When you were younger and first began talking, you may have
lisped or stuttered; in fact, your relatives probably considered it
cute. If you're in your teens and still stuttering, though, you
may not feel like it's so endearing. You're not alone. More
than 3 million Americans have the speech disorder known as
stuttering (or stammering, as it's known in Britain). It's
one of several conditions that can affect a person's ability to
speak clearly.
Some Common Speech Disorders
Stuttering
is a problem that interferes with fluent speech. A person who
stutters may repeat the first part of a word (as in wa-wa-wa-water)
or hold a single sound for a long time (as in caaaaaaake). Some
people who stutter have trouble getting sounds out altogether.
Stuttering is complex, and it can affect speech in many different
ways.
Cluttering
is another problem that makes a person's speech difficult to
understand. Like stuttering, cluttering affects the fluency, or
flow, of a person's speech. However, the difference is that
cluttering is a language disorder, while stuttering is a speech
disorder. A person who stutters has trouble getting out what they
want to say, and a person who clutters says what they are thinking,
but it becomes disorganized while actually speaking. Because of
this disorganization, someone who clutters may speak in bursts or
pause in unexpected places. The rhythm of cluttered speech may
sound jerky, rather than smooth, and the speaker is often unaware
of the problem.
Articulation disorders
encompass a wide range of errors people can make when talking.
Substituting a "w" for an "r"
("wabbit" for "rabbit"), omitting sounds
("cool" for "school"), or adding sounds to
words ("pinanio" for "piano") are examples of
articulation errors.
Lisping
refers to specific substitution involving the letters "s"
and "z." A person who lisps replaces those sounds with
"th."
Apraxia
(dyspraxia), also known as oral-motor speech disorder, is a problem
with motor coordination or motor planning. A person with this
speech problem has difficulty moving the muscles and structures
necessary to form speech sounds into words.
What Causes Speech Problems?
Normal speech may seem effortless, but it's actually a
complex process that requires precise timing, nerve, and muscle
control.
When we speak, we must coordinate many muscles from various body
parts and systems, including the larynx, which contains the vocal
cords; the teeth, lips, tongue, and mouth; and the respiratory
system.
The ability to understand language and produce speech is
coordinated by the brain. So a person with brain damage from an
accident, stroke, or birth defect may have speech and language
problems. Apraxia is thought to be due to a brain impairment that
may or may not show up on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
tests.
Some people with speech problems, particularly articulation
disorders, may have hearing problems. Even mild hearing loss may
have an impact on how a person reproduces the sounds they hear.
Certain birth defects, such as a cleft palate, can interfere with
someone's ability to produce speech. When a person has a cleft
palate there is a hole in the roof of the mouth, which affects the
movement of air through the oral and nasal passages. There also may
be problems with other structures needed for speech, including the
lips, teeth, and jaw.
Genetics may also play a role in some speech problems. For
example, stuttering seems to run in some families. But in some
cases, no one knows exactly what causes a person to have speech
problems.
How Are Speech Problems Treated?
The good news is that treatments like speech therapy can help
people of any age overcome some speech problems.
If you are concerned about your speech, it's important to
let your doctor know. If hearing tests and physical exams don't
reveal any problems, some doctors arrange a consultation with a
speech-language pathologist
(pronounced: puh-
tha
-luh-jist).
A speech-language pathologist is trained to observe people as
they speak and to identify their speech problems. Speech-language
pathologists look for the type of problem (such as a lack of
fluency, articulation, or motor skills) someone has. For example,
if you stutter, the pathologist will examine how and when you do
so.
Speech-language pathologists may evaluate their clients'
speech either by recording them on audio or videotape or by
listening during conversation. A few clinics that specialize in
fluency disorders may use computerized analysis. By gathering as
much information as possible about the way someone speaks, the
pathologist can develop a treatment plan that meets each
individual's needs. The plan will depend on things like age and
the type of speech disorder a person has.
If you're being treated for a speech disorder, part of your
treatment plan may include seeing a
speech therapist
, a person who is trained to treat speech disorders.
How often you have to see the speech therapist will vary -
you'll probably start out seeing him or her more frequently at
first, then your visits may decrease over time. Most treatment
plans include breathing techniques, relaxation strategies that are
designed to help you relax your muscles when you speak, posture
control, and a type of voice exercise called
oral-motor exercises
. You'll probably have to do these exercises each day on your
own to help make your treatment plan as successful as possible.
Dealing With Speech Problems
Only people with speech problems know how frustrating it can be.
People who stutter, for example, often complain that others try to
finish their sentences or fill in words for them. Some feel like
people treat them as if they're stupid, especially when a
listener says things like "slow down" or "take it
easy." (People who stutter are just as intelligent as people
who don't.) People who stutter report that listeners often
avoid eye contact and refuse to wait patiently for them to finish
speaking. If you have a speech problem, don't hesitate to let
others know how you like to be treated when speaking.
Some people look to their speech therapists for advice and
resources on issues of stuttering. Speech therapists can often
connect you with others in similar situations, such as support
groups in your area for teens who stutter.
If you have a speech problem, achieving and maintaining control
of your speech may be a lifelong process. Although speech therapy
can help, you are sure to have ups and downs in your efforts to
communicate. But the truth is that the way you speak is only a
small part of who you are. Don't be embarrassed to make
yourself heard!
Reviewed by:
Amy Nelson, MA, CCC-SLP
Date reviewed: August 2006
Originally reviewed by:
Patricia Canepa, MA, CCC-SLP
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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