be classified in three different ways: Expressive Language Disorder (ELD), Receptive Language Disorder (RLD) or Expressive-Receptive Language Disorder (ERLD).  Children with Expressive Language Disorder do not have problems producing sounds or words, but have an inability to retrieve the right words and formulate proper sentences. Children with Receptive Language Disorder have difficulties comprehending spoken and written language. Finally, children with Expressive-Receptive Language Disorder will exhibit both kinds of symptoms. Grammar is a hard concept for them to understand and they may not use of articles (a, the), prepositions (of, with) and plurals. An early symptom is delay in the early stages of language, so if your child takes longer to formulate words or starting to babble, it can be a sign of ELD.

Children with Receptive Language Disorder may act like they are ignoring you or just repeat words that you say; this is known as “echolalia.” Even when repeating the words you say, they may not understand.  An example of this is if you say, “Do you want to go to the park?” and they respond with the exact phrase and do not answer the question. They may not understand you or the fact that you asked them to do something.

Children with Expressive-Receptive Language Disorder can have a mix of these symptoms

These are some of the most common speech disorders in children. No child is the same and you know your child best. If you feel that your child has a speech disorder, contact your pediatrician to discuss treatment options.

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Types of Speech Disorders and Therapy Options

by fahad | Dec 11, 2019 | Comprehensive Therapy , Insight News

Many people may recognize one or two types of speech disorders, but speech therapists actually treat a wide range of issues. Disorders can range from mild to severe. Some are present at birth, while others develop over time. Some are part of a neurological function , while others stem from injury or disability.

Regardless of how the disorder occurred, speech therapy can contribute to an improved quality of life for many patients.

10 Common Types of Speech Disorders

There are many types of disorders within various categories, and each person’s condition may be different. Following are some of the most common speech disorders that speech therapists treat .

1. Childhood Apraxia of Speech

With childhood apraxia of speech, a child has trouble making accurate movements when speaking. It occurs because the brain has difficulty coordinating the movements.

2. Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders

Children, teenagers, and adults may suffer from these abnormal movement patterns of the face and mouth. They occur due to an abnormal growth and development of facial muscles and bones, the cause of which is unclear. Individuals with orofacial myofunctional disorders may have trouble eating, talking, breathing through the nose, swallowing, or drinking.

3. Speech Sound Disorders/Articulation Disorders

Especially common in young children, articulation disorders are based on the inability to form certain sounds. Instead, certain words and sounds may be distorted, such as making the “th” sound in place of an “s” sound.

Commonly seen in young children, articulation disorders are characterized by the distortion of certain sounds, such as the “S” sound.

4. Stuttering and Other Fluency Disorders

Stuttering can come in a number of forms, including “blocks” characterized by long pauses, “prolongations” characterized by stretching out a sound, and “repetitions” characterized by repeating a particular sound in a word. Stuttering is not always a constant, and it can be exacerbated by nervousness or excitement.

Individuals who stutter may feel tenseness in their bodies and may even avoid situations or words that may trigger their stuttering. Secondary physical behaviors may include excessive eye blinking or jaw tightening.

5. Receptive Disorders

Receptive disorders are characterized by trouble understanding and processing what others say, causing trouble following directions or a limited vocabulary. Disorders such as autism can lead to receptive disorders.

6. Autism-Related Speech Disorders

Communication concerns are one aspect of autism spectrum disorder , which involves challenges with social skills and repetitive behaviors. An individual with autism may have difficulty understanding and using words, learning to read or write, or having conversations.

He or she may also be hard to understand, use a robotic voice, and speak very little or not at all.

7. Resonance Disorders

Resonance disorders occur due to a blockage or obstruction of airflow in the nose, mouth, or throat, which may affect the vibrations that determine voice quality. Cleft palate and swollen tonsils are two causes of resonance disorders.

8. Selective Mutism

Most often seen in children and teens, selective mutism is an anxiety disorder characterized by a child’s inability to speak and communicate effectively in select social settings. Teenagers who experience selective mutism may have more pronounced social phobias.

9. Brain Injury-Related Speech Disorders/Dysarthria

Dysarthria occurs when the muscles in the lips, mouth, tongue, or jaws are too weak to properly form words, usually due to brain damage. These include traumatic brain injury and right hemisphere brain injury.

