what's another name for a speech impediment

• Bipolar Disorder
• Therapy Center
• When To See a Therapist
• Types of Therapy
• Best Online Therapy
• Best Couples Therapy
• Best Family Therapy
• Managing Stress
• Sleep and Dreaming
• Understanding Emotions
• Self-Improvement
• Healthy Relationships
• Student Resources
• Personality Types
• Sweepstakes
• Guided Meditations
• Verywell Mind Insights
• 2024 Verywell Mind 25
• Mental Health in the Classroom
• Editorial Process
• Meet Our Review Board
• Crisis Support

Types of Speech Impediments

Phynart Studio / Getty Images

Articulation Errors

Ankyloglossia, treating speech disorders.

A speech impediment, also known as a speech disorder , is a condition that can affect a person’s ability to form sounds and words, making their speech difficult to understand.

Speech disorders generally become evident in early childhood, as children start speaking and learning language. While many children initially have trouble with certain sounds and words, most are able to speak easily by the time they are five years old. However, some speech disorders persist. Approximately 5% of children aged three to 17 in the United States experience speech disorders.

There are many different types of speech impediments, including:

• Articulation errors

This article explores the causes, symptoms, and treatment of the different types of speech disorders.

Speech impediments that break the flow of speech are known as disfluencies. Stuttering is the most common form of disfluency, however there are other types as well.

Symptoms and Characteristics of Disfluencies

These are some of the characteristics of disfluencies:

• Repeating certain phrases, words, or sounds after the age of 4 (For example: “O…orange,” “I like…like orange juice,” “I want…I want orange juice”)
• Adding in extra sounds or words into sentences (For example: “We…uh…went to buy…um…orange juice”)
• Elongating words (For example: Saying “orange joooose” instead of "orange juice")
• Replacing words (For example: “What…Where is the orange juice?”)
• Hesitating while speaking (For example: A long pause while thinking)
• Pausing mid-speech (For example: Stopping abruptly mid-speech, due to lack of airflow, causing no sounds to come out, leading to a tense pause)

In addition, someone with disfluencies may also experience the following symptoms while speaking:

• Vocal tension and strain
• Head jerking
• Eye blinking
• Lip trembling

Causes of Disfluencies

People with disfluencies tend to have neurological differences in areas of the brain that control language processing and coordinate speech, which may be caused by:

• Genetic factors
• Trauma or infection to the brain
• Environmental stressors that cause anxiety or emotional distress
• Neurodevelopmental conditions like attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Articulation disorders occur when a person has trouble placing their tongue in the correct position to form certain speech sounds. Lisping is the most common type of articulation disorder.

Symptoms and Characteristics of Articulation Errors

These are some of the characteristics of articulation disorders:

• Substituting one sound for another . People typically have trouble with ‘r’ and ‘l’ sounds. (For example: Being unable to say “rabbit” and saying “wabbit” instead)
• Lisping , which refers specifically to difficulty with ‘s’ and ‘z’ sounds. (For example: Saying “thugar” instead of “sugar” or producing a whistling sound while trying to pronounce these letters)
• Omitting sounds (For example: Saying “coo” instead of “school”)
• Adding sounds (For example: Saying “pinanio” instead of “piano”)
• Making other speech errors that can make it difficult to decipher what the person is saying. For instance, only family members may be able to understand what they’re trying to say.

Causes of Articulation Errors

Articulation errors may be caused by:

• Genetic factors, as it can run in families
• Hearing loss , as mishearing sounds can affect the person’s ability to reproduce the sound
• Changes in the bones or muscles that are needed for speech, including a cleft palate (a hole in the roof of the mouth) and tooth problems
• Damage to the nerves or parts of the brain that coordinate speech, caused by conditions such as cerebral palsy , for instance

Ankyloglossia, also known as tongue-tie, is a condition where the person’s tongue is attached to the bottom of their mouth. This can restrict the tongue’s movement and make it hard for the person to move their tongue.

Symptoms and Characteristics of Ankyloglossia

Ankyloglossia is characterized by difficulty pronouncing ‘d,’ ‘n,’ ‘s,’ ‘t,’ ‘th,’ and ‘z’ sounds that require the person’s tongue to touch the roof of their mouth or their upper teeth, as their tongue may not be able to reach there.

Apart from speech impediments, people with ankyloglossia may also experience other symptoms as a result of their tongue-tie. These symptoms include:

• Difficulty breastfeeding in newborns
• Trouble swallowing
• Limited ability to move the tongue from side to side or stick it out
• Difficulty with activities like playing wind instruments, licking ice cream, or kissing
• Mouth breathing

Causes of Ankyloglossia

Ankyloglossia is a congenital condition, which means it is present from birth. A tissue known as the lingual frenulum attaches the tongue to the base of the mouth. People with ankyloglossia have a shorter lingual frenulum, or it is attached further along their tongue than most people’s.

Dysarthria is a condition where people slur their words because they cannot control the muscles that are required for speech, due to brain, nerve, or organ damage.

Symptoms and Characteristics of Dysarthria

Dysarthria is characterized by:

• Slurred, choppy, or robotic speech
• Rapid, slow, or soft speech
• Breathy, hoarse, or nasal voice

Additionally, someone with dysarthria may also have other symptoms such as difficulty swallowing and inability to move their tongue, lips, or jaw easily.

Causes of Dysarthria

Dysarthria is caused by paralysis or weakness of the speech muscles. The causes of the weakness can vary depending on the type of dysarthria the person has:

• Central dysarthria is caused by brain damage. It may be the result of neuromuscular diseases, such as cerebral palsy, Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Central dysarthria may also be caused by injuries or illnesses that damage the brain, such as dementia, stroke, brain tumor, or traumatic brain injury .
• Peripheral dysarthria is caused by damage to the organs involved in speech. It may be caused by congenital structural problems, trauma to the mouth or face, or surgery to the tongue, mouth, head, neck, or voice box.

Apraxia, also known as dyspraxia, verbal apraxia, or apraxia of speech, is a neurological condition that can cause a person to have trouble moving the muscles they need to create sounds or words. The person’s brain knows what they want to say, but is unable to plan and sequence the words accordingly.

Symptoms and Characteristics of Apraxia

These are some of the characteristics of apraxia:

• Distorting sounds: The person may have trouble pronouncing certain sounds, particularly vowels, because they may be unable to move their tongue or jaw in the manner required to produce the right sound. Longer or more complex words may be especially harder to manage.
• Being inconsistent in their speech: For instance, the person may be able to pronounce a word correctly once, but may not be able to repeat it. Or, they may pronounce it correctly today and differently on another day.
• Grasping for words: The person may appear to be searching for the right word or sound, or attempt the pronunciation several times before getting it right.
• Making errors with the rhythm or tone of speech: The person may struggle with using tone and inflection to communicate meaning. For instance, they may not stress any of the words in a sentence, have trouble going from one syllable in a word to another, or pause at an inappropriate part of a sentence.

Causes of Apraxia

Apraxia occurs when nerve pathways in the brain are interrupted, which can make it difficult for the brain to send messages to the organs involved in speaking. The causes of these neurological disturbances can vary depending on the type of apraxia the person has:

• Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS): This condition is present from birth and is often hereditary. A person may be more likely to have it if a biological relative has a learning disability or communication disorder.
• Acquired apraxia of speech (AOS): This condition can occur in adults, due to brain damage as a result of a tumor, head injury , stroke, or other illness that affects the parts of the brain involved in speech.

If you have a speech impediment, or suspect your child might have one, it can be helpful to visit your healthcare provider. Your primary care physician can refer you to a speech-language pathologist, who can evaluate speech, diagnose speech disorders, and recommend treatment options.

The diagnostic process may involve a physical examination as well as psychological, neurological, or hearing tests, in order to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other causes.

Treatment for speech disorders often involves speech therapy, which can help you learn how to move your muscles and position your tongue correctly in order to create specific sounds. It can be quite effective in improving your speech.

Children often grow out of milder speech disorders; however, special education and speech therapy can help with more serious ones.

For ankyloglossia, or tongue-tie, a minor surgery known as a frenectomy can help detach the tongue from the bottom of the mouth.

A Word From Verywell

A speech impediment can make it difficult to pronounce certain sounds, speak clearly, or communicate fluently. 

Living with a speech disorder can be frustrating because people may cut you off while you’re speaking, try to finish your sentences, or treat you differently. It can be helpful to talk to your healthcare providers about how to cope with these situations.

You may also benefit from joining a support group, where you can connect with others living with speech disorders.

National Library of Medicine. Speech disorders . Medline Plus.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Language and speech disorders .

Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Stuttering .

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Quick statistics about voice, speech, and language .

Cleveland Clinic. Speech impediment .

Lee H, Sim H, Lee E, Choi D. Disfluency characteristics of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms . J Commun Disord . 2017;65:54-64. doi:10.1016/j.jcomdis.2016.12.001

Nemours Foundation. Speech problems .

Penn Medicine. Speech and language disorders .

Cleveland Clinic. Tongue-tie .

University of Rochester Medical Center. Ankyloglossia .

Cleveland Clinic. Dysarthria .

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Apraxia of speech .

Cleveland Clinic. Childhood apraxia of speech .

Stanford Children’s Hospital. Speech sound disorders in children .

Abbastabar H, Alizadeh A, Darparesh M, Mohseni S, Roozbeh N. Spatial distribution and the prevalence of speech disorders in the provinces of Iran . J Med Life . 2015;8(Spec Iss 2):99-104.

By Sanjana Gupta Sanjana is a health writer and editor. Her work spans various health-related topics, including mental health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness.

• Type 2 Diabetes
• Heart Disease
• Digestive Health
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Diet & Nutrition
• Supplements
• Health Insurance
• Public Health
• Patient Rights
• Caregivers & Loved Ones
• End of Life Concerns
• Health News
• Thyroid Test Analyzer
• Doctor Discussion Guides
• Hemoglobin A1c Test Analyzer
• Lipid Test Analyzer
• Complete Blood Count (CBC) Analyzer
• What to Buy
• Editorial Process
• Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Overcoming Speech Impediment: Symptoms to Treatment

There are many causes and solutions for impaired speech

• Types and Symptoms
• Speech Therapy
• Building Confidence

Speech impediments are conditions that can cause a variety of symptoms, such as an inability to understand language or speak with a stable sense of tone, speed, or fluidity. There are many different types of speech impediments, and they can begin during childhood or develop during adulthood.

Common causes include physical trauma, neurological disorders, or anxiety. If you or your child is experiencing signs of a speech impediment, you need to know that these conditions can be diagnosed and treated with professional speech therapy.

This article will discuss what you can do if you are concerned about a speech impediment and what you can expect during your diagnostic process and therapy.

FG Trade / Getty Images

Types and Symptoms of Speech Impediment

People can have speech problems due to developmental conditions that begin to show symptoms during early childhood or as a result of conditions that may occur during adulthood. 

The main classifications of speech impairment are aphasia (difficulty understanding or producing the correct words or phrases) or dysarthria (difficulty enunciating words).

Often, speech problems can be part of neurological or neurodevelopmental disorders that also cause other symptoms, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) or autism spectrum disorder .

There are several different symptoms of speech impediments, and you may experience one or more.

Can Symptoms Worsen?

Most speech disorders cause persistent symptoms and can temporarily get worse when you are tired, anxious, or sick.

Symptoms of dysarthria can include:

• Slurred speech
• Slow speech
• Choppy speech
• Hesitant speech
• Inability to control the volume of your speech
• Shaking or tremulous speech pattern
• Inability to pronounce certain sounds

Symptoms of aphasia may involve:

• Speech apraxia (difficulty coordinating speech)
• Difficulty understanding the meaning of what other people are saying
• Inability to use the correct words
• Inability to repeat words or phases
• Speech that has an irregular rhythm

You can have one or more of these speech patterns as part of your speech impediment, and their combination and frequency will help determine the type and cause of your speech problem.

Causes of Speech Impediment

The conditions that cause speech impediments can include developmental problems that are present from birth, neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease , or sudden neurological events, such as a stroke .

Some people can also experience temporary speech impairment due to anxiety, intoxication, medication side effects, postictal state (the time immediately after a seizure), or a change of consciousness.

