Ballywho News

Most of us learn to speak in early childhood and use this skill throughout our lives to communicate. But for children and adults who are physically or mentally disabled due to disease, injury, or accident – or for no known reason – the ability to understand language and to speak is often difficult.

Information sharing isn’t just a practical exercise. It’s how we humans socialize. While most people don’t think twice about talking, kids and adults with speech impediments or disorders can find the world to be a frustrating place. Many benefit from speech therapy, which can help them communicate more effectively with others.

Types of speech disorders

A child or adult who cannot produce the sounds of speech in a correct or fluent way is said to have a speech disorder. He or she may not be able to articulate or pronounce sounds correctly. On the other hand, a language disorder is characterized by a person’s inability to understand others, or to communicate their feelings and thoughts to others. Medical conditions can cause these issues.

A speech pathologist, also called a speech therapist, can help people of all ages with spoken communications and communication-related disorders, including the following:

Speech disorders

• Dysarthria: This is a motor speech disorder. Signs include slurred speech, slow rate of speech, breathiness when speaking, and saliva or drooling.
• Stuttering: Characterized by repetition of sounds or words; the mouth may form a word but the sound does not come out for several seconds.
• Apraxia: This is also a motor speech disorder. People with apraxia have trouble imitating the sounds of speech and make inconsistent errors in speech.

Language disorders

• Aphasia: A disorder with the language center of the brain. It can cause problems with reading, writing, listening and speech. Reading and writing are often the most impaired.
• Dyslexia: This affects mostly reading and the written word. People may have trouble recalling numbers in sequence, or mixing up the order of numbers and written words.

Medical conditions

• Stroke: Caused by a loss of blood to the brain, a stroke can cause confusion and paralysis and render the patient unable to mentally or physically form words.
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Also called Lou Gehrig’s disease, ALS causes degeneration of the nerve cells in the brain responsible for voluntary functions.
• Autism: Children with autism may have problems articulating basic needs, repeat themselves, speak infrequently, and have sensory disorders.

Can we talk?

A speech therapist will evaluate the adult or child before creating a treatment plan.

For example, if the patient has little or no ability to speak, the therapist may teach sign language or the use of assistive devices. However, if the patient is capable of speech, the therapist can help them learn to make sounds, strengthen oral language skills, and improve the tone and volume of his or her voice.

Other types of therapy may be recommended for the patient at the same time. For example, an autistic child who has trouble socializing and expressing emotions in an appropriate fashion may undergo behavioral therapy in addition to speech therapy.

According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, children whose parents are active participants in the child’s therapy have better outcomes. The association also notes that the younger a child is when they begin therapy, the faster they tend to progress.

Both Pediatric and adult speech therapy are offered in the Palms West Hospital Rehabilitation Center.

For more information on these services, contact Consult-A-Nurse^® at 1-888-256-7723, or visit us online.