Speech therapists frequently work with stroke patients.

10. Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms

ADHD makes it hard for individuals to pay attention and control their own behavior, leading to various problems with communication. Although not everyone with ADD has the hyperactivity aspect of the disorder, those who do may have trouble sitting still as well. A speech and language pathologist can help improve the communication aspect of ADHD.

Get Help from a Speech Therapist

Therapists can help reduce or eliminate these types of speech disorders, along with many others. Treatments typically involve articulation exercises as well as treating underlying conditions that may be causing the problems.

Speech therapy is among the many types of mental and physical therapy options at Insight, located in Flint, Michigan. Visit our website to learn more about the Comprehensive Therapy division of Insight .

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20Q: Induced Laryngeal Obstruction - An Overview for Speech-Language Pathologists

Robert brinton fujiki, phd, ccc-slp.

• 20Q with Ann Kummer
• Voice and Resonance Disorders

To earn CEUs for this article, become a member.

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From the desk of ann kummer.

Induced laryngeal obstruction (ILO) is when an individual experiences glottic or subglottic narrowing in response to a trigger. This can cause a sudden onset of inspiratory stridor and shortness of breath that can be severe. ILO is often triggered by intense exercise. In this case, it is referred to as exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO). EILO is particularly common among adolescents and young adult athletes.

Speech-language pathologists are increasingly called upon to see patients with suspected EILO. Therefore, I am excited that Dr. Brinton Fujiki has submitted this 20Q article to further explain the speech-language pathologist’s role in diagnosing and treating this disorder.

Dr. Robert Brinton Fujiki is a clinician scientist specializing in voice, resonance, and upper airway disorders – with particular interest in pediatric populations. He received his PhD at Purdue University and is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is also a clinical speech-language pathologist in the voice and swallow and craniofacial anomaly clinics at American Family Children’s Hospital. His research interests include the diagnosis and treatment of voice disorders, induced laryngeal obstruction, and cleft palate in children. 

This course describes the nature of induced laryngeal obstruction, as well as the speech-language pathologist’s role in treating this disorder. Current diagnostic and treatment practices are outlined, as are research updates regarding the condition.

Now…read on, learn, and enjoy!

Ann W. Kummer, PhD, CCC-SLP, FASHA, 2017 ASHA Honors Contributing Editor 

Browse the complete collection of 20Q with Ann Kummer CEU articles at  www.speechpathology.com/20Q

Learning Outcomes

After this course, readers will be able to: 

• Define and describe induced laryngeal obstruction.
• Describe the diagnostic criteria of induced laryngeal obstruction.
• Describe the comorbidities associated with induced laryngeal obstruction.
• Discuss the speech-language pathologist’s role in the evaluation and treatment of induced laryngeal obstruction.

1. What is Induced Laryngeal Obstruction (ILO)?

Induced Laryngeal Obstruction (ILO) is characterized by trigger-induced laryngeal adduction that constricts the airway and causes dyspnea. ILO generally presents as inhalation difficulty and may include strider or wheezing. In addition to dyspnea, other symptoms of ILO may include a sensation of throat or chest tightness, cough, dysphonia, hyperventilation, and/or lightheadedness (Patel et al., 2015). Dyspnea is generally episodic, with sudden onset -often induced by an identifiable trigger such as physical exertion, stress, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), scents, or exposure to an inhaled irritant (Sandage et al., 2022). Symptoms often resolve quickly upon exercise cessation or trigger removal.

2. What is the difference between ILO and Exercise Induced Laryngeal Obstruction (EILO)?

ILO can be used as a general term to refer to any type of induced laryngeal obstruction. Commonly used nomenclature, however, is generally based on symptom triggers. If dyspnea symptoms are triggered by physical exertion or exercise, the term Exercise Induced Laryngeal Obstruction (EILO) is used. If symptoms are induced by non-physical exertion-related triggers (i.e., scents, irritants, stress, etc.), the term ILO is used. You have probably noticed that ILO can be used both generally and to refer to non-exertion reduced symptoms specifically. This can be a little confusing, and it might help to think of ILO as a general condition with two subtypes: ILO (obstruction triggered by irritants, scents, or stress) and EILO (obstruction triggered by physical activity or exercise).