Speech Impairment in Children

Children can have speech disorders associated with neurodevelopmental problems, which can interfere with speech development. Some childhood neurological or neurodevelopmental disorders may cause a regression (backsliding) of speech skills.

Common causes of childhood speech impediments include:

• Autism spectrum disorder : A neurodevelopmental disorder that affects social and interactive development
• Cerebral palsy :  A congenital (from birth) disorder that affects learning and control of physical movement
• Hearing loss : Can affect the way children hear and imitate speech
• Rett syndrome : A genetic neurodevelopmental condition that causes regression of physical and social skills beginning during the early school-age years.
• Adrenoleukodystrophy : A genetic disorder that causes a decline in motor and cognitive skills beginning during early childhood
• Childhood metabolic disorders : A group of conditions that affects the way children break down nutrients, often resulting in toxic damage to organs
• Brain tumor : A growth that may damage areas of the brain, including those that control speech or language
• Encephalitis : Brain inflammation or infection that may affect the way regions in the brain function
• Hydrocephalus : Excess fluid within the skull, which may develop after brain surgery and can cause brain damage

Do Childhood Speech Disorders Persist?

Speech disorders during childhood can have persistent effects throughout life. Therapy can often help improve speech skills.

Speech Impairment in Adulthood

Adult speech disorders develop due to conditions that damage the speech areas of the brain.

Common causes of adult speech impairment include:

• Head trauma 
• Nerve injury
• Throat tumor
• Stroke 
• Parkinson’s disease 
• Essential tremor
• Brain tumor
• Brain infection

Additionally, people may develop changes in speech with advancing age, even without a specific neurological cause. This can happen due to presbyphonia , which is a change in the volume and control of speech due to declining hormone levels and reduced elasticity and movement of the vocal cords.

Do Speech Disorders Resolve on Their Own?

Children and adults who have persistent speech disorders are unlikely to experience spontaneous improvement without therapy and should seek professional attention.

Steps to Treating Speech Impediment 

If you or your child has a speech impediment, your healthcare providers will work to diagnose the type of speech impediment as well as the underlying condition that caused it. Defining the cause and type of speech impediment will help determine your prognosis and treatment plan.

Sometimes the cause is known before symptoms begin, as is the case with trauma or MS. Impaired speech may first be a symptom of a condition, such as a stroke that causes aphasia as the primary symptom.

The diagnosis will include a comprehensive medical history, physical examination, and a thorough evaluation of speech and language. Diagnostic testing is directed by the medical history and clinical evaluation.

Diagnostic testing may include:

• Brain imaging , such as brain computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic residence imaging (MRI), if there’s concern about a disease process in the brain
• Swallowing evaluation if there’s concern about dysfunction of the muscles in the throat
• Electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (aka nerve conduction velocity, or NCV) if there’s concern about nerve and muscle damage
• Blood tests, which can help in diagnosing inflammatory disorders or infections

Your diagnostic tests will help pinpoint the cause of your speech problem. Your treatment will include specific therapy to help improve your speech, as well as medication or other interventions to treat the underlying disorder.

For example, if you are diagnosed with MS, you would likely receive disease-modifying therapy to help prevent MS progression. And if you are diagnosed with a brain tumor, you may need surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation to treat the tumor.

Therapy to Address Speech Impediment

Therapy for speech impairment is interactive and directed by a specialist who is experienced in treating speech problems . Sometimes, children receive speech therapy as part of a specialized learning program at school.

The duration and frequency of your speech therapy program depend on the underlying cause of your impediment, your improvement, and approval from your health insurance.

If you or your child has a serious speech problem, you may qualify for speech therapy. Working with your therapist can help you build confidence, particularly as you begin to see improvement.

Exercises during speech therapy may include:

• Pronouncing individual sounds, such as la la la or da da da
• Practicing pronunciation of words that you have trouble pronouncing
• Adjusting the rate or volume of your speech
• Mouth exercises
• Practicing language skills by naming objects or repeating what the therapist is saying

These therapies are meant to help achieve more fluent and understandable speech as well as an increased comfort level with speech and language.

Building Confidence With Speech Problems 

Some types of speech impairment might not qualify for therapy. If you have speech difficulties due to anxiety or a social phobia or if you don’t have access to therapy, you might benefit from activities that can help you practice your speech. 

You might consider one or more of the following for you or your child:

• Joining a local theater group
• Volunteering in a school or community activity that involves interaction with the public
• Signing up for a class that requires a significant amount of class participation
• Joining a support group for people who have problems with speech

Activities that you do on your own to improve your confidence with speaking can be most beneficial when you are in a non-judgmental and safe space.

Many different types of speech problems can affect children and adults. Some of these are congenital (present from birth), while others are acquired due to health conditions, medication side effects, substances, or mood and anxiety disorders. Because there are so many different types of speech problems, seeking a medical diagnosis so you can get the right therapy for your specific disorder is crucial.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Language and speech disorders in children .

Han C, Tang J, Tang B, et al. The effectiveness and safety of noninvasive brain stimulation technology combined with speech training on aphasia after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis . Medicine (Baltimore). 2024;103(2):e36880. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000036880

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Quick statistics about voice, speech, language .

Mackey J, McCulloch H, Scheiner G, et al. Speech pathologists' perspectives on the use of augmentative and alternative communication devices with people with acquired brain injury and reflections from lived experience . Brain Impair. 2023;24(2):168-184. doi:10.1017/BrImp.2023.9

Allison KM, Doherty KM. Relation of speech-language profile and communication modality to participation of children with cerebral palsy . Am J Speech Lang Pathol . 2024:1-11. doi:10.1044/2023_AJSLP-23-00267

Saccente-Kennedy B, Gillies F, Desjardins M, et al. A systematic review of speech-language pathology interventions for presbyphonia using the rehabilitation treatment specification system . J Voice. 2024:S0892-1997(23)00396-X. doi:10.1016/j.jvoice.2023.12.010

By Heidi Moawad, MD Dr. Moawad is a neurologist and expert in brain health. She regularly writes and edits health content for medical books and publications.

• Brain & Nervous System

What to Know About Speech Impairment

A speech impairment affects people who have problems speaking in a regular tone of voice or tempo. Speech impairments make it hard for people to communicate properly, and they can happen in both children and adults. ‌

These disorders can cause frustration and embarrassment to the person suffering from them.

What is Speech Impairment?

People who have speech impairments have a hard time pronouncing different speech sounds. They might distort the sounds of some words and leave other sounds out completely.

There are three general categories of speech impairment:

• Fluency disorder. This type can be described as continuity, smoothness, rate, and effort in speech production.
• Voice disorder. A voice disorder means you have an atypical tone of voice. It could be an unusual pitch, quality, resonance, or volume.
• Articulation disorder. If you have an articulation disorder, you might distort certain sounds. You could also fully omit sounds.

Stuttering , or stammering, is a common fluency disorder that affects about 3 million Americans. It usually affects young children who are just learning to speak, but it can continue on into adulthood.

Speech and language impairments are two words that are often used interchangeably, but they are two very different types of problems.

Speech means talking. It uses the jaw muscles, tongue, lips, and vocal chords. Language is a set of words and symbols made to communicate a message. Language and speech disorders can affect you separately, or both can happen at the same time.

Types of Speech Impairments

Speech impairments can begin in childhood and carry on through your adult years. Others can happen due to trauma, or after a medical event like a stroke.

The types of speech impairments are:

• Childhood apraxia of speech. This can happen to children when it’s time for them to start talking. The brain’s signals don’t communicate with the mouth, so the child can’t move their lips and tongue in the way they’re mean to.
• Dysarthria. This type of speech impairment happens when the muscles you use to talk are too weak, and can’t form words properly.
• Orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMD). OMDs are characterized by an abnormal pattern of facial muscle use. OMD interferes with how the facial muscles, including the tongue, are used. People who suffer from OMD might also struggle to breathe through their nose.
• Speech sound disorders. It’s normal for children to struggle to pronounce certain sounds as they learn to talk. But after ages four or five, constant mispronunciation might signal a problem. It can continue into adulthood, or some people get it after a stroke.
• Stuttering. Stuttering can mean repeating words or sounds like “uh” and “um” (disfluencies) involuntarily. Stuttering can be intensified by strong emotions or stress.
• Voice. A voice disorder can mean you “lost” your voice because you stressed it too much. It can also mean a chronic cough or paralysis of the vocal cords, among others.

Health Issues That Affect Speech Impairment

Other than childhood speech impairments, there are a range of reasons you could get one in your adult years. They can happen due to a traumatic event, illness, or surgery.

Dysarthria , aphasia, and voice disturbances can happen in adulthood, and are usually due to these medical events.

Aphasia. Aphasia is the loss of ability to understand words, spoken or written. There are many types of aphasia . It can happen after a stroke or if a tumor reaches the part of the brain where language is processed.

Medical issues that can cause aphasia:

• Head trauma
• Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
• Brain tumor
• Alzheimer’s disease

Dysarthria. Dysarthria is usually caused by a nerve problem. The person suffering from it loses the ability to make certain sounds or might have poor pronunciation. It can also affect your ability to control the tongue, larynx, lips, and vocal chords.

Medical issues that can cause dysarthria:

• Facial trauma
• Diseases that affect your nervous system
• Side effects of certain medication
• Alcoholic intoxication
• Dentures that don’t fit properly
• Transient ischemic attack (TIA) ‌

Voice disturbances. Traumatic events or extreme stress placed on the vocal cords can cause you to “lose” your voice or have a vocal disturbance. Disease can also affect the way your voice sounds.

Cancerous or noncancerous growths or nodules on the vocal cords can make your voice sound different.

Understanding Speech Impairments

Having a speech impairment can be a very frustrating and embarrassing experience for the person experiencing it. It’s important to be patient and understanding when communicating.

Try the following tips to improve communication and foster an accepting environment with someone who has a speech impairment:

• Speak slowly and use hand gestures
• Keep a pen and paper handy in case it’s needed to communicate
• Maintain a calm environment free of stimulating sounds
• Use simple phrases when you speak
• Use your normal tone of voice

Consulting with a mental health care provider can help with feelings of anger and depression that can accompany speech impairments.

Top doctors in ,

Find more top doctors on, related links.

• Brain & Nervous System News & Features
• Brain & Nervous System Reference
• Brain & Nervous System Slideshows
• Brain & Nervous System Quizzes
• Brain & Nervous System Videos
• Find a Neurologist
• Living Better With MS
• Alzheimer's Disease
• Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
• Guillain-Barré Syndrome
• Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS)
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Parkinson's Disease
• Restless Legs Syndrome
• Spinal Muscular Atrophy
• More Related Topics

• Bachelor’s Degrees
• Master’s Degrees
• Doctorate Degrees
• Certificate Programs
• Nursing Degrees
• Cybersecurity
• Human Services
• Science & Mathematics
• Communication
• Liberal Arts
• Social Sciences
• Computer Science
• Admissions Overview
• Tuition and Financial Aid
• Incoming Freshman and Graduate Students
• Transfer Students
• Military Students
• International Students
• Early Access Program
• About Maryville
• Our Faculty
• Our Approach
• Our History
• Accreditation
• Tales of the Brave
• Student Support Overview
• Online Learning Tools
• Infographics

Home / Blog

Speech Impediment Guide: Definition, Causes, and Resources

December 8, 2020 

Tables of Contents

What Is a Speech Impediment?

Types of speech disorders, speech impediment causes, how to fix a speech impediment, making a difference in speech disorders.

Communication is a cornerstone of human relationships. When an individual struggles to verbalize information, thoughts, and feelings, it can cause major barriers in personal, learning, and business interactions.

Speech impediments, or speech disorders, can lead to feelings of insecurity and frustration. They can also cause worry for family members and friends who don’t know how to help their loved ones express themselves.

Fortunately, there are a number of ways that speech disorders can be treated, and in many cases, cured. Health professionals in fields including speech-language pathology and audiology can work with patients to overcome communication disorders, and individuals and families can learn techniques to help.

Commonly referred to as a speech disorder, a speech impediment is a condition that impacts an individual’s ability to speak fluently, correctly, or with clear resonance or tone. Individuals with speech disorders have problems creating understandable sounds or forming words, leading to communication difficulties.

