What is a communication disorder?
Communication disorder is a disorder that affects a person’s ability to understand and use their speech and language to engage in conversation with others. Having a communication disorder not only affects the person’s, but also the parent/ caregiver’s quality of life. The severity of communication disorders can be from simple sound substitutions in speech to an inability to understand and use one’s speech and language.
Types of Communication disorders
Communication disorders can be grouped in different ways. It majorly consists of speech, language and hearing disorders.
Who can be affected by communication disorders?
Right from an infant to a geriatric (elder) person can have a communication disorder. Developmental disorders such as speech delay, autism, cerebral palsy, hyperactivity, voice disorders, stuttering/ stammering, cleft lip/ palate, misarticulation/ mispronunciation, learning disability, etc are some of the common conditions observed in children. Communication disorders such as voice disorders, stuttering/ stammering, aphasia (loss of ability to use language), dysarthria (slurring of speech), dementia (issues in memory, speech and behaviour),etc are some of the communication disorders observed in adults and geriatric population.
Common signs of communication disorder
Inability to communicate in any mode (verbal/ non-verbal)
Inability to produce clear speech
Inability to understand other’s speech
Production of repetitive sounds
Unable to communicate needs to others and mingle with them (socialization) in spite of having good language skills
Inability to produce and sustain voice
Inability to produce specific speech sounds
List of communication disorders
There are several communication disorders which occur independently or as an associated issue due to structural/ developmental / neurological deficit. Some of the communication disorders are as follows:
Pediatric population
Speech delay
Hearing Impairment
Specific Language Impairment
Autism
Speech Sound Disorder
ADHD/ Inattention & Hyperactivity disorder
Stammering/ Stuttering
Voice disorders
Cleft Lip and Palate
Intellectual Disability/ Mental Retardation
Cerebral Palsy
Learning Disability
Syndromic conditions such as Down’s Syndrome
Adolescents, Adults & Geriatric population
Voice disorders
(includes treatments for hoarse voice, professional voice help for singers and teachers, voice therapy for vocal fold paralysis, puberphonia (high-pitched voice in males), voice therapy for head & neck cancer and laryngectomy).
Stammering/ Stuttering
Aphasia
Dysarthria
Dementia
Mild Cognitive Impairments