3. Is ILO the same as paradoxical vocal fold motion or vocal cord dysfunction?

Yes! ILO has been described using several different terms – the most common of which are paradoxical vocal fold movement (PVFM) or vocal cord dysfunction (VCD). You might even see terms such as exercised-induced asthma or laryngospasm used to describe ILO. PVFM and VCD are still commonly used terms. Consensus statements from Europe, however, argue that ILO is the most appropriate term for the condition (Christensen et al., 2015). Patients - especially pediatric patients - often find the terms ILO or EILO to be intimidating or frightening (justifiably so), so thorough explanation is often warranted.  

4. Why are there so many terms for EILO/ILO?

As our understanding of the condition has evolved, nomenclature has changed. This can be confusing, but more current terminology aims to describe the anatomy and physiology involved more accurately. A major reason to use the term ILO is that, in some cases, it can actually be supralaryngeal structures (i.e., the arytenoids) that obstruct the airway. Thus, the term vocal fold movement may be only partially accurate. Additionally, the term, vocal cord dysfunction, implies that the vocal folds are not working properly, which is not the case. The vocal folds are meant to adduct - just not during inhalation. Overall, the inconsistent nomenclature is unfortunate as it makes it difficult to find resources and research, as well as confuses patients and clinicians. This is further complicated by the fact that ILO treatment can span several medical specialties (i.e., otolaryngology, pulmonology, SLPs) that may use different terms. Hopefully, more consensus as to terminology will provide clarity.

5. How common is ILO?

The exact prevalence of ILO is unknown, as the condition is often mistaken for asthma. Population-based prevalence studies from Europe indicate that between 5.7% and 7.5% of teenagers and young adults present with EILO (Christensen et al., 2011; Johansson et al., 2015). Additionally, it is estimated that as many as 8.1% of recreational adolescent athletes experience EILO symptoms (Ersson et al., 2020). It has also been estimated that between 3% and 5% of pulmonology rehabilitation patients present with an ILO component to dyspnea (Kenn & Hess, 2008). Additionally, as many as 5% of elite athletes may experience ILO symptoms (Hanks et al., 2012).

6. Who is at increased risk for ILO?

Data are limited, but there are some patterns evident in the literature. ILO can occur in patients of all ages. It has been estimated that 30% of cases occur in pediatric populations (Zalvan et al., 2021). Although anyone can be affected, evidence suggests that EILO is particularly common in middle to high-school-aged female athletes (Hanks et al., 2012). Many patients with EILO are high-performing individuals and, in some cases, anxious. Although additional research is needed, preliminary evidence suggests that females may be at increased risk.

7. What causes ILO?

The etiology of ILO remains unclear. It has been hypothesized that hypersensitivity of the upper airway, laryngeal dystonia, or psychological conditions may contribute to --or trigger-- the condition (Patel et al., 2015). Although no single cause has been empirically substantiated, studies have documented aberrant laryngopharyngeal sensation in patients with ILO (Cukier-Blaj et al., 2008; Murry et al., 2010). It has been hypothesized that ILO symptoms stem from neural plasticity in the central nervous system, which regulates sensorimotor pathways (Domer et al., 2013). Neurosensory alterations can include elevated laryngeal sensitivity and lowered threshold for activation of the laryngeal adductor reflex, making the vocal folds predisposed to adduct for airway protection (C. L. Ludlow, 2015).

8. Do EILO and ILO present similarly clinically?

We recently performed a study examining this question in the pediatric population (Fujiki et al., 2023). Children and adolescents with ILO and EILO presented with unique but overlapping clinical profiles. Although all patients experienced dyspnea, those with EILO experienced more symptoms associated with physical exertion, such as hyperventilation and cough. Patients with ILO presented with higher rates of comorbidities consistent with irritable larynx syndrome as well as comorbid anxiety. The good news is that therapy was equally effective among both groups. Additional research is needed to determine if these patterns hold true in adults.