Some 7.7% of U.S. children — or 1 in 12 youths between the ages of 3 and 17 — have speech, voice, language, or swallowing disorders, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). About 70 million people worldwide, including some 3 million Americans, experience stuttering difficulties, according to the Stuttering Foundation.

Common signs of a speech disorder

There are several symptoms and indicators that can point to a speech disorder.

• Unintelligible speech — A speech disorder may be present when others have difficulty understanding a person’s verbalizations.
• Omitted sounds — This symptom can include the omission of part of a word, such as saying “bo” instead of “boat,” and may include omission of consonants or syllables.
• Added sounds — This can involve adding extra sounds in a word, such as “buhlack” instead of “black,” or repeating sounds like “b-b-b-ball.”
• Substituted sounds — When sounds are substituted or distorted, such as saying “wabbit” instead of “rabbit,” it may indicate a speech disorder.
• Use of gestures — When individuals use gestures to communicate instead of words, a speech impediment may be the cause.
• Inappropriate pitch — This symptom is characterized by speaking with a strange pitch or volume.

In children, signs might also include a lack of babbling or making limited sounds. Symptoms may also include the incorrect use of specific sounds in words, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). This may include the sounds p, m, b, w, and h among children aged 1-2, and k, f, g, d, n, and t for children aged 2-3.

Back To Top

Categories of Speech Impediments

Speech impediments can range from speech sound disorders (articulation and phonological disorders) to voice disorders. Speech sound disorders may be organic — resulting from a motor or sensory cause — or may be functional with no known cause. Voice disorders deal with physical problems that limit speech. The main categories of speech impediments include the following:

Fluency disorders occur when a patient has trouble with speech timing or rhythms. This can lead to hesitations, repetitions, or prolonged sounds. Fluency disorders include stuttering (repetition of sounds) or   (rapid or irregular rate of speech).

Resonance disorders are related to voice quality that is impacted by the shape of the nose, throat, and/or mouth. Examples of resonance disorders include hyponasality and cul-de-sac resonance.

Articulation disorders occur when a patient has difficulty producing speech sounds. These disorders may stem from physical or anatomical limitations such as muscular, neuromuscular, or skeletal support. Examples of articulation speech impairments include sound omissions, substitutions, and distortions.

Phonological disorders result in the misuse of certain speech sounds to form words. Conditions include fronting, stopping, and the omission of final consonants.

Voice disorders are the result of problems in the larynx that harm the quality or use of an individual’s voice. This can impact pitch, resonance, and loudness.

Impact of Speech Disorders

Some speech disorders have little impact on socialization and daily activities, but other conditions can make some tasks difficult for individuals. Following are a few of the impacts of speech impediments.

• Poor communication — Children may be unable to participate in certain learning activities, such as answering questions or reading out loud, due to communication difficulties. Adults may avoid work or social activities such as giving speeches or attending parties.
• Mental health and confidence — Speech disorders may cause children or adults to feel different from peers, leading to a lack of self-confidence and, potentially, self-isolation.

Resources on Speech Disorders

The following resources may help those who are seeking more information about speech impediments.

Health Information : Information and statistics on common voice and speech disorders from the NIDCD

Speech Disorders : Information on childhood speech disorders from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

Speech, Language, and Swallowing : Resources about speech and language development from the ASHA

Children and adults can suffer from a variety of speech impairments that may have mild to severe impacts on their ability to communicate. The following 10 conditions are examples of specific types of speech disorders and voice disorders.

1. Stuttering

This condition is one of the most common speech disorders. Stuttering is the repetition of syllables or words, interruptions in speech, or prolonged use of a sound.

This organic speech disorder is a result of damage to the neural pathways that connect the brain to speech-producing muscles. This results in a person knowing what they want to say, but being unable to speak the words.

This consists of the lost ability to speak, understand, or write languages. It is common in stroke, brain tumor, or traumatic brain injury patients.

4. Dysarthria

This condition is an organic speech sound disorder that involves difficulty expressing certain noises. This may involve slurring, or poor pronunciation, and rhythm differences related to nerve or brain disorders.

The condition of lisping is the replacing of sounds in words, including “th” for “s.” Lisping is a functional speech impediment.

6. Hyponasality

This condition is a resonance disorder related to limited sound coming through the nose, causing a “stopped up” quality to speech.

7. Cul-de-sac resonance

This speech disorder is the result of blockage in the mouth, throat, or nose that results in quiet or muffled speech.

8. Orofacial myofunctional disorders

These conditions involve abnormal patterns of mouth and face movement. Conditions include tongue thrusting (fronting), where individuals push out their tongue while eating or talking.

9. Spasmodic Dysphonia

This condition is a voice disorder in which spasms in the vocal cords produce speech that is hoarse, strained, or jittery.

10. Other voice disorders

These conditions can include having a voice that sounds breathy, hoarse, or scratchy. Some disorders deal with vocal folds closing when they should open (paradoxical vocal fold movement) or the presence of polyps or nodules in the vocal folds.

Speech Disorders vs. Language Disorders

Speech disorders deal with difficulty in creating sounds due to articulation, fluency, phonology, and voice problems. These problems are typically related to physical, motor, sensory, neurological, or mental health issues.

Language disorders, on the other hand, occur when individuals have difficulty communicating the meaning of what they want to express. Common in children, these disorders may result in low vocabulary and difficulty saying complex sentences. Such a disorder may reflect difficulty in comprehending school lessons or adopting new words, or it may be related to a learning disability such as dyslexia. Language disorders can also involve receptive language difficulties, where individuals have trouble understanding the messages that others are trying to convey.  

Resources on Types of Speech Disorders

The following resources may provide additional information on the types of speech impediments.

Common Speech Disorders: A guide to the most common speech impediments from GreatSpeech

Speech impairment in adults: Descriptions of common adult speech issues from MedlinePlus

Stuttering Facts: Information on stuttering indications and causes from the Stuttering Foundation

Speech disorders may be caused by a variety of factors related to physical features, neurological ailments, or mental health conditions. In children, they may be related to developmental issues or unknown causes and may go away naturally over time.

Physical and neurological issues. Speech impediment causes related to physical characteristics may include:

• Brain damage
• Nervous system damage
• Respiratory system damage
• Hearing difficulties
• Cancerous or noncancerous growths
• Muscle and bone problems such as dental issues or cleft palate

Mental health issues. Some speech disorders are related to clinical conditions such as:

• Autism spectrum disorder
• Down syndrome or other genetic syndromes
• Cerebral palsy or other neurological disorders
• Multiple sclerosis

Some speech impairments may also have to do with family history, such as when parents or siblings have experienced language or speech difficulties. Other causes may include premature birth, pregnancy complications, or delivery difficulties. Voice overuse and chronic coughs can also cause speech issues.

The most common way that speech disorders are treated involves seeking professional help. If patients and families feel that symptoms warrant therapy, health professionals can help determine how to fix a speech impediment. Early treatment is best to curb speech disorders, but impairments can also be treated later in life.

Professionals in the speech therapy field include speech-language pathologists (SLPs) . These practitioners assess, diagnose, and treat communication disorders including speech, language, social, cognitive, and swallowing disorders in both adults and children. They may have an SLP assistant to help with diagnostic and therapy activities.

Speech-language pathologists may also share a practice with audiologists and audiology assistants. Audiologists help identify and treat hearing, balance, and other auditory disorders.

How Are Speech Disorders Diagnosed?

Typically, a pediatrician, social worker, teacher, or other concerned party will recognize the symptoms of a speech disorder in children. These individuals, who frequently deal with speech and language conditions and are more familiar with symptoms, will recommend that parents have their child evaluated. Adults who struggle with speech problems may seek direct guidance from a physician or speech evaluation specialist.

When evaluating a patient for a potential speech impediment, a physician will:

• Conduct hearing and vision tests
• Evaluate patient records
• Observe patient symptoms

A speech-language pathologist will conduct an initial screening that might include:

• An evaluation of speech sounds in words and sentences
• An evaluation of oral motor function
• An orofacial examination
• An assessment of language comprehension

The initial screening might result in no action if speech symptoms are determined to be developmentally appropriate. If a disorder is suspected, the initial screening might result in a referral for a comprehensive speech sound assessment, comprehensive language assessment, audiology evaluation, or other medical services.

Initial assessments and more in-depth screenings might occur in a private speech therapy practice, rehabilitation center, school, childcare program, or early intervention center. For older adults, skilled nursing centers and nursing homes may assess patients for speech, hearing, and language disorders.

How Are Speech Impediments Treated?

Once an evaluation determines precisely what type of speech sound disorder is present, patients can begin treatment. Speech-language pathologists use a combination of therapy, exercise, and assistive devices to treat speech disorders.

Speech therapy might focus on motor production (articulation) or linguistic (phonological or language-based) elements of speech, according to ASHA. There are various types of speech therapy available to patients.

Contextual Utilization  — This therapeutic approach teaches methods for producing sounds consistently in different syllable-based contexts, such as phonemic or phonetic contexts. These methods are helpful for patients who produce sounds inconsistently.

Phonological Contrast — This approach focuses on improving speech through emphasis of phonemic contrasts that serve to differentiate words. Examples might include minimal opposition words (pot vs. spot) or maximal oppositions (mall vs. call). These therapy methods can help patients who use phonological error patterns.

Distinctive Feature — In this category of therapy, SLPs focus on elements that are missing in speech, such as articulation or nasality. This helps patients who substitute sounds by teaching them to distinguish target sounds from substituted sounds.

Core Vocabulary — This therapeutic approach involves practicing whole words that are commonly used in a specific patient’s communications. It is effective for patients with inconsistent sound production.

Metaphon — In this type of therapy, patients are taught to identify phonological language structures. The technique focuses on contrasting sound elements, such as loud vs. quiet, and helps patients with unintelligible speech issues.

Oral-Motor — This approach uses non-speech exercises to supplement sound therapies. This helps patients gain oral-motor strength and control to improve articulation.

Other methods professionals may use to help fix speech impediments include relaxation, breathing, muscle strengthening, and voice exercises. They may also recommend assistive devices, which may include:

• Radio transmission systems
• Personal amplifiers
• Picture boards
• Touch screens
• Text displays
• Speech-generating devices
• Hearing aids
• Cochlear implants

Resources for Professionals on How to Fix a Speech Impediment

The following resources provide information for speech therapists and other health professionals.

Assistive Devices: Information on hearing and speech aids from the NIDCD

Information for Audiologists: Publications, news, and practice aids for audiologists from ASHA

Information for Speech-Language Pathologists: Publications, news, and practice aids for SLPs from ASHA

Speech Disorder Tips for Families

For parents who are concerned that their child might have a speech disorder — or who want to prevent the development of a disorder — there are a number of activities that can help. The following are tasks that parents can engage in on a regular basis to develop literacy and speech skills.

• Introducing new vocabulary words
• Reading picture and story books with various sounds and patterns
• Talking to children about objects and events
• Answering children’s questions during routine activities
• Encouraging drawing and scribbling
• Pointing to words while reading books
• Pointing out words and sentences in objects and signs

Parents can take the following steps to make sure that potential speech impediments are identified early on.

• Discussing concerns with physicians
• Asking for hearing, vision, and speech screenings from doctors
• Requesting special education assessments from school officials
• Requesting a referral to a speech-language pathologist, audiologist, or other specialist

When a child is engaged in speech therapy, speech-language pathologists will typically establish collaborative relationships with families, sharing information and encouraging parents to participate in therapy decisions and practices.

SLPs will work with patients and their families to set goals for therapy outcomes. In addition to therapy sessions, they may develop activities and exercises for families to work on at home. It is important that caregivers are encouraging and patient with children during therapy.  

Resources for Parents on How to Fix a Speech Impediment

The following resources provide additional information on treatment options for speech disorders.

Speech, Language, and Swallowing Disorders Groups: Listing of self-help groups from ASHA

ProFind: Search tool for finding certified SLPs and audiologists from ASHA

Baby’s Hearing and Communication Development Checklist: Listing of milestones that children should meet by certain ages from the NIDCD

If identified during childhood, speech disorders can be corrected efficiently, giving children greater communication opportunities. If left untreated, speech impediments can cause a variety of problems in adulthood, and may be more difficult to diagnose and treat.

