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Communication Disorders
WHAT IS A COMMUNICATION DISORDER?
A communication disorder is an inability to understand or
use speech and language to relate to others in society. This
can be divided into four areas:
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Language - this involves listening, speaking, reading and
writing
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Articulation - the pronunciation of sounds and words
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Voice - the sound produced by vibration of the vocal cords
-
Stuttering - a disruption in the normal flow or rhythm of
speech
THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION
Effective communication is fundamental to all aspects of
human functioning. However, one out of every ten Canadians
has a communication disorder. A communication disorder is a
persistent difficulty in the understanding and/or use of
spoken or written language. Early detection, identification
and treatment of communication disorders is essential.
Failure to receive professional help may lead to additional
problems in educational, psychological, emotional and/or
vocational areas.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF COMMUNICATION DISORDERS?
The brain is very complex and our understanding of how it
works is very limited. For the majority of communication
disorders, we do not understand the cause. However, we do
have an understanding of how to help many children maximize
their speech and language development.
Known causes of communication disorders include:
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Hearing Impairment: Full or partial hearing impairment may
cause difficulty in speech and language development. An
assessment of hearing ability is one of the first steps in
the investigation of speech and language problems.
-
Physical Disability: Cleft lip and palate, or
malformations of the mouth or nose may cause communication
disorders. More involved disabilities such as cerebral palsy
may preclude any speech at all and for these non-verbal
children, augmentative communication methods may be used.
-
Developmental Disability: Some children (not all) with a
developmental disability or Down syndrome may be slower to
learn to talk and may need extra assistance
Thank you to:
ONTARIO ASSOCIATION FOR FAMILIES OF
CHILDREN WITH COMMUNICATION DISORDERS
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