9. I’ve heard that patients with ILO experience a high prevalence of behavioral health comorbidities. Is this true?

We recently completed a study that indicated that in comparison to the general population,  rates of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were higher in both adults and children with ILO (Fujiki et al., Submitted). This study supports past work suggesting that anxiety, in particular, is elevated among these patients (Gavin et al., 1998; Husein et al., 2008). At this time, no causal relationship between ILO and behavioral health conditions has been substantiated, but there does appear to be an association between the two entities. More research will be needed to determine why. The research we do have suggests that screening patients for comorbid behavioral health conditions might be helpful to ensure that the proper referrals can be made. There have been studies suggesting that ILO therapy is more effective if behavioral health comorbidities are addressed by the appropriate professionals (Cristel et al., 2020).

10. How is ILO diagnosed?

At a minimum, laryngoscopy is needed to diagnose ILO. Ideally, vocal fold adduction upon inhalation should be visualized upon exam for a patient to receive the diagnosis. However, this is not always feasible in clinical facilities. Continuous laryngoscopy during exercise (CLE) is the preferred procedure for diagnosing EILO (Hull et al., 2019); however, the technological setup required for this imaging technique is currently extremely limited in the United States. CLE requires patients to undergo nasoendoscopy while exercising on a treadmill or bike. Currently, EILO is usually diagnosed using laryngoscopy immediately following physical exertion (Harvey et al., 2022). For ILO (cases where exercise is not a trigger), evidence suggests that patients should ideally be exposed to the irritant that triggers their symptoms while nasoendoscopy is performed (Vertigan et al., 2022). Again, the setup for this procedure is currently limited in the United States. At a minimum, however, laryngoscopy should be performed, and other conditions (e.g., foreign body inhalation, asthma, other respiratory diseases) must be excluded by specialized physicians.

11. What financial costs are associated with obtaining an ILO diagnosis?

As ILO is (in part) a diagnosis of exclusion, patients often see multiple providers and undergo numerous procedures prior to diagnosis. Evidence indicates that, for adults, the economic burden of obtaining an ILO diagnosis is considerable, costing a median of $8,625.00 over an average of 33 months (Lunga et al., 2022). These expenditures have been predominantly driven by pharmaceuticals, followed by various diagnostic tests to rule out other conditions. We have recently completed a similar study in children, which confirms that this is the case in pediatric populations as well. We also found that economic deprivation may affect ILO-related care, as children from poorer neighborhoods were prescribed more pharmaceuticals, while children from more affluent areas received more diagnostic testing. This is concerning, given that pharmaceuticals are generally ineffective for treating ILO.

12. Why is diagnosing ILO so challenging?

Diagnosing ILO can be challenging because the condition shares common symptoms with asthma and other respiratory conditions. Since asthma is widely recognized among general practitioners and the general population, patients with ILO often receive asthma treatments/testing such as inhalers or pulmonary function testing/spirometry. This is unfortunate because inhalers are of limited value for this population (Ivancic et al., 2021). In addition, although spirometry may effectively identify asthma, we recently performed a study suggesting that the procedure does not effectively differentiate ILO from other common respiratory conditions, such as chronic cough or even mild asthma. The episodic nature of ILO symptoms can also make it difficult for patients and providers to identify symptoms and their etiology. Often, patient symptoms have had time to escalate and increase in severity before a diagnosis is made. This may be because patients saw multiple providers and/or waited for specialist appointments, but it can also be because patients were unsure whether they needed to seek treatment until symptoms became more severe. Regardless, clinicians should be aware that patients have often been experiencing symptoms for a long time before a diagnosis is made.

13. Can you treat ILO if you don’t have access to advanced equipment?

This is an interesting question. ILO cannot be diagnosed without specialized equipment; however, after a diagnosis is obtained, therapy can be effectively administered without major specialized equipment. Research suggests that intervention with an SLP is effective in helping children and adults manage ILO (Drake et al., 2017; Fujiki, Olson-Greb, Braden, et al., 2023), and it is well within our scope of practice. For patients with exercise-induced symptoms, SLPs may need to get creative to find a place for patients to exert themselves physically. I have run with patients outside, in the hall, or on the stairs if a treadmill was unavailable. If a treadmill is available – this is often the most effective way for patients to practice managing symptoms (and not as tiring for the SLP as we can stand by them and observe). In general, it is helpful to coordinate with the physician who made the diagnosis in order to ensure that best practice guidelines have been followed. In my experience, physicians sometimes send patients to SLPs for therapy when they are unsure about the patient’s diagnosis. While determining whether therapy strategies are effective can have diagnostic value, this can be problematic if other conditions have not been ruled out. If a patient is working hard in therapy and does not experience improvements in 2-3 sessions, the SLP should likely consider referring them back to a physician.