Parents, teachers, doctors, speech and language professionals, and other concerned parties all have unique responsibilities in recognizing and treating speech disorders. Through professional therapy, family engagement, positive encouragement and a strong support network, individuals with speech impediments can overcome their challenges and develop essential communication skills.

Additional Sources

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Speech Sound Disorders

Identify the Signs, Signs of Speech and Language Disorders

Intermountain Healthcare, Phonological Disorders

MedlinePlus, Speech disorders – children

National Institutes of Health, National Institutes on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, “Quick Statistics About Voice, Speech, Language”

Bring us your ambition and we’ll guide you along a personalized path to a quality education that’s designed to change your life.

Take Your Next Brave Step

Receive information about the benefits of our programs, the courses you'll take, and what you need to apply.

10 Most Common Speech-Language Disorders & Impediments

As you get to know more about the field of speech-language pathology you’ll increasingly realize why SLPs are required to earn at least a master’s degree . This stuff is serious – and there’s nothing easy about it.

In 2016 the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders reported that 7.7% of American children have been diagnosed with a speech or swallowing disorder. That comes out to nearly one in 12 children, and gets even bigger if you factor in adults.

Whether rooted in psycho-speech behavioral issues, muscular disorders, or brain damage, nearly all the diagnoses SLPs make fall within just 10 common categories…

Types of Speech Disorders & Impediments

Apraxia of speech (aos).

Apraxia of Speech (AOS) happens when the neural pathway between the brain and a person’s speech function (speech muscles) is lost or obscured. The person knows what they want to say – they can even write what they want to say on paper – however the brain is unable to send the correct messages so that speech muscles can articulate what they want to say, even though the speech muscles themselves work just fine. Many SLPs specialize in the treatment of Apraxia .

There are different levels of severity of AOS, ranging from mostly functional, to speech that is incoherent. And right now we know for certain it can be caused by brain damage, such as in an adult who has a stroke. This is called Acquired AOS.

However the scientific and medical community has been unable to detect brain damage – or even differences – in children who are born with this disorder, making the causes of Childhood AOS somewhat of a mystery. There is often a correlation present, with close family members suffering from learning or communication disorders, suggesting there may be a genetic link.

Mild cases might be harder to diagnose, especially in children where multiple unknown speech disorders may be present. Symptoms of mild forms of AOS are shared by a range of different speech disorders, and include mispronunciation of words and irregularities in tone, rhythm, or emphasis (prosody).

Stuttering – Stammering

Stuttering, also referred to as stammering, is so common that everyone knows what it sounds like and can easily recognize it. Everyone has probably had moments of stuttering at least once in their life. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders estimates that three million Americans stutter, and reports that of the up-to-10-percent of children who do stutter, three-quarters of them will outgrow it. It should not be confused with cluttering.

Most people don’t know that stuttering can also include non-verbal involuntary or semi-voluntary actions like blinking or abdominal tensing (tics). Speech language pathologists are trained to look for all the symptoms of stuttering , especially the non-verbal ones, and that is why an SLP is qualified to make a stuttering diagnosis.

The earliest this fluency disorder can become apparent is when a child is learning to talk. It may also surface later during childhood. Rarely if ever has it developed in adults, although many adults have kept a stutter from childhood.

Stuttering only becomes a problem when it has an impact on daily activities, or when it causes concern to parents or the child suffering from it. In some people, a stutter is triggered by certain events like talking on the phone. When people start to avoid specific activities so as not to trigger their stutter, this is a sure sign that the stutter has reached the level of a speech disorder.

The causes of stuttering are mostly a mystery. There is a correlation with family history indicating a genetic link. Another theory is that a stutter is a form of involuntary or semi-voluntary tic. Most studies of stuttering agree there are many factors involved.

Dysarthria is a symptom of nerve or muscle damage. It manifests itself as slurred speech, slowed speech, limited tongue, jaw, or lip movement, abnormal rhythm and pitch when speaking, changes in voice quality, difficulty articulating, labored speech, and other related symptoms.

It is caused by muscle damage, or nerve damage to the muscles involved in the process of speaking such as the diaphragm, lips, tongue, and vocal chords.

Because it is a symptom of nerve and/or muscle damage it can be caused by a wide range of phenomena that affect people of all ages. This can start during development in the womb or shortly after birth as a result of conditions like muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy. In adults some of the most common causes of dysarthria are stroke, tumors, and MS.

A lay term, lisping can be recognized by anyone and is very common.

Speech language pathologists provide an extra level of expertise when treating patients with lisping disorders . They can make sure that a lisp is not being confused with another type of disorder such as apraxia, aphasia, impaired development of expressive language, or a speech impediment caused by hearing loss.

SLPs are also important in distinguishing between the five different types of lisps. Most laypersons can usually pick out the most common type, the interdental/dentalised lisp. This is when a speaker makes a “th” sound when trying to make the “s” sound. It is caused by the tongue reaching past or touching the front teeth.

Because lisps are functional speech disorders, SLPs can play a huge role in correcting these with results often being a complete elimination of the lisp. Treatment is particularly effective when implemented early, although adults can also benefit.

Experts recommend professional SLP intervention if a child has reached the age of four and still has an interdental/dentalised lisp. SLP intervention is recommended as soon as possible for all other types of lisps. Treatment includes pronunciation and annunciation coaching, re-teaching how a sound or word is supposed to be pronounced, practice in front of a mirror, and speech-muscle strengthening that can be as simple as drinking out of a straw.

Spasmodic Dysphonia

Spasmodic Dysphonia (SD) is a chronic long-term disorder that affects the voice. It is characterized by a spasming of the vocal chords when a person attempts to speak and results in a voice that can be described as shaky, hoarse, groaning, tight, or jittery. It can cause the emphasis of speech to vary considerably. Many SLPs specialize in the treatment of Spasmodic Dysphonia .

SLPs will most often encounter this disorder in adults, with the first symptoms usually occurring between the ages of 30 and 50. It can be caused by a range of things mostly related to aging, such as nervous system changes and muscle tone disorders.

It’s difficult to isolate vocal chord spasms as being responsible for a shaky or trembly voice, so diagnosing SD is a team effort for SLPs that also involves an ear, nose, and throat doctor (otolaryngologist) and a neurologist.

Have you ever heard people talking about how they are smart but also nervous in large groups of people, and then self-diagnose themselves as having Asperger’s? You might have heard a similar lay diagnosis for cluttering. This is an indication of how common this disorder is as well as how crucial SLPs are in making a proper cluttering diagnosis .

A fluency disorder, cluttering is characterized by a person’s speech being too rapid, too jerky, or both. To qualify as cluttering, the person’s speech must also have excessive amounts of “well,” “um,” “like,” “hmm,” or “so,” (speech disfluencies), an excessive exclusion or collapsing of syllables, or abnormal syllable stresses or rhythms.

The first symptoms of this disorder appear in childhood. Like other fluency disorders, SLPs can have a huge impact on improving or eliminating cluttering. Intervention is most effective early on in life, however adults can also benefit from working with an SLP.

Muteness – Selective Mutism

There are different kinds of mutism, and here we are talking about selective mutism. This used to be called elective mutism to emphasize its difference from disorders that caused mutism through damage to, or irregularities in, the speech process.

Selective mutism is when a person does not speak in some or most situations, however that person is physically capable of speaking. It most often occurs in children, and is commonly exemplified by a child speaking at home but not at school.

Selective mutism is related to psychology. It appears in children who are very shy, who have an anxiety disorder, or who are going through a period of social withdrawal or isolation. These psychological factors have their own origins and should be dealt with through counseling or another type of psychological intervention.

Diagnosing selective mutism involves a team of professionals including SLPs, pediatricians, psychologists, and psychiatrists. SLPs play an important role in this process because there are speech language disorders that can have the same effect as selective muteness – stuttering, aphasia, apraxia of speech, or dysarthria – and it’s important to eliminate these as possibilities.

And just because selective mutism is primarily a psychological phenomenon, that doesn’t mean SLPs can’t do anything. Quite the contrary.

The National Institute on Neurological Disorders and Stroke estimates that one million Americans have some form of aphasia.

Aphasia is a communication disorder caused by damage to the brain’s language capabilities. Aphasia differs from apraxia of speech and dysarthria in that it solely pertains to the brain’s speech and language center.

As such anyone can suffer from aphasia because brain damage can be caused by a number of factors. However SLPs are most likely to encounter aphasia in adults, especially those who have had a stroke. Other common causes of aphasia are brain tumors, traumatic brain injuries, and degenerative brain diseases.

In addition to neurologists, speech language pathologists have an important role in diagnosing aphasia. As an SLP you’ll assess factors such as a person’s reading and writing, functional communication, auditory comprehension, and verbal expression.

Speech Delay – Alalia

A speech delay, known to professionals as alalia, refers to the phenomenon when a child is not making normal attempts to verbally communicate. There can be a number of factors causing this to happen, and that’s why it’s critical for a speech language pathologist to be involved.

The are many potential reasons why a child would not be using age-appropriate communication. These can range anywhere from the child being a “late bloomer” – the child just takes a bit longer than average to speak – to the child having brain damage. It is the role of an SLP to go through a process of elimination, evaluating each possibility that could cause a speech delay, until an explanation is found.

Approaching a child with a speech delay starts by distinguishing among the two main categories an SLP will evaluate: speech and language.

Speech has a lot to do with the organs of speech – the tongue, mouth, and vocal chords – as well as the muscles and nerves that connect them with the brain. Disorders like apraxia of speech and dysarthria are two examples that affect the nerve connections and organs of speech. Other examples in this category could include a cleft palette or even hearing loss.

The other major category SLPs will evaluate is language. This relates more to the brain and can be affected by brain damage or developmental disorders like autism. There are many different types of brain damage that each manifest themselves differently, as well as developmental disorders, and the SLP will make evaluations for everything.

Issues Related to Autism

While the autism spectrum itself isn’t a speech disorder, it makes this list because the two go hand-in-hand more often than not.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that one out of every 68 children in our country have an autism spectrum disorder. And by definition, all children who have autism also have social communication problems.

Speech-language pathologists are often a critical voice on a team of professionals – also including pediatricians, occupational therapists, neurologists, developmental specialists, and physical therapists – who make an autism spectrum diagnosis .

In fact, the American Speech-Language Hearing Association reports that problems with communication are the first detectable signs of autism. That is why language disorders – specifically disordered verbal and nonverbal communication – are one of the primary diagnostic criteria for autism.

So what kinds of SLP disorders are you likely to encounter with someone on the autism spectrum?

A big one is apraxia of speech. A study that came out of Penn State in 2015 found that 64 percent of children who were diagnosed with autism also had childhood apraxia of speech.

This basic primer on the most common speech disorders offers little more than an interesting glimpse into the kind of issues that SLPs work with patients to resolve. But even knowing everything there is to know about communication science and speech disorders doesn’t tell the whole story of what this profession is all about. With every client in every therapy session, the goal is always to have the folks that come to you for help leave with a little more confidence than when they walked in the door that day. As a trusted SLP, you will build on those gains with every session, helping clients experience the joy and freedom that comes with the ability to express themselves freely. At the end of the day, this is what being an SLP is all about.

Ready to make a difference in speech pathology? Learn how to become a Speech-Language Pathologist today

• Emerson College - Master's in Speech-Language Pathology online - Prepare to become an SLP in as few as 20 months. No GRE required. Scholarships available.
• Arizona State University - Online - Online Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Science - Designed to prepare graduates to work in behavioral health settings or transition to graduate programs in speech-language pathology and audiology.
• NYU Steinhardt - NYU Steinhardt's Master of Science in Communicative Sciences and Disorders online - ASHA-accredited. Bachelor's degree required. Graduate prepared to pursue licensure.
• Calvin University - Calvin University's Online Speech and Hearing Foundations Certificate - Helps You Gain a Strong Foundation for Your Speech-Language Pathology Career.

