Friday, 5 October 2012

Type Of Speech Impediments And Treatments

By Juliette Cruz


If you suffer from one of the many types of speech impediments that exist, you are not alone. As they have become more widely recognized, doctors have sought to name them and develop different types of treatments. Since these types of disorders may open you to teasing or ridicule, you may suffer from lower self-confidence levels. But, you don't have to, as you can try and find a treatment that will help you to overcome it.

You communicate your ideas, feelings and thoughts through speaking. There are several different types of disorders from which you may suffer. It is therefore understandable that any affliction that affects this ability would leave you in a state of distress, resulting in a lack of self confidence. Any one of the following may have a direct effect on your ability to clearly communicate.

If you suffer from stuttering, you likely have trouble with and inability to control the repeating of certain consonants or sounds. It is also possible that you hesitate abnormally prior to initial speaking. If you suffer from cluttering, then your speaking may come across as erratic and it may be difficult for another person to understand. However, if you lack the ability to speak at all, it is likely that you suffer from a disorder called muteness.

The rarest type of disorder is dysprosody, in which the speaker has issues with inappropriate timing, pitch or intonation. Another rare form, albeit more recognized, is dysarthria, which largely exists in those that suffered from a stroke, head injury, Parkinson's or ALS. The result is usually nerve damage that causes the person to lose some control over his speech muscles.

Another disorder that may appear as a result of a stroke is called apraxia, whereby the patient will rearrange the letters in a certain word and pronounce it as a totally different word. Speech sound disorder, another type of impediment, presents itself as the inability to pronounce certain letters, generally particular consonants. One last type is a voice disorder, whereby damage to or issues with the vocal chords or larynx lead to an inability to make certain sounds.

Most of these impediments do not have a particular cause that is known to the medical world. However, some present themselves following a severe head or neck injury, an illness or a stroke. Damage to the nervous system or brain can lead to speech problems usually. While the cause, whether you are born with the affliction or it develops later in life, may not be known, you can seek treatment to help rectify the issues.

You can seek to find a treatment through speech therapy, phoniatrics, or psychotherapy. Each has its own way to help you to change your behaviors and develop your speaking patterns. Talk to a medical professional and find out which is best suited to your needs. He will likely ask about learning behaviors prior to prescribing a treatment plan.

Depending on the severity and the type of people's speech impediments, it may be possible to find a treatment that will present a cure. This will be more difficult for some to overcome. There are many different reasons for which these types of disorders exist, although not all are known. It is important to consult a professional if a person wishes to correct any disorder that affects him.




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