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Speech and Language Disorders

Home > Illnesses and Disabilities Home > Types of Illnesses & Disabilities > Speech and Language Disorders

Speech and language disorders can affect your ability to talk, understand, read, and write.

A speech disorder is a problem with one or more of the following:

• the flow or rhythm of speech. For instance, a person might hesitate a lot while speaking or repeat sounds or words. Stuttering is a speech disorder that falls into this category.
• the way sounds are formed or strung together. Speaking with a lisp (using "th" for the "s" sound) is one example.
• the voice. For instance, the voice may never change, or it may be hoarse due to damage to the vocal cords.

A language disorder is a problem using or understanding spoken or written words. For instance, if you have had an injury to a part of the brain that controls language, you may have trouble finding the words to express an idea. This is like having a word "on the tip of your tongue."

Children may develop speech or language disorders due to conditions that affect brain development before, during, or after birth. Adults may develop speech or language disorders due to stroke, traumatic brain injury, or brain tumors.

People with speech or language disorders can be helped by speech-language pathologists. People who cannot speak at all might benefit from using speech generating devices. These devices allow you to press letters or pictures and the devices produce speech for you.

Additional Resources

Publications

1.   Aphasia — This fact sheet provides information and resources concerning aphasia including: description, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and research.

   http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/aphasia.asp

2.   Auditory Processing Disorder in Children — This fact sheet explains auditory processing disorder, the difficulties in diagnosing it, possible symptoms, treatments available, and the research being conducted.

   http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/auditory.asp

3.   Stuttering — This brochure explains how speech is normally produced, who stutters, and how stuttering is diagnosed and treated. It also contains a short explanation of research being conducted on stuttering and lists resources for more information.

   http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/stutter.asp

4.   Voice, Speech and Language — This site links to detailed information about specific voice, speech, and language disorder and general information on taking care of your voice.

   http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/

5. Speech and Language Impairments — This fact sheet on speech and language disorders in children and youth contains information on the incidence, characteristics, education, and implications of these disorders. It contains a helpful list of resources that can provide more information.

   http://www.nichcy.org/pubs/factshe/fs11txt.htm

6. Speech for Patients With Tracheostomies or Ventilators (Copyright © ASHA) — This publication discusses some of the problems with speech that patients with tracheostomies or ventilators may have. It also discusses how to cope with or overcome these challenges.

   http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/tracheostomies.htm

Organizations

1.   DisabilityInfo.gov
2.   National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, HHS
3. Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
4. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
5. National Aphasia Association
6. Stuttering Foundation of America

= Indicates Federal Resources

Content last updated May 15, 2008.