14. What is the treatment for ILO?

The primary treatment for ILO is therapy with a speech-language pathologist (SLP) (Mahoney et al., 2022). This is sometimes referred to as respiratory retraining. The effectiveness of SLP therapy in addressing ILO has been substantiated in the literature (Drake et al., 2017; Fujiki, Olson-Greb, Braden, et al., 2023; S. Ludlow et al., 2022; Zalvan et al., 2021). Therapy can improve scores on dyspnea scales (Fowler et al., 2015), facilitate a return to physical activity (Fujiki, Olson-Greb, Braden, et al., 2023), and reduce reliance on asthma medications (Kramer et al., 2017). Although objective measures quantifying symptoms of ILO are rare, multiple studies have documented patient-reported reductions in ILO symptoms following therapy. Evidence suggests that these gains are generally retained long-term (Doshi & Weinberger, 2006), thus avoiding unnecessary medical visits (Baxter et al., 2019).

15. What are the components of therapy?

Therapy usually consists of education regarding the nature of the disorder, training of lower thoracic breathing (Chen et al., 2017), teaching rescue breathing techniques, and learning to apply these techniques to prevent and improve symptoms when they occur. This often requires a lot of repetition and practice on the patient’s part because using breathing techniques can be difficult in the moment dyspnea appears. We recently did a study where we talked to the parents of children with ILO, and parents indicated that getting children to practice the techniques learned in therapy was difficult. While this is not shocking, it does mean that patients may not get as much practice as we would hope. The techniques may initially appear simple, but they become more difficult when patients are symptomatic – because being unable to breathe is scary! It is important to emphasize that rescue breathing techniques will likely only work if the patient is very familiar with them before symptoms occur. For many patients, stress also aggravates symptoms, which makes using the techniques even more difficult if they cannot rely on some muscle memory. To address general tension or stress, relaxation techniques are sometimes incorporated, as are mindfulness techniques (Diab et al., 2022; Matsumoto & Smith, 2001) and circumlaryngeal massage (Roy et al., 1997). Comorbidities falling outside the scope of SLP practice (i.e., reflux, allergies) should be addressed by the appropriate physicians. Considering the overlap of ILO and anxiety, referral to--and collaboration with--mental and behavioral health specialists may also be warranted.  

16. What rescue breathing techniques are most effective?

Data regarding the comparative effectiveness of therapeutic strategies are not available. In all likelihood, the ideal technique varies for each patient. Breathing training should be individualized to patient needs and athletic activities. This training often includes pursed lip breathing, sniff inhalation, and/or biphasic inspiratory breathing with pursed lip exhale and establishing lower thoracic (abdominally driven) breathing patterns (Johnston et al., 2018; Patel et al., 2015; Shaffer et al., 2018). Breathing strategies all use partial oral occlusion to promote laryngeal abduction through negative back pressure. In my personal experience, pursed lip breathing or biphasic inhalation with pursed lip exhale are easiest for patients with exercise-induced symptoms, as they can be done quickly during physical exertion. At rest, sniff inhalation is also useful for patients; however, it can be tricky for those with a lot of nasal congestion. Regardless of what strategy is employed, it is important to ensure that the patient is breathing at a reasonable pace (particularly pediatric patients sometimes do the rescue techniques really quickly and then feel as though they are going to hyperventilate). Sometimes, focusing on exhalation is helpful for pacing patients – or in some cases, the clinician may remind the patient that exhalation should be longer than inhalation. It is also important to ensure that the patient is breathing “low” without tightening or raising the shoulders upon each inhale. In my experience, all breathing strategies require significant practice in the setting where symptoms occur to really be effective.