Call Us Today: (224) 219-1924

Grow with us in a FUN & functional way!

e-mail: [email protected]

Speech Impediment: Definition, Causes, Types and Treatment

02 may speech impediment: definition, causes, types and treatment.

One of life’s joys as a parent is watching your kids grow and change. You see them learn new things, meet new friends, and explore the world around them. But sometimes, you also witness them struggle – like when they have their first fight with a friend or don’t do as well as they wanted to on a test. And while it’s never easy to see your child suffer, one of the hardest things to watch is when your child has difficulty communicating. If your child has a speech impediment, you know that feeling all too well. It can be frustrating and heartbreaking to see your little one struggling to be understood. But take heart – you’re not alone. Many children have difficulties with speech, and with the right pediatric speech therapist in Chicago , your child can learn to overcome their impediment. This blog post will define a speech impediment, discuss some of the most common types and causes, and provide information on treatment options.

What is a speech impediment?

A speech impediment is a condition that affects a person’s ability to produce sound correctly. The term can refer to any difficulties that impede a person’s speech, from mild sound errors to severe problems with articulation. All individuals with speech impediments have difficulty producing certain sounds, depending on one sound. Some people may only have trouble with one sound, while others may have difficulty producing multiple sounds.

What causes speech impediments?

Some people are born with speech impediments, while others develop them later in life. There are many different causes of speech impediment, as you will see below.

1. Congenital defects Congenital defects are abnormalities that are present at birth. They can affect any part of the body, including the mouth and vocal cords. In some cases, congenital defects can cause problems with the tongue moving or the formation of teeth. Many different types of congenital defects can cause a speech impediment, including : Cleft lip and palate is a condition where there is an opening in the lip and/or roof of the mouth. This opening can cause problems with the way the mouth forms words, as well as with eating and drinking. Cleft lip and palate can also cause hearing problems. Vocal cord paralysis is a condition where the vocal cords are unable to move correctly. This can make it difficult to produce sound, as well as to breathe properly. Tongue-tie is a condition where the tongue is tethered to the floor of the mouth. This can make it difficult to move the tongue and can cause problems with eating, drinking, and speaking.

2. Neurological disorders Neurological disorders are conditions that affect the nervous system. These disorders can cause problems with the way the brain sends signals to the muscles, which can lead to difficulties with movement and speech. Some of the more common neurological disorders include: Cerebral palsy is a condition that affects movement and muscle coordination. It is caused by damage to the brain, usually before or during birth. Cerebral palsy can cause problems with the way a person walks, talks, and eats. Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the nervous system that causes the immune system to attack the nerves. This can lead to problems with muscle control and vision, hearing, and speech.

3. Hearing loss Hearing loss can be caused by many different things, including exposure to loud noise, certain medications, and aging. Hearing loss can make it difficult to understand what other people are saying, which can lead to problems with speech. There are many different types of hearing loss, and the severity can vary from person to person. Some people with hearing loss may only have trouble hearing certain sounds, while others may not be able to hear anything at all. Hearing loss can be temporary or permanent. Temporary hearing loss can be caused by things like earwax buildup or infection. Permanent hearing loss can be caused by things like damage to the inner ear or a genetic disorder.

4. Language disorders Language disorders are conditions that affect a person’s ability to understand or use language. These disorders can make it difficult to produce or comprehend speech. Some of the more common language disorders include dyslexia and aphasia.

5. Emotional disorders Emotional disorders are conditions that affect a person’s emotions or mood. These disorders can cause problems with speech due to anxiety or stress. Some of the more common emotional disorders include anxiety disorders and depression. lip

Types of speech disorder

There are many different types of speech disorders, and the symptoms can vary from person to person. Some of the more common types of speech disorders include:

1. Articulation disorder An articulation disorder is a problem with the way the mouth, teeth, or tongue move to make sounds. This can make it difficult to produce certain sounds correctly. People with articulation disorders may have trouble saying certain words correctly, or they may leave out parts of words when they speak.

2. Fluency disorder A fluency disorder is a problem with the flow of speech. People with fluency disorders may have trouble putting their thoughts into words, and they may stutter when they speak. Stuttering is a type of fluency disorder that is characterized by pauses, repetitions, or prolongations of sounds.

3. Resonance disorder A resonance disorder is a problem with the way sound resonates in the mouth and throat. This can make it difficult to produce certain sounds correctly. People with resonance disorders may have trouble producing vowel sounds, or they may speak with a nasal tone.

4. Voice disorder A voice disorder is a problem with the way the voice sounds. This can be caused by things like vocal cord damage or misuse of the voice. People with voice disorders may have trouble speaking loudly or speaking in a hoarse or breathy voice.

Treatment of speech impediments

There are many different treatments for speech disorders, and the best treatment will depend on the individual and the cause of the disorder. Some of the more common treatments include:

1. Speech therapy Speech therapy is a type of treatment that helps people with speech disorders improve their abilities. Speech therapists can help people with articulation disorders learn to produce sounds correctly, people with fluency disorders reduce their stuttering, and people with resonance disorders improve their vowel production.

2. Surgery Surgery can be used to correct some anatomical defects that cause speech disorders. For example, surgery can be used to correct cleft lip and palate, vocal cord paralysis, and tongue tie.

3. Medication Medication can be used to treat some neurological disorders that cause speech disorders. For example, medication can be used to treat conditions like cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis.

4. Hearing aids Hearing aids can be used to treat hearing loss that causes speech disorders. Hearing aids amplify sound so that people with hearing loss can better understand what other people are saying.

5. Communication devices Communication devices can be used to help people with language disorders or severe speech disorders communicate. These devices can include things like picture boards and computer software that helps people generate speech.

6. Counseling Counseling can be used to treat emotional disorders that cause speech disorders. Counseling can help people manage their anxiety and stress and learn coping mechanisms to deal with their disorders.

7. Alternative treatments There are many different alternative treatments for speech disorders. Some of these treatments include acupuncture, aromatherapy, and massage therapy. It is important to speak with a doctor before starting any alternative treatment.

Speech disorders can cause a variety of problems for people, ranging from difficulty understanding what other people are saying to difficulty producing speech. There are many different causes of speech disorders, and the best treatment will depend on the individual and the cause of the disorder. Visit https://functionalspeechtherapy.com/ to learn more about pediatric speech disorders and treatment options.

Functional Speech Therapy Co., 960 Route 22, Unit 216 Fox River Grove Illinois 60021, (224) 219-1924

Find us on Social Media https://www.facebook.com/FUNctionalSpeechClinic/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJyXslNcwUw-ABZ5myhERTQ https://www.instagram.com/functional\_speechtherapy

No Comments

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.

Understanding Speech Impediments in Children

How do you know if your child has a speech impediment? Speech impediments in children are more common than you might think. They are a type of communication disorder where “normal” speech is disrupted. The disruption can include a lisp, stuttering, stammering, mis-articulation of certain sounds and more. Another commonly used phrase for speech impediments in children is speech disorder. Often, the causes of a speech impediment are unknown. However, sometimes there are physical impairments such as cleft palate or neurological disorders such as traumatic brain injury that may be the cause of the speech impairment. We have listed below five of the most common types of speech impediments in children and a general description of each. Of course, if you suspect your child may have a speech impairment of any kind, we encourage you to visit your pediatrician or hire a Speech Therapist for more information.

Common Types of Speech Impediments in Children

• Apraxia of Speech: Apraxia involves the inconsistent producing and rearranging of speech sounds. For instance potato may become totapo. This disorder may be developmental, where the symptoms have been evident from birth, or acquired. Acquired apraxia of speech generally results from a physical impairment such as injury or stroke.
• Speech Sound Disorder: A speech sound disorder involves difficulty producing certain sounds. The sounds could include /r/, /s/, /l/,/th/, /g/, /ch/ and /sh/. For example, a child may say “wabbit” instead of “rabbit”.  Speech sound disorders are divided into two categories of speech disorders. The first is a Phonetic disorder or articulation disorder which involves the child having difficulty in learning to produce certain sounds physically. The second speech sound disorder is a Phonemic disorder. This type of speech impediment involves the child having difficulty learning the sound distinctions of a language. Luckily, this common speech impediment in children is often easily corrected. Tongue placement tools or working with a Speech Therapist can really help your child.
• Cluttering: Cluttering is a speech disorder characterized by a rapid rate making speech difficult to understand, which in turn affects the person’s fluency. This can happen if the person has a tendency to speak really fast. This can also result when an individual continues to repeat themselves in order to try to make them understood. Cluttering is also referred to as fluency disorder.
• Lisp : A lisp is a speech impediment in children who are struggling to produce the /s/ sound clearly. A frontal lisp is when a child pushes his tongue too far forward in the mouth. A lateral lisp produces a “slushy” sound because too much air is escaping out the sides of a child’s mouth.

We have identified only five of the most common types of speech impediments in children. There are a number of other speech disorders beyond what we have listed. Please refer to our free eBook  for additional information. The good news is that with consistent speech therapy and early intervention, speech impediments in children can be overcome.

How to Help a Kid With a Childhood Speech Impediment

Difficulties in speech that many call "speech impediments" are common as language develops. Just don’t wait too long to seek help.

It can be very frustrating for a child suffering from a speech impediment —be it stutter or lisp — to figure out how to join a conversation. Importantly, Speech-language pathologists practicing speech therapy don’t consider “speech impediment” to be a particularly helpful word. Speech is very complicated, requiring many skills to develop concurrently . The American Speech Language Association prefers the terms “speech delay” or “speech disorder,” both of which are fairly common.

“Speech includes how we pronounce or articulate the sounds in words, the quality of our voice, and the fluency or smoothness of delivery,” says to Melanie Potock, a pediatric speech pathologist, a feeding specialist, and the author of Adventures in Veggieland .

Dysfluencies in language – such as stuttering or repeating words or starting sentences over – may be a part of typical speech development as toddlers learn to produce these sounds. A child who may be difficult to understand when they first learn to string words into sentences will usually develop enough articulation over time to be understood. If they don’t, they may have an articulation delay or an articulation disorder.

“Delay refers to a gap in development. That stall or break in development may be mild or enough to cause concern,” explains Potock. “Children have an articulation disorder when testing shows that they are producing the sounds, syllables or words atypically when compared with other children of the same sex and age.”

Each child develops at their own pace, however, so it can be difficult to identify when typical dysfluencies become a problem. There can be a lot of factors for parents to look for, but Potock has identified some general red flags that might signal a serious issue.

Red Flags for Speech Impediments:

• Frustration : the child is frustrated by their inability to communicate. Biting, excessive whining, and tantrums may all be indicators of an inability to communicate wants and needs.
• Unintelligibility to strangers : neighbors and new friends don’t understand the child. Parents often learn to decipher developing speech patterns, but those unfamiliar with them will be confused
• Unintelligibility at home: even family members may not be able to understand a child with confusing word form, limited intelligibility, poor voice control or stuttering.
• They sound immature: parents shouldn’t compare their kids to other kids – but if other kids the same age sound more grown-up, parents may want to discuss the possibility of a speech delay with their pediatrician.
• Difficulty eating: early difficulties with feeding development may be an indicator of delays in oral motor skills and thus, directly related to speech and possibly language development.

“Parents should contact their child’s doctor to discuss the possibility of consulting with a certified speech-language pathologist if they are concerned about their child’s speech or language or notice any of the signs,” advises Potock. “Early intervention services for children birth to age 3 are available in every state in the U.S., and evaluations are free to low-cost, as is therapy, should the child qualify.”

A certified speech-language pathologist can make speech therapy fairly entertaining for a child, and it’s an excellent chance for socialization. There is some homework so parents can practice good habits at home with their child, but it’s similar to the sort of games many parents already play with their children – memory games, sorting games, and reading. If a parent suspects their child is struggling with language, they shouldn’t wait to see what happens before they bring it up with a pediatrician.

“Don’t wait,” cautions Potock. “The wider that gap grows, the longer the child will be in therapy. Parent proactively and talk to your child’s pediatrician about your concerns and he/she will guide you through the options.”

• breynolds430
• Nov 1, 2023

Common Types Of Speech Impediments Explained

Updated: Dec 1, 2023

Speech impediments—a phrase is often thrown but hardly understood. They aren't character flaws or something to brush off lightly. Communication issues can make life tough for people who deal with them daily. Understanding speech impediment issues helps us show empathy and support for those with them.

