Overcoming Speech Impediment: Symptoms to Treatment
There are many causes and solutions for impaired speech
Medically reviewed by Smita Patel, DO
Speech impediments are conditions that can cause a variety of symptoms, such as an inability to understand language or speak with a stable sense of tone, speed, or fluidity. There are many different types of speech impediments, and they can begin during childhood or develop during adulthood.
Common causes include physical trauma, neurological disorders, or anxiety. If you or your child is experiencing signs of a speech impediment, you need to know that these conditions can be diagnosed and treated with professional speech therapy.
This article will discuss what you can do if you are concerned about a speech impediment and what you can expect during your diagnostic process and therapy.
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Types and Symptoms of Speech Impediment
People can have speech problems due to developmental conditions that begin to show symptoms during early childhood or as a result of conditions that may occur during adulthood.
The main classifications of speech impairment are aphasia (difficulty understanding or producing the correct words or phrases) or dysarthria (difficulty enunciating words).
Often, speech problems can be part of neurological or neurodevelopmental disorders that also cause other symptoms, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) or autism spectrum disorder.
There are several different symptoms of speech impediments, and you may experience one or more.
Can Symptoms Worsen?
Most speech disorders cause persistent symptoms and can temporarily get worse when you are tired, anxious, or sick.
Symptoms of dysarthria can include:
Slurred speech
Slow speech
Choppy speech
Hesitant speech
A lisp
Inability to control the volume of your speech
Shaking or tremulous speech pattern
Inability to pronounce certain sounds
Symptoms of aphasia may involve:
Speech apraxia (difficulty coordinating speech)
Difficulty understanding the meaning of what other people are saying
Inability to use the correct words
Inability to repeat words or phases
Speech that has an irregular rhythm
You can have one or more of these speech patterns as part of your speech impediment, and their combination and frequency will help determine the type and cause of your speech problem.
Related: Scanning Speech: Everything You Need to Know
Causes of Speech Impediment
The conditions that cause speech impediments can include developmental problems that are present from birth, neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, or sudden neurological events, such as a stroke.
Some people can also experience temporary speech impairment due to anxiety, intoxication, medication side effects, postictal state (the time immediately after a seizure), or a change of consciousness.
Speech Impairment in Children
Children can have speech disorders associated with neurodevelopmental problems, which can interfere with speech development. Some childhood neurological or neurodevelopmental disorders may cause a regression (backsliding) of speech skills.
Common causes of childhood speech impediments include:
Autism spectrum disorder: A neurodevelopmental disorder that affects social and interactive development
Cerebral palsy: A congenital (from birth) disorder that affects learning and control of physical movement
Hearing loss: Can affect the way children hear and imitate speech
Rett syndrome: A genetic neurodevelopmental condition that causes regression of physical and social skills beginning during the early school-age years.
Adrenoleukodystrophy: A genetic disorder that causes a decline in motor and cognitive skills beginning during early childhood
Childhood metabolic disorders: A group of conditions that affects the way children break down nutrients, often resulting in toxic damage to organs
Brain tumor: A growth that may damage areas of the brain, including those that control speech or language
Encephalitis: Brain inflammation or infection that may affect the way regions in the brain function
Hydrocephalus: Excess fluid within the skull, which may develop after brain surgery and can cause brain damage
Do Childhood Speech Disorders Persist?
Speech disorders during childhood can have persistent effects throughout life. Therapy can often help improve speech skills.
Speech Impairment in Adulthood
Adult speech disorders develop due to conditions that damage the speech areas of the brain.
Common causes of adult speech impairment include:
Head trauma
Nerve injury
Throat tumor
Stroke
MS
Parkinson’s disease
Brain tumor
Brain infection
Additionally, people may develop changes in speech with advancing age, even without a specific neurological cause. This can happen due to presbyphonia, which is a change in the volume and control of speech due to declining hormone levels and reduced elasticity and movement of the vocal cords.
Related: 5 Ways Our Voices Change as We Age
Do Speech Disorders Resolve on Their Own?
Children and adults who have persistent speech disorders are unlikely to experience spontaneous improvement without therapy and should seek professional attention.
Steps to Treating Speech Impediment
If you or your child has a speech impediment, your healthcare providers will work to diagnose the type of speech impediment as well as the underlying condition that caused it. Defining the cause and type of speech impediment will help determine your prognosis and treatment plan.
Sometimes the cause is known before symptoms begin, as is the case with trauma or MS. Impaired speech may first be a symptom of a condition, such as a stroke that causes aphasia as the primary symptom.
The diagnosis will include a comprehensive medical history, physical examination, and a thorough evaluation of speech and language. Diagnostic testing is directed by the medical history and clinical evaluation.
Diagnostic testing may include:
Brain imaging, such as brain computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic residence imaging (MRI), if there’s concern about a disease process in the brain
Swallowing evaluation if there’s concern about dysfunction of the muscles in the throat
Electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (aka nerve conduction velocity, or NCV) if there’s concern about nerve and muscle damage
Blood tests, which can help in diagnosing inflammatory disorders or infections
Your diagnostic tests will help pinpoint the cause of your speech problem. Your treatment will include specific therapy to help improve your speech, as well as medication or other interventions to treat the underlying disorder.
For example, if you are diagnosed with MS, you would likely receive disease-modifying therapy to help prevent MS progression. And if you are diagnosed with a brain tumor, you may need surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation to treat the tumor.
Learn More: Types of Speech Therapy
Therapy to Address Speech Impediment
Therapy for speech impairment is interactive and directed by a specialist who is experienced in treating speech problems. Sometimes, children receive speech therapy as part of a specialized learning program at school.
The duration and frequency of your speech therapy program depend on the underlying cause of your impediment, your improvement, and approval from your health insurance.
If you or your child has a serious speech problem, you may qualify for speech therapy. Working with your therapist can help you build confidence, particularly as you begin to see improvement.
Exercises during speech therapy may include:
Pronouncing individual sounds, such as la la la or da da da
Practicing pronunciation of words that you have trouble pronouncing
Adjusting the rate or volume of your speech
Mouth exercises
Practicing language skills by naming objects or repeating what the therapist is saying
These therapies are meant to help achieve more fluent and understandable speech as well as an increased comfort level with speech and language.
Learn More: The Benefits of Speech Therapy
Building Confidence With Speech Problems
Some types of speech impairment might not qualify for therapy. If you have speech difficulties due to anxiety or a social phobia or if you don’t have access to therapy, you might benefit from activities that can help you practice your speech.
You might consider one or more of the following for you or your child:
Joining a local theater group
Volunteering in a school or community activity that involves interaction with the public
Signing up for a class that requires a significant amount of class participation
Joining a support group for people who have problems with speech
Takeaway
Activities that you do on your own to improve your confidence with speaking can be most beneficial when you are in a non-judgmental and safe space.
Summary
Many different types of speech problems can affect children and adults. Some of these are congenital (present from birth), while others are acquired due to health conditions, medication side effects, substances, or mood and anxiety disorders. Because there are so many different types of speech problems, seeking a medical diagnosis so you can get the right therapy for your specific disorder is crucial.
Read the original article on Verywell Health.