17. Should EILO and ILO be treated differently?

More research is needed; however, the limited evidence available suggests that the same rescue breathing techniques are effective for both conditions. One important factor, however, is that patients must be comfortable using therapy strategies in the context of their symptom triggers. Thus, patients with EILO must be able to use therapy techniques during exercise, and ILO patients in the presence of their triggers. In my experience, helping patients effectively use therapy techniques while they are symptomatic is the most challenging aspect of therapy. As patient triggers are rarely perfectly replicated in the therapy room – it is important to talk to patients about how they will implement rescue breathing techniques on their own. We can help them practice a lot, but we are frequently not there for actual dyspnea episodes. So the patient should have a plan in place. This plan should include specific rescue breathing techniques and clear guidance on when and how long they should be used.

18. How long does therapy for ILO take?

We recently performed a series of studies examining this question. We found that 112 pediatric patients required an average of 3.4 sessions of therapy prior to discharge, with over 80% percent of patients being discharged in under five sessions (Fujiki et al., 2022). In this study, a history of upper airway surgery or a behavioral health diagnosis increased the duration of therapy. In another study, we found that 350 adults with ILO required an average of 3.59 sessions of therapy. In adults, therapy duration was longer for patients with a behavioral health diagnosis, a voice complaint, or reduced physical activity from ILO symptoms.

19. What outcome measures have been developed for tracking therapeutic progress?

Overall, therapy outcome measures are lacking. Generally, therapeutic progress is tracked using patient report. We can certainly argue that the patient’s experience is the most critical outcome of intervention. There have been several patient-reported measures developed. These include The Dyspnea Index and the Vocal Cord Dysfunction Questionnaire. Specific to EILO, the Exercise-Induced Laryngeal Obstruction Dyspnea Index has also been validated. Future research will hopefully supplement patient report measures with objective assessments. In the meantime, for patients with exercise-induced symptoms, clinicians may time how long patients can exercise without experiencing symptoms or how quickly they can recover from symptoms using therapy techniques. Some clinicians have patients count the number of dyspnea episodes; however, this can be difficult for patients to remember. At this point, patient report is likely the best option we have. 

 20. How long do the effects of therapy last?

Unfortunately, longitudinal studies regarding therapeutic outcomes are lacking. We recently did a study that documented that teenagers with EILO continued to experience improvements in symptoms six months after discharge from therapy (Fujiki, Olson-Greb, Braden, et al., 2023). With regard to adults, we performed a retrospective study of 350 adults with ILO and found that 8% returned for additional therapy following discharge with a reoccurrence of symptoms. ILO is known to be somewhat cyclical in nature, so more research on maintaining intervention gains is sorely needed.

In summary, ILO can be both frightening and debilitating for patients and their families. It is often time-consuming and expensive for patients to obtain an accurate diagnosis. Those with less access to specialized health care may not receive an accurate diagnosis, and many may be prescribed medications they do not need (e.g., inhalers). On the bright side, intervention with an SLP is effective in helping individuals manage ILO—and in relatively few sessions!  We all need to work to improve the identification of ILO and to make diagnosis and treatment obtainable and equitable for all.

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Chen, Y.-F., Huang, X.-Y., Chien, C.-H., & Cheng, J.-F. (2017). The Effectiveness of Diaphragmatic Breathing Relaxation Training for Reducing Anxiety. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 53 (4), 329–336. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppc.12184

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Fujiki, R.B. (2023). 20Q: Induced laryngeal obstruction - an overview for speech-language pathologists.  SpeechPathology.com . Article 20630. Available at www.speechpathology.com

Robert Brinton Fujiki, PhD , CCC-SLP

Robert Brinton Fujiki is a clinician scientist specializing in voice, resonance, and upper airway disorders – with particular reference to pediatric populations. He received his PhD at Purdue University and is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is also a clinical speech-language pathologist in the voice and swallow and craniofacial anomaly clinics at American Family Children’s Hospital. His research interests include the diagnosis and treatment of voice disorders, induced laryngeal obstruction, and cleft palate in children. 