Remember, living with a speech impediment isn't a choice—cope or conquer it is. As we learn more, we understand they are more than stutters or lisps. They're silent battles fought every day. This is an opportunity for us to lend support through enhanced understanding and shared respect.

In our daily interactions, we can make a significant impact. We can do this by listening, respecting their struggles, and appreciating their courage. Remember, understanding is the cradle of support. We learn, we grow, and together, we conquer.

Understanding Speech Impediments

Speech impediments involve troubles with voice or actual speech sounds—consonants, vowels, or both. They interfere with one's ability to communicate or articulate thoughts effectively. Some pose a significant hurdle socially, academically, or occupationally. To better support and relate to those with speech impediments, it helps to understand the different types and levels of challenges they face.

Navigating Stutters

Stutters usually stir up visual imagery of duplicated words or parts of words. However, stuttering is more complicated. It also includes longer sounds and pauses that disrupt speech fluency. You'll witness people begging for that elusive word to go off the tip of the tongue.

But what's the culprit? The answer is neurological. The brain and muscles working together for speech are not synchronized. People who stutter know what they want to say but need help to speak fluently.

Decoding Lisps

A lisp is another everyday speech impediment. The infliction is primarily with the letters S and Z. People with a lisp pronounce these sounds as "th." Witness someone say "thun" instead of Sun? That's a lisp playing its mischief.

Lisps originate from incorrect tongue placements in the mouth. If your tongue hits the front teeth when saying S and Z, that's called a lisp.

Apraxia of speech is another form of speech impediment and is quite nasty in its play. Apraxia of speech is different from stutters or lisps. Instead, it's an issue with the motor skill programming involved in speech.

People with apraxia struggle to coordinate the speech muscles in their brains. They understand the language perfectly and know what they wish to say. But the necessary complex motor movements evade them, disrupting smooth speech.

Another impediment to consider is dysarthria, resulting from nerve or muscle damage. It hinders speaking when these parts don't work well. Controlling the tongue and managing breath becomes difficult.

Dysarthria is different from stuttering. It needs help struggling to form words correctly. Dysarthria patients know what to say but struggle to say the words physically.

Phonological Disorders

This speech problem depends on knowing and using speech sound rules. Typically, younger children grapple with such issues while learning language rules. But when these problems persist and impact intelligibility, it's labeled a phonological disorder.

Individuals struggling with phonological disorders encounter set sound patterns they seemingly can't break. To outsiders, pronunciation errors may come across as child-like talk. But in reality, it's a complex issue requiring professional attention.

Selective Mutism

Selective mutism is when someone struggles to speak in specific social situations while being acceptable to others. It's often linked to shyness or social anxiety. Selective mutism usually begins in childhood and is often connected to extreme shyness or social anxiety.

Selective mutism can disrupt learning in school due to its impact on communication. In certain situations, someone with selective mutism can't speak due to anxiety, even if they know how to use language.

Vocal Cord Paralysis

Vocal cord paralysis is a speech problem caused by nerve damage from surgery, accidents, strokes, or tumors. The result? Difficulty in swallowing and even breathing. Speech production is severely affected when the vocal cords do not open and close smoothly.

People with vocal cord paralysis often have a hoarse or whispered speech. The pitch could be too high or low, making it easier to transition between pitches. But safety is also a concern due to difficulty swallowing, leading to recurring pneumonia and lung problems.

Articulation and Phonological Troubles

Finally, we touch on speech sound disorders, comprising articulation and phonological disorders. People with articulation disorders struggle to produce certain sounds, which makes their words hard to understand. Sounds are often switched or left out, making it harder to understand each other.

Phonological disorders, as we've discussed, relate to predictable, regular patterns of sound errors. Children with phonological disorders often substitute sounds made at the back of the mouth, such as "k" and "g," with front-mouth sounds like "t" and "d." In such cases, 'cat' might become 'tat,' and 'game' turns into 'dame.'

They learn sound patterns while learning language rules but don't stop using them as they age. This pattern then molds into a phonological disorder, impacting clear communication.

