Speech Disorders Adapted from Hallahan, D.P., J. M., & Pullen, P. C. (2012). Exceptional learners: An introduction to special education (12th ed.). New Jersey, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
Definition Speech Disorders are impairments in the production and use of oral language. This includes disabilities making speech sounds, producing speech with a normal flow and producing voice.
Prevalence Concluding prevalence for speech disorder is difficult as it is extremely varied and difficult to identify as it comes as a part of other disabilities. Approximately one out of five who receives special education, gets speech therapy.
Speech Disorders Adapted from Hallahan, D.P., J. M., & Pullen, P. C. (2012). Exceptional learners: An introduction to special education (12th ed.). New Jersey, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
Types of Speech Disorders 1. Phonological Disorder •
Occurs to children younger than 9 years old.
•
Speech sound created will defer from children of same age.
•
There is a poor understanding of the sounds of language.
•
Phonological awareness which is the understanding of sound structure of language is affected.
•
Learning and retrieval of words is affected. This also affects the speech sound production and literacy.
2. Articulation Disorder •
Articulation Disorder involves errors in producing speech sounds.
•
Missing, substituted, added, or poorly produced sounds can make a speaker difficult to understand or even incomprehensible.
Speech Disorders Adapted from Hallahan, D.P., J. M., & Pullen, P. C. (2012). Exceptional learners: An introduction to special education (12th ed.). New Jersey, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
Types of Speech Disorders 3. Voice Disorder •
Voice Disorders involves characteristics of pitch, loudness and/or quality of speaker's voice which are abusive of the voice box.
The three primary categories are: •
Functional disorders are a result of damage to the larynx.
•
Organic disorders are physical condition that affects the structure or function of the larynx.
•
Neurological disorders are results of nervous system dysfunction.
Speech Disorders Adapted from Hallahan, D.P., J. M., & Pullen, P. C. (2012). Exceptional learners: An introduction to special education (12th ed.). New Jersey, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
Types of Speech Disorders 4. Fluency Disorder •
Most frequent type of Fluency Disorder is stuttering.
•
Stuttering can consist of related secondary behaviours that are intended to avoid or escape the dysfluency (eg. Gestures, head nods and eye blinks).
•
Many children quickly outgrow their childhood dysfluencies and will generally use regular and effortless dysfluencies.
•
Persistent stuttering that goes untreated can result in a lifelong disorder that affects the ability to communicate, to develop positive feelings about oneself, and to pursue certain educational and employment opportunities