Related Courses

20q: pediatric voice disorders: diagnostic and treatment approaches, course: #8972 level: introductory 1 hour, 20q: evaluation and treatment of speech/resonance disorders and velopharyngeal dysfunction, course: #8729 level: intermediate 1 hour, 20q: beyond the swallow - tracheostomy tube and ventilator management, course: #10056 level: intermediate 1 hour, 20q: head and neck cancer for the speech-language pathologist, course: #10591 level: advanced 1 hour, 20q: putting research into practice: application of voice science in the therapy room, course: #9454 level: advanced 1 hour.

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Types of Speech Disorders and Therapy Options

by imran | Dec 11, 2019 | Health Library

Many people may recognize one or two types of speech disorders, but speech therapists actually treat a wide range of issues. Disorders can range from mild to severe. Some are present at birth, while others develop over time. Some are part of a neurological function, while others stem from injury or disability.

Regardless of how the disorder occurred, speech therapy can contribute to an improved quality of life for many patients.

10 Common Types of Speech Disorders

There are many types of disorders within various categories, and each person’s condition may be different. Following are some of the most common speech disorders that speech therapists treat.

1. Childhood Apraxia of Speech

With childhood apraxia of speech, a child has trouble making accurate movements when speaking. It occurs because the brain has difficulty coordinating the movements.

2. Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders

Children, teenagers, and adults may suffer from these abnormal movement patterns of the face and mouth. They occur due to an abnormal growth and development of facial muscles and bones, the cause of which is unclear. Individuals with orofacial myofunctional disorders may have trouble eating, talking, breathing through the nose, swallowing, or drinking.

3. Speech Sound Disorders/Articulation Disorders

Especially common in young children, articulation disorders are based on the inability to form certain sounds. Instead, certain words and sounds may be distorted, such as making the “th” sound in place of an “s” sound.

Commonly seen in young children, articulation disorders are characterized by the distortion of certain sounds, such as the “S” sound.

4. Stuttering and Other Fluency Disorders

Stuttering can come in a number of forms, including “blocks” characterized by long pauses, “prolongations” characterized by stretching out a sound, and “repetitions” characterized by repeating a particular sound in a word. Stuttering is not always a constant, and it can be exacerbated by nervousness or excitement.

Individuals who stutter may feel tenseness in their bodies and may even avoid situations or words that may trigger their stuttering. Secondary physical behaviors may include excessive eye blinking or jaw tightening.

5. Receptive Disorders

Receptive disorders are characterized by trouble understanding and processing what others say, causing trouble following directions or a limited vocabulary. Disorders such as autism can lead to receptive disorders.

6. Autism-Related Speech Disorders

Communication concerns are one aspect of autism spectrum disorder , which involves challenges with social skills and repetitive behaviors. An individual with autism may have difficulty understanding and using words, learning to read or write, or having conversations.

He or she may also be hard to understand, use a robotic voice, and speak very little or not at all.

7. Resonance Disorders

Resonance disorders occur due to a blockage or obstruction of airflow in the nose, mouth, or throat, which may affect the vibrations that determine voice quality. Cleft palate and swollen tonsils are two causes of resonance disorders.

8. Selective Mutism

Most often seen in children and teens, selective mutism is an anxiety disorder characterized by a child’s inability to speak and communicate effectively in select social settings. Teenagers who experience selective mutism may have more pronounced social phobias.

9. Brain Injury-Related Speech Disorders/Dysarthria

Dysarthria occurs when the muscles in the lips, mouth, tongue, or jaws are too weak to properly form words, usually due to brain damage. These include traumatic brain injury and right hemisphere brain injury.

Speech therapists frequently work with stroke patients.

10. Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms

ADHD makes it hard for individuals to pay attention and control their own behavior, leading to various problems with communication. Although not everyone with ADD has the hyperactivity aspect of the disorder, those who do may have trouble sitting still as well. A speech and language pathologist can help improve the communication aspect of ADHD.

Get Help from a Speech Therapist

Therapists can help reduce or eliminate these types of speech disorders, along with many others. Treatments typically involve articulation exercises as well as treating underlying conditions that may be causing the problems.

Speech therapy is among the many types of mental and physical therapy options at Insight, located in Flint, Michigan. Visit our website to learn more about the Comprehensive Therapy division of Insight .

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