What's the opposite of Meaning of the word Words that rhyme with Sentences with the word Translate to Find Words Use * for blank tiles (max 2) Use * for blank spaces Find the of Pronounce the word in Find Names     Appearance ✓ Use device theme   ✓ Dark theme ✓ Light theme ? ? Here's a list of from our that you can use instead. and could have died.” Use * for blank tiles (max 2) Use * for blank spaces bottom_desktop desktop:[300x250] go Word Tools Finders & Helpers Apps More Synonyms Copyright WordHippo © 2024 Cambridge Dictionary +Plus Meaning of speech impediment in English Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio speech and language therapist speech and language therapy stammeringly stutteringly Examples of speech impediment Translations of speech impediment. Get a quick, free translation! Word of the Day an area of coral, the top of which can sometimes be seen just above the sea Robbing, looting, and embezzling: talking about stealing Learn more with +Plus Recent and Recommended {{#preferredDictionaries}} {{name}} {{/preferredDictionaries}} Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English English Learner’s Dictionary Essential British English Essential American English Grammar and thesaurus Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English Grammar Thesaurus Pronunciation British and American pronunciations with audio English Pronunciation English–Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Simplified)–English English–Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Traditional)–English English–Dutch Dutch–English English–French French–English English–German German–English English–Indonesian Indonesian–English English–Italian Italian–English English–Japanese Japanese–English English–Norwegian Norwegian–English English–Polish Polish–English English–Portuguese Portuguese–English English–Spanish Spanish–English English–Swedish Swedish–English Dictionary +Plus Word Lists English    Noun Translations All translations To add speech impediment to a word list please sign up or log in. Add speech impediment to one of your lists below, or create a new one. {{message}} Something went wrong. There was a problem sending your report. Special Needs Tips and Activities Special Education Speech Impediment and Speech Impediment Types We as humans run on communication. Through communication we tell how we feel and what we think. Breakdown in communication can cause barriers in interactions of all sorts. Speech impediments (or disorders) can cause breakdowns in this interaction, and frustration in people as they cause them difficulty with verbalizing information and feelings. However, there are a number of ways to treat speech disorders. Speech-language pathologists and other professionals can work with patients to overcome the symptoms and people with speech impediments can learn techniques to get past these barriers. What is Speech Impediment (Speech Disorder) Speech impediments, or commonly referred to as speech disorders , are conditions that affect an individual’s ability to speak fluently. These can cause the individual to not be able to communicate their thoughts or feelings correctly or with a clear tone. Individuals with speech impediments may have trouble with forming words or sounds that are understandable. This in turn creates difficulties in communication. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders data of 2015, around 1 in 12 children in the US aged 3-17 has a disorder that is related to speech, voice, language, or swallowing. Common Speech Impediment Types There are various types of speech disorders. These affect people of all age groups. We have gathered some of the most common speech impediments. Stuttering is a speech disorder where the flow of speech is interrupted. It is also called diffluent speech or stammering. With people who stutter, repetition can occur when they involuntarily repeat sounds, words, or vowels. People who stutter can encounter blocks during speech, where they know what they want to say but they have difficulty making the corresponding speech sounds. It may feel like their words are stuck. People who stutter may also stretch particular words or sounds. The symptoms that come with stuttering may differ depending on what the situation is. For some people, certain words or sounds can make their stutter more severe. Also stress or frustration as well as excitement can cause stuttering to become more pronounced. Developmental stuttering and *neurogenic stuttering *are two main types of this condition. Developmental stuttering , the most common form of stuttering, occurs in young children as they are still in the process of learning speech and language skills. Developmental stuttering may result from genetic factors, and most scientists believe that it stems from complex interactions of multiple factors. Neurogenic stuttering can occur when the proper coordination between different brain regions that are in charge of speech is disrupted due to a damage, like a stroke, head trauma, or other types of brain injury. This in turn causes problems in production of fluent and clear speech. Among common behavioral and physical symptoms that accompany stuttering are Lip tremors Rapid blinking Tension in the face and shoulders Aphasia , impairment of language, happens when the production or comprehension of speech as well as the ability to read or write is affected. It is always the result of an injury to the brain. Most common reason for aphasia is stroke, especially in older individuals. Aphasia could also be caused by a head trauma, infection, or brain tumors. This disorder impairs the expression and understanding of language . It may affect mainly a single aspect of language where the ability to retrieve the names of objects is affected However, more commonly, various aspects of communication can be impared. When we decide to speak, our brain sends signals to the related structures in our body. These work together to produce speech. Most of our brain’s involvement in speech is automatic and unconscious. These structures receive instructions from our brain to move in a certain way to form the appropriate sounds, like our vocal cords opening and closing, our tongue moving, and our lips shaping. Apraxia is a general term that is used to refer to a brain damage that causes a person’s motor skills to not function properly. This can affect any part of the body. Apraxia of speech refers especially to the impairment of motor skills that help a person to be able to form sounds and speech correctly. With apraxia, the ability to coordinate a target set of muscles is lost despite those parts of the body being healthy and the person knowing what they would like to say. Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) When a child has apraxia of speech , the signals their brain sends do not get through correctly. This doesn’t mean that the child doesn’t know what they want to say. They may not be able to move their tongue or lips in the right way to produce speech even though their muscles are healthy. The problem is the way that the brain sends messages to tell the mouth and the muscles to move. CAS is also sometimes called verbal dyspraxia or developmental apraxia. However, although there is the word ”developmental” in the name, this is not an issue that the child will outgrow. Without treatment, the child may not make progress and children with CAS may not learn speech sounds in typical order. However, through correct interventions, the child’s speech can improve. Similar to ASD, not all children with CAS are the same and they may not have the same symptoms. Some of the symptoms are as follows: Changing or distorting sounds Saying shorter words more clearly compared to longer words Stressing wrong syllable Difficulty with fine motor skills Issues with spelling, writing, reading We use a lot of muscles to talk, including the muscles in our face, tongue, throat, and lips . When these muscles don’t work or are weak, it becomes difficult to speak. Dysarthria is a speech disorder type that occurs when the muscles are weak. This disorder is a motor speech disorder, and can likely be caused by brain damage or damage to the nervous system. Certain diseases that affect the nerves controlling certain muscles can result in dysarthria. It can cause the muscles we use to speak to be damaged or weakened. Dysarthria can occur with other speech and language problems like apraxia and aphasia, which is difficulty in understanding what others say or telling others what you are thinking. The disorder can be developmental or acquired . Developmental dysarthria occurs either before a baby is born or at birth due to brain damage. Children typically have developmental dysarthria. Acquired dysarthria occurs due to brain damage that happens later in life, such as a stroke or a brain tumor. Adults tend to have acquired dysarthria. There are two types of dysarthria based on the part of the nervous system it affects. Central dysarthria is caused by damage to the brain. Peripheral dysarthria is caused by damage to the organs we need for speech. The disorder can make speaking very difficult, and may cause the following symptoms: Speaking more quickly or slowly than intended Slurred speech Robotic speech Soft speech Speech Impediment Causes Speech impediments can be caused by many factors. Physical features, neurological disorders or mental conditions can cause speech impediments. Sometimes developmental issues can play a part in children as well. Physical and neurological issues that may cause speech impediments include: Brain injury Damage to nervous the system Cancerous and noncancerous growths, tumors Muscle and bone problems, like cleft palate Hearing issues Respiratory system damage Mental health and neurodevelopmental issues may also cause speech disorders. Some speech impediments are related to the clinical conditions: Here are a couple of them: Autism spectrum disorder Down syndrome Genetic syndromes Multiple sclerosis It is also known that some speech impairments may be genetic , for instance if a parent or sibling have experienced language or speech problems. Premature birth, difficulties during birth, pregnancy complications, voice overuse, chronic coughs may also cause speech impediments. How to Fix a Speech Impediment in Children The treatment options for speech impediments depend on the type and severity of the speech impediment . The most common way of treatment is first of all consulting a professional, and the earlier the child receives treatment, the better the chance to curb speech disorders. However, speech disorders can also be treated later in life. For children, typically a pediatrician, a teacher, or other concerned party will be the ones to recognize symptoms of speech disorder. Since these people frequently deal with speech and language conditions, they will be more familiar with the symptoms and what to recommend to the parents and their child. A physician will do the following tests and evaluations to determine whether your child has a speech disorder: Vision tests Hearing tests Observing the symptoms in the patient Evaluating the patient history and records Professionals that are in the field also include speech-language pathologists. They can assess, diagnose, and treat many communication disorders. These include speech disorders in both adults and children. A speech-language pathologist (SLP) may also conduct an initial screening to determine whether your child has a speech disorder. They may assess the speech sounds in words and sentences, oral motor function, and language comprehension. After the initial screening, if the speech symptoms are found to be developmentally appropriate, no action may be taken. However, if the professional suspects a disorder, then your child may be referred to receive speech sound assessment, audiology evaluation, or any other medical services that are needed. After the evaluation, if the type of speech disorder your child is determined to have is identified, treatment can begin. Treatment consists of multiple approaches with a combination of therapy, exercise and assistive devices to treat speech disorders. These are conducted by a speech-language pathologist. There are various types of treatments available for children with speech impediments and they can consist of speech therapy exercises focusing on building familiarity with certain sounds or words, or physical exercises with a focus on strengthening speech producing muscles. Here are some of them : Contrast Therapy: This approach is used to improve speech by emphasizing the phonemic contrasts. These are used to differentiate words. Minimal opposition words, such as ”zip” and ”pip”, or maximal oppositions, such as ”man” and ”fan”, are examples for these words. Contextual Utilization: For this approach, the SLPs teach methods for producing sounds consistently in different syllable-based contexts. These could be phonemic or phonetic contexts. This method is useful for those who produce sounds consistently. Target Selection: In this approach, specific sounds or words are selected so that the person can familiarize themselves with speech patterns. For instance, difficult words that cause disruptions in speech can be included in this therapy’s target. Oral-Motor Therapy: The goal of this type of therapy is to strengthen muscle, improve oral control as well as breath control to improve articulation. The approach uses non-speech exercises to support and supplement sound therapies, and can help children develop their fluency. Medication: Some people may develop anxiety disorders due to speech disorders. Stress may in turn increase the severity of the speech disorder symptoms. Therefore in some people, sometimes anxiety medications can help reduce the stress and symptoms of speech disorders. Assistive Devices: Professionals may also recommend use of assistive devices. For instance, ear devices are electronic aids that are fitted inside the ear canal to help improve the fluency in people with stutter. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices such as picture boards and speech-generating devices also aid the child in their speech and communication. This article is examined by Clinical Child Psychologist and Ph. D. Researcher Kevser Çakmak, and produced by Otsimo Editorial Team. Certified special education app Get Otsimo for iOS and Android now. Otsimo Special Education Download for Free Otsimo Speech Therapy This post does not provide medical advice. See Additional Information. speech impediment speech impediment types speech impediments types of speech impediments what is a speech impediment types of speech disorder types of speech disorders types of speech and language disorders different types of speech speech types 3 types of speech types of speech problems Related Articles August 14, 2023 Understanding Speech Disabilities and Language Disorders July 27, 2023 Articulation Disorder: Understanding the Basics March 28, 2023 Speech Development in Children April 19, 2023 ”R” Words Speech Therapy Signs of Autism In Different Age Groups and Genders How to Help Your Nonverbal Child with Autism Speak How To Restrict YouTube on Android Devices How to Calm an Autistic Child During a Meltdown Difference Between Speech Delay and Autism RECENT POSTS Understanding Chromosome 21 and Down Syndrome Why Distance Learning May Be More Challenging For Families of Students With Disabilities How Autism and Anxiety May be Linked Career with Impact Privacy Policy Otsimo AAC | Tap and Talk To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In speech impediment Definition of speech impediment Examples of speech impediment in a sentence. These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'speech impediment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples. Dictionary Entries Near speech impediment speech island Cite this Entry “Speech impediment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/speech%20impediment. Accessed 10 Aug. 2024. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! Can you solve 4 words at once? Word of the day. See Definitions and Examples » Get Word of the Day daily email! Popular in Grammar & Usage Plural and possessive names: a guide, commonly misspelled words, how to use em dashes (—), en dashes (–) , and hyphens (-), absent letters that are heard anyway, how to use accents and diacritical marks, popular in wordplay, 8 words for lesser-known musical instruments, it's a scorcher words for the summer heat, 7 shakespearean insults to make life more interesting, plant names that sound like insults, 10 words from taylor swift songs (merriam's version), games & quizzes. Daily Crossword Word Puzzle Word Finder Word of the Day Synonym of the Day Word of the Year Language stories All featured Gender and sexuality All pop culture Writing hub Grammar essentials Commonly confused All writing tips Pop culture Writing tips Advertisement noun as in obstruction, hindrance Strongest matches disadvantage restriction stumbling block Strong matches encumbrance prohibition retardation Weak matches dead weight Example Sentences Overall, we consider these to be minor impediments because a rechargeable warmer’s heating time is guaranteed to be longer than a chemically activated option, and the custom control is far greater than a lighter fluid-filled hand warmer. The sympathy created by his fake impediment lands the job for him. You would never guess that a few years ago, Gorman was struggling with a speech impediment. One thing you may not have known is that Gorman overcame a speech impediment. He insisted that money was not an impediment for state-run vaccination programs. The edict says “any persons that can express any legal impediment can denounce” the nuptials. Despite the legal impediment, Hamza convinced Traverso to marry him. The traffic, as in all of Los Angeles, is a serious impediment. One obvious impediment is the difficulty of getting into the country. The war has been a constant impediment to their grand tourism plans. Wood may be cut close to the beach, and embarked without impediment. The unfortunate gentleman had an impediment in his speech, and this was noted down as proving him to be a German, of course! They are an impediment to the progress of knowledge, only when they are permanently acquiesced in. It is here that the only practical impediment occurs to the passage of heavy shipping, between Buffalo and Chicago. Religion is the greatest impediment to the progress of human happiness. Related Words Words related to impediment are not direct synonyms, but are associated with the word impediment . Browse related words to learn more about word associations. noun as in burdensome restraint cross to bear noun as in barrier; blockage obstruction noun as in obstruction to goal noun as in physical obstruction fortification gully/gulley noun as in obstruction Viewing 5 / 63 related words From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group. Exploring The Impact Speech Disorders Can Have On One's Mental Health Speech disorders are a wide-ranging set of conditions that impact a person's ability to communicate. These conditions, ranging from stuttering to apraxia of speech, are increasingly common in the population.   Speech disorders, while primarily affecting communication abilities, also exert significant influence on an individual's mental health, often leading to psychological distress and social isolation. Implementing robust mental health support alongside speech therapy can help to address these intertwined challenges and enable individuals with speech disorders to lead healthier, fulfilling lives. Understanding speech disorders Speech disorders are a broad category of conditions that impact an individual's communication ability. Examples of these disorders can include stuttering, apraxia of speech, and dysarthria. These conditions interfere with developing and utilizing language skills, usually leading to speech deficits. The challenges posed by these disorders affect daily life, from straightforward communication tasks to more complex social interactions.  