When a person is unable to produce speech sounds correctly or fluently, or has problems with his or her voice, then he or she has a speech disorder
Speech and language problems may make it hard for your child to understand and speak with others, or make the sounds of speech. Kids with these disorders often have trouble when they learn to read and write, or when they try to be social and make friends. But treatment helps most children improve, especially if they start it early.
Types of speech disorders:
- Misarticulation/ phonological disorder
- Articulation disorder involves problems making sounds. Sounds can be substituted, left off, added or changed. These errors may make it hard for people to understand you. Example- wabbit for rabbit, doth for dog. Misarticulations are also seen in children with cleft lip and palate.
- Motor Speech Disorder/ Dysarthria
- A person with dysarthria may demonstrate the following speech characteristics:
- “Slurred,” “choppy,” or “mumbled” speech that may be difficult to understand
- Slow rate of speech
- Rapid rate of speech with a “mumbling” quality
- Limited tongue, lip, and jaw movement
- Abnormal pitch and rhythm when speaking
- Changes in voice quality, such as hoarse or breathy voice or speech that sounds “nasal” or “stuffy”
- Apraxia Of Speech
Children have problem in saying sounds, syllables, and words. This is not because of muscle weakness or paralysis. The brain has problems planning to move the body parts (e.g., lips, jaw, tongue) needed for speech.