Communication disorders interfere with a person's
ability to understand or express information,
ideas, or emotions. Problems with language, speech,
or hearing can affect infants, children, and adults
of all ages and can interfere with school, work,
family, and social activities.
Babies can be born with many problems that may
result in communication problems such as: hearing
impairments, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Fragile-X
syndrome, and language and cognitive delays due
to maternal substance abuse during pregnancy.
Children sometimes continue to struggle with communication
problems acquired as babies or develop other speech
or language problems such as: articulation errors
("w" for "r" sound substitutions, "wabbit" instead
of "rabbit"), stuttering, language usage errors,
and language learning deficits.
Adults may need continued support for communication
problems acquired as babies or in childhood. During
adulthood they may also acquire a range of disorders
such as: communication problems following strokes,
traumatic brain injuries (car accidents), neurological
diseases (Parkinson's disease, ALS, MS); voice
disorders (hoarseness, breathiness, loss of voice);
swallowing disorders; and, dementia.
Hearing disorders affect a child's ability to
develop speech and language skills and to succeed
in school. Problems with learning change the way
adults function in the workplace, in social environments,
and at home.
SLPs help children and adults with hearing impairments
develop, maintain, and use speech and language
skills and to process auditory information.
People of all ages may have problems swallowing
food and/or liquid. These difficulties may be
caused by neurological problems as well as many
other medical conditions. SLPs s work with these
and many more disorders.
What do
Speech-Language Pathologist do?
What does
it take to become a Speech-Language Pathologist?
Where do
Speech-Language Pathologists work?
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