For instance, an individual with a stutter may struggle with verbal expressions, while someone with a language disorder might find the nuances of social discourse challenging to grasp. Some individuals may seek out speech therapy to address these concerns. A professional speech and language pathologist can help those struggling with speech disorders to develop useful skills and coping mechanisms. However, the ramifications of these disorders extend beyond communication and language. There's an underlying connection between speech disorders and the onset of mental disorders, including serious mental illness. The strain of coping with communication challenges can lead to psychological distress, and the potential stigma associated with these disorders can compound these mental health issues. This intricate connection can require a comprehensive approach that includes both speech therapy and mental health support. Psychological impact of speech disorders Language disorders can create a web of psychological complications, significantly affecting an individual's mental well-being. The difficulties in mastering communication skills and expressing oneself clearly can lead to heightened anxiety and feelings of low self-esteem. In more severe cases, these language difficulties can even precede conditions such as depression. Additionally, language problems often foster a sense of isolation. Individuals struggling with these disorders may find it taxing to participate in significant interactions with others, feeling marginalized and alone. This sense of isolation can exacerbate existing psychological distress, creating a cycle of mental strain. This strain is magnified in societies that place a high value on eloquent speech and effective communication, turning the challenge of coping with a speech disorder into a cognitive resource issue. The persistent need to navigate a world designed for seamless communication while wrestling with a speech disorder can intensify the psychological burden, reinforcing the need for adequate mental health support alongside speech therapy. Social implications of speech disorders Generally speaking, the societal reactions and expectations surrounding speech disorders can significantly intensify the mental health struggles those dealing with these conditions face. A society prioritizing fluent speech can inadvertently create an environment where individuals with speech disorders face stigma, resulting in a heightened sense of isolation. Bullying or ostracization often emphasize this isolation, especially in settings that lack understanding or acceptance of these disorders. Such negative social experiences can lead to increased feelings of loneliness and can even trigger depressive symptoms. These societal implications extend beyond the individual, affecting their relationships, career prospects, and overall quality of life. The combination of societal pressures and personal struggles related to speech disorders can, in turn, significantly impact the mental well-being of those affected. Raising societal awareness, fostering a more inclusive and accepting environment for individuals coping with speech disorders, and providing them with robust mental health support can help them lead healthy and fulfilling lives The importance of mental health support for people with speech disorders As mentioned before, speech disorders can significantly impact an individual's mental health. This realization underscores the importance of comprehensive mental health support for those grappling with such conditions. Forbes provides a list of Quick Statistics About Voice, Speech, and Language from the NIDCD . Some of the findings include: Five percent of U.S. children ages 3-17 have a speech disorder that lasted for a week or longer during the past 12 months. Boys aged 3-17 are more likely than girls to have a voice, speech, language, or swallowing disorder (9.6 percent compared to 5.7 percent). The prevalence of voice, speech, language, or swallowing disorders is highest among children ages 3-6 (11.0 percent), compared to children ages 7-10 (9.3 percent) and children ages 11-17 (4.9 percent). Individuals affected by speech disorders can benefit from access to various mental health interventions, including therapy and counseling. These interventions can provide coping strategies and mental resilience to manage the psychological stressors associated with speech disorders. Effective mental health therapy also helps to alleviate associated conditions such as anxiety, depression, and self-esteem issues, which are often found alongside these disorders. In addition to individual therapy, societal support can be pivotal in creating an environment conducive to the well-being of those with speech disorders. Raising awareness, promoting understanding, and fostering inclusivity can help reduce these disorders' mental health impact. Seeking professional support online Online therapy services like BetterHelp can be a beneficial option when considering mental health support for those grappling with speech disorders. Online therapy offers a comfortable and safe environment which can be particularly advantageous for individuals who may feel self-conscious about their speech in a traditional face-to-face setting. In the context of mental health implications of speech disorders, the availability of online therapy can be a valuable tool in a comprehensive support plan, fostering a space for coping, resilience, and understanding. Online therapy is also effective. A systematic review revealed that telepractice, including online therapy, has demonstrated feasibility, efficacy, diagnostic accuracy, and non-inferiority across various speech-language pathology services . This review shows the potential of online therapy as a service model in speech-language pathology for adults. Though primarily affecting an individual's ability to communicate effectively, speech disorders can also significantly influence psychological well-being and social interactions. Mental health support, including interventions like online therapy, can address these intertwined challenges. With the right support and understanding, individuals with speech disorders can effectively navigate their unique challenges, bolster their resilience, and improve their quality of life. Everyone Has Challenges: 8 Famous People Open Up About Mental Illnesses Medically reviewed by April Justice , LICSW Inclusive Mental Health Relationships and Relations Help Center Thesaurus for Speech impediment Related terms for speech impediment - synonyms, antonyms and sentences with speech impediment, similar meaning. speech disorder speech defect language impairment defect of speech articulation disorder expressive aphasia language processing disorder linguistic aphasia receptive aphasia word deafness bradyarthria ankyloglossia feeding difficulty frenulotomy lingual frenulum limitation Opposite meaning art of oratory silver tongue gift of the gab pronounceability articulateness articulation command of language expressiveness facility of speech oratory skills power of expression power of speech public speaking abilities public speaking skills way with words gift of speech speak confidently speak easily absolute silence Common usage get your tongue around something get your tongue round something colloquial speech direct speech figurative speech freedom of speech hate speech infantile speech keynote speech liberty of speech maiden speech nominating speech non-standard speech oblique speech organ of speech second-hand speech speech communication speech intelligibility speech language pathologist speech marks speech pathologist speech perception speech production speech recognition Sentence Examples Proper usage in context. She also has a slight dysphasic speech impediment Had a speech impediment myself, you know It's just a speech impediment that all butlers have My speech impediment is because of my extra long tongue He has a slight speech impediment, a problem pronouncing S's Advertisement Supported by Britain’s Violent Riots: What We Know Officials had braced for more unrest on Wednesday, but the night’s anti-immigration protests were smaller, with counterprotesters dominating the streets instead. Share full article By Lynsey Chutel After days of violent rioting set off by disinformation around a deadly stabbing rampage, the authorities in Britain had been bracing for more unrest on Wednesday. But by nightfall, large-scale anti-immigration demonstrations had not materialized, and only a few arrests had been made nationwide. Instead, streets in cities across the country were filled with thousands of antiracism protesters, including in Liverpool, where by late evening, the counterdemonstration had taken on an almost celebratory tone. Over the weekend, the anti-immigration protests, organized by far-right groups, had devolved into violence in more than a dozen towns and cities. And with messages on social media calling for wider protests and counterprotests on Wednesday, the British authorities were on high alert. With tensions running high, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s cabinet held emergency meetings to discuss what has become the first crisis of his recently elected government. Some 6,000 specialist public-order police officers were mobilized nationwide to respond to any disorder, and the authorities in several cities and towns stepped up patrols. Wednesday was not trouble-free, however. In Bristol, the police said there was one arrest after a brick was thrown at a police vehicle and a bottle was thrown. In the southern city of Portsmouth, police officers dispersed a small group of anti-immigration protesters who had blocked a roadway. And in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where there have been at least four nights of unrest, disorder continued, and the police service said it would bring in additional officers. But overall, many expressed relief that the fears of wide-scale violence had not been realized. Here’s what we know about the turmoil in Britain. Where arrests have been reported We are having trouble retrieving the article content. Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber?  Log in . Want all of The Times?  Subscribe . UK Edition Change UK Politics News Videos Paris 2024 Olympics Rugby Union Sport Videos John Rentoul Mary Dejevsky Andrew Grice Sean O’Grady Photography Theatre & Dance Culture Videos Fitness & Wellbeing Food & Drink Health & Families Royal Family Electric Vehicles Car Insurance Deals Lifestyle Videos UK Hotel Reviews News & Advice Simon Calder Australia & New Zealand South America C. America & Caribbean Middle East Politics Explained News Analysis Today’s Edition Home & Garden Broadband deals Fashion & Beauty Travel & Outdoors Sports & Fitness Climate 100 Sustainable Living Climate Videos Solar Panels Behind The Headlines On The Ground Decomplicated You Ask The Questions Binge Watch Travel Smart Watch on your TV Crosswords & Puzzles Most Commented Newsletters Ask Me Anything Virtual Events Wine Offers Thank you for registering Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in Suspended Labour councillor charged with encouraging violent disorder over protest speech Dartford councillor ricky jones was arrested and suspended from the labour party on thursday, article bookmarked. Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails, thanks for signing up to the breaking news email. A councillor suspended by Labour has been charged after delivering a speech saying “fascists need their throats cut” at an anti-racism demonstration. Ricky Jones, 57, has been charged with one count of encouraging violent disorder after he was filmed addressing a crowd in Walthamstow on Wednesday evening, the Crown Prosecution Service said. In the video, he said: “They are disgusting Nazi fascists and we need to cut all their throats and get rid of them all.” The  counter-protest  was organised to stop the far right from targeting asylum centres and the offices of lawyers helping asylum seekers. Jaswant Narwal, chief crown prosecutor for CPS London North, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Ricky Jones, 57, with one count of encouraging violent disorder. “Jones was filmed addressing a crowd in Walthamstow on Wednesday 7 August during which he appeared to make remarks and a gesture to encourage others to act violently towards far-right protestors. “He has been arrested and charged within 48 hours, and will now appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court this afternoon, 9 August 2024. “We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings are active and that he has the right to a fair trial. “It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary, or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.” In a statement on Thursday, a Labour spokesperson said: “This behaviour is completely unacceptable and it will not be tolerated. The councillor has been suspended from the party.” Jones, who has represented the Princes ward in Dartford since 2019, will no longer be able to sit on the Labour benches at council meetings. The councillor is also an organiser for the union the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA). On Thursday, a TSSA spokesperson said: “TSSA remains steadfast in supporting communities that peacefully stand against fascist aggression. We unequivocally do not condone any threats or acts of violence, as these actions are contrary to our values.” Around 500 people have been arrested during disorder over the last week and a half, which began following the killing of three young girls in Southport after social media posts falsely claimed the suspect was a Muslim immigrant. There appeared to be some de-escalation on Wednesday evening, when the large-scale violence that was expected failed to materialise as thousands of counter-protesters turned up. More than 150 people have already appeared in court in connection with this month’s unrest, the Ministry of Justice has said. Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today. New to The Independent? Or if you would prefer: Hi {{indy.fullName}} My Independent Premium Account details Help centre 194 IMAGES 6 Types of Speech Impediments speech impediment infographic 6 Types of Speech Impediments Types of Speech Impediment speech impediment causes lisps symptoms Speech Impediment synonyms COMMENTS Types of Speech Impediments However, some speech disorders persist. Approximately 5% of children aged three to 17 in the United States experience speech disorders. There are many different types of speech impediments, including: Disfluency. Articulation errors. Ankyloglossia. Dysarthria. Apraxia. This article explores the causes, symptoms, and treatment of the different ... Speech Impediment: Types in Children and Adults Common causes of childhood speech impediments include: Autism spectrum disorder: A neurodevelopmental disorder that affects social and interactive development. Cerebral palsy: A congenital (from birth) disorder that affects learning and control of physical movement. Hearing loss: Can affect the way children hear and imitate speech. Speech Impairment: Types and Health Effects There are three general categories of speech impairment: Fluency disorder. This type can be described as continuity, smoothness, rate, and effort in speech production. Voice disorder. A voice ... Speech Impediment Guide: Definition, Causes, and Resources Commonly referred to as a speech disorder, a speech impediment is a condition that impacts an individual's ability to speak fluently, correctly, or with clear resonance or tone. Individuals with speech disorders have problems creating understandable sounds or forming words, leading to communication difficulties. 10 Most Common Speech Impediments & Language Disorders Spasmodic Dysphonia (SD) is a chronic long-term disorder that affects the voice. It is characterized by a spasming of the vocal chords when a person attempts to speak and results in a voice that can be described as shaky, hoarse, groaning, tight, or jittery. It can cause the emphasis of speech to vary considerably. Speech Impediment: Definition, Causes, Types and Treatment A speech impediment is a condition that affects a person's ability to produce sound correctly. The term can refer to any difficulties that impede a person's speech, from mild sound errors to severe problems with articulation. All individuals with speech impediments have difficulty producing certain sounds, depending on one sound. Why Children Have Speech Impediments & Tips for the 5 Most Common Lisp: A lisp is a speech impediment in children who are struggling to produce the /s/ sound clearly. A frontal lisp is when a child pushes his tongue too far forward in the mouth. A lateral lisp produces a "slushy" sound because too much air is escaping out the sides of a child's mouth. We have identified only five of the most common ... How to Help a Kid With a Childhood Speech Impediment Frustration: the child is frustrated by their inability to communicate. Biting, excessive whining, and tantrums may all be indicators of an inability to communicate wants and needs. Unintelligibility to strangers: neighbors and new friends don't understand the child. Parents often learn to decipher developing speech patterns, but those ... Common Types Of Speech Impediments Explained Apraxia. Apraxia of speech is another form of speech impediment and is quite nasty in its play. Apraxia of speech is different from stutters or lisps. Instead, it's an issue with the motor skill programming involved in speech. People with apraxia struggle to coordinate the speech muscles in their brains. They understand the language perfectly ... Speech Impediment synonyms Synonyms for Speech Impediment (other words and phrases for Speech Impediment). Synonyms for Speech impediment. 346 other terms for speech impediment- words and phrases with similar meaning. Lists. synonyms. antonyms. definitions. sentences. thesaurus. words. phrases. Parts of speech. nouns. Tags. consonant. letter. Common Speech Impediments: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment ... Overall difficulty communicating and expressing thoughts and ideas. Inability to repeat words. Inability to pronounce words the same way twice. A phobia of speaking in public. Speaking slowly and carefully. Speech delay. Frequent pauses when talking. Limited vocabulary over several years, delayed language development. What is another word for "speech impediment"? Synonyms for speech impediment include stutter, stammer, impairment, impediment, speech disorder, speech defect, faltering, hesitancy, hesitant speech and lisp. Find more similar words at wordhippo.com! SPEECH IMPEDIMENT definition SPEECH IMPEDIMENT meaning: 1. a difficulty in speaking clearly, such as a lisp or stammer 2. a difficulty in speaking clearly…. Learn more. Speech Impediment and Speech Impediment Types Speech impediments, or commonly referred to as speech disorders, are conditions that affect an individual's ability to speak fluently. These can cause the individual to not be able to communicate their thoughts or feelings correctly or with a clear tone. Individuals with speech impediments may have trouble with forming words or sounds that ... Speech impediment Definition & Meaning The meaning of SPEECH IMPEDIMENT is a condition that makes it difficult to speak normally. Can You Get Disability Benefits for a Speech Impairment Speech impediments alone aren't always enough to qualify somebody for disability benefits. Often, speech impairments can be treated with speech therapy or vocal rehabilitation. Even somebody with a lingering voice disorder, like stuttering or difficulty with volume control, might be able to work in a job that doesn't involve a lot of talking. ... 71 Synonyms & Antonyms for IMPEDIMENT Find 71 different ways to say IMPEDIMENT, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at Thesaurus.com. Exploring The Impact Speech Disorders Can Have On One's ... Boys aged 3-17 are more likely than girls to have a voice, speech, language, or swallowing disorder (9.6 percent compared to 5.7 percent). The prevalence of voice, speech, language, or swallowing disorders is highest among children ages 3-6 (11.0 percent), compared to children ages 7-10 (9.3 percent) and children ages 11-17 (4.9 percent). Speech Impairment synonyms Speech Impairment synonyms - 224 Words and Phrases for Speech Impairment. hearing impairment. visual impairment. handicap. learning disability. speech disorder. n. alogia. apasia. Synonyms for Speech disorder Synonyms for Speech Disorder (other words and phrases for Speech Disorder). Synonyms for Speech disorder. 272 other terms for speech disorder- words and phrases with similar meaning. Lists. synonyms. antonyms. definitions. sentences. thesaurus. words. phrases. Parts of speech. nouns. Tags. stammer. stutter. UK riots: Jess Phillips accused of 'making excuses' for masked gang in Jess Phillips accused of 'making excuses' for masked gang in Birmingham as cars smashed and man attacked. James Cleverly called for the Home Office minister to 'think about the consequences ... SPEECH IMPEDIMENT in Thesaurus: 100+ Synonyms & Antonyms for SPEECH What's the definition of Speech impediment in thesaurus? Most related words/phrases with sentence examples define Speech impediment meaning and usage. Thesaurus for Speech impediment. Related terms for speech impediment- synonyms, antonyms and sentences with speech impediment. Lists. synonyms. antonyms. definitions. Riots Break Out Across UK: What to Know Officials had braced for more unrest on Wednesday, but the night's anti-immigration protests were smaller, with counterprotesters dominating the streets instead. Suspended Labour councillor charged with encouraging violent disorder A councillor suspended by Labour has been charged after delivering a speech saying "fascists need their throats cut" at an anti-racism demonstration.. Ricky Jones, 57, has been charged with ... The latest ITV News headlines Series 1 • Starmer's victory speech, the rise of Reform and more. Series 1 ... essay homework paper phd project resume review speech study