WSpeech and Language Disorders and Diseases & Treatment

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. Difficulties pronouncing sounds, or articulation disorders, and stuttering are examples of speech disorders. The functions, skills, and abilities of voice, speech, and language are related.

Voice
Voice (vocalization) is the sound produced by humans and other vertebrates using the lungs and the vocal folds in thelarynx, or voice box. Your voice is as unique as your fingerprint. It helps define your personality, mood, and health. 

Hoarseness
It is a general term that describes abnormal voice changes. When hoarse, the voice may sound breathy, raspy, strained, or there may be changes in volume (loudness) or pitch (how high or low the voice is). More in singer, teacher, children etcs.

Puberphonia
Unusual high pitch (Male has Female type of voice) that persists beyond puberty other symptoms?hoarseness, breathiness; pitch breaks, inadequate resonance, shallow breathing, muscle tension, lack of variability.

Speech
Humans express thoughts, feelings, and ideas orally to one another through a series of complex movements that alter and mold the basic tone created by voice into specific, decodable sounds. 

Developmental speech and language disorder
common in kids. This is a disability, Dyslexia etcs. That is caused by the brain working differently. These kids may have trouble producing speech sounds, using spoken language to communicate, or understanding what other people say. Speech and language problems are often the earliest sign of a learning disability.

Hearing loss is often overlooked, and easily identified. If your child is speech/language delayed, their hearing should be tested. Mental retardation is a common cause of speech and language delay.Prematurely can lead to many kinds ofdevelopmental delays, including speech/language problems.

Neurological problems
Cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and traumatic brain injury can affect the muscles needed for speaking. Autism 

affects communication. Speech/language/communication problems are often an early sign of autism. 

If your child is not meeting these milestones, the first step is to get their hearing checked by an Audiologist, Even if they seem to hear just fine, kids are experts at picking up visual cues to get by. It's important to catch hearing loss early.....