Speech Therapy
If a person is unable to produce speech sounds correctly or fluently, or has problems with his or her voice, then he or she may have a speech disorder and may be in need of speech therapy. Difficulties pronouncing sounds and stuttering are common types of speech disorders. Other speech disorders may include:
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A diminished ability to produce the specific sounds of speech. These sounds may be added, altered or omitted during speech, making it difficult to understand.
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Any problem involving vocal dysfunction (loudness, abnormal pitch, etc). Children with these disorders may complain of hoarse, weak or constricted voices.
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A disorder that involves a problem with the rules of phonology. For example, a patient may say “goat” for “boat” or “side” for “slide” and make other sound errors.
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A disorder in the ability to plan the oral movements involved in speech. This lack of coordination can make it difficult for the child to say sounds, syllables or words.
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A diminished ability to move oral muscles for speech production. Therapy could involve strengthening oral or facial structures like the jaw, tongue, lips and cheeks.
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A disorder characterized by disruptions in the production of speech sounds. These dysfluencies may occur within sounds, syllables, whole words or phrases.
