Speech and Communication Disorders

On this page

Basics

• Summary
• Start Here

Learn More

• Living With
• Related Issues
• Specifics
• Genetics

See, Play and Learn

• No links available

Research

• Statistics and Research
• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Reference Desk
• Find an Expert

For You

• Teenagers
• Patient Handouts

Summary

Many disorders can affect our ability to speak and communicate. They range from saying sounds incorrectly to being completely unable to speak or understand speech. Causes include:

• Hearing disorders and deafness
• Voice problems, such as dysphonia or those caused by cleft lip or palate
• Speech problems like stuttering
• Developmental disabilities
• Learning disabilities
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Brain injury
• Stroke

Some speech and communication problems may be genetic. Often, no one knows the causes. By first grade, about 5% of children have noticeable speech disorders. Speech and language therapy can help.

NIH: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Start Here

Collapse Section

• Speech and Language Impairments (Center for Parent Information and Resources) Also in Spanish
• Voice, Speech, and Language (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders)

Living With

Expand Section

• Assistive Devices for People with Hearing, Voice, Speech, or Language Disorders (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders)

Related Issues

Expand Section

• Speech to Speech Relay Service (Federal Communications Commission)
• Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) (Federal Communications Commission)
• Telecommunications Relay Services (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders)

Specifics

Expand Section

• Aphasia vs. Apraxia (American Stroke Association)
• Apraxia of Speech (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders) Also in Spanish

Genetics

Expand Section

• 22q13.3 deletion syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
• 47,XYY syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
• Epilepsy-aphasia spectrum: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
• PURA syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
• Triple X syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)

Statistics and Research

Expand Section

• Quick Statistics about Voice, Speech, and Language (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders)
• Sound Check: Tracking Voice, Speech, and Breathing for Health (National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

Expand Section

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Communication Disorders (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Language Disorders (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Speech Disorders (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Expand Section

• Article: Predictors of successful Picture Exchange Communication System training in children with...
• Article: CHARACTERISTICS OF SPEECH AND SWALLOWING IN PERSONS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS.
• Article: Assessing mental health of people with complex communication needs: A systematic...
• Speech and Communication Disorders -- see more articles

Reference Desk

Expand Section

• NIDCD Glossary (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders)

Find an Expert

Expand Section

• Directory of Organizations (Deafness and Communication Disorders) (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders)
• National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Teenagers

Expand Section

• Speech Problems (Nemours Foundation)

Patient Handouts

Expand Section

• Apraxia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Dysarthria (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Phonological disorder (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Selective mutism (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Speech impairment in adults (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish