| When you think of a speech/language disorder, | | | | rapidly increasing. This can be perfectly normal. If |
| what comes to your mind? A child who stutters? | | | | the symptoms are severe, or if the patterns |
| One who says, "wabbit" for "rabbit?" An autistic | | | | continue beyond four, it may be indicative of a |
| child who has only a few words in his spoken | | | | stuttering problem that needs speech therapy. |
| vocabulary? Speech-language pathologists or | | | | Voice Disorders |
| therapists with masters in special education work | | | | The most common voice disorder in children is a |
| with a wide range of issues. These issues fall into | | | | hoarseness caused by vocal abuse. This is |
| several main categories: | | | | typically seen in little boys that scream a lot. It is |
| Articulation | | | | also common in singers. This vocal abuse can |
| Articulation disorders include any type of speech | | | | cause physical damage that requires surgery. A |
| sound errors. | | | | speech pathologist can work with the child to help |
| Language | | | | him or her learn speaking methods that will be |
| A language disorder is a deficit in receptive | | | | gentle on the vocal folds, allowing the damage to |
| language (comprehension), expressive language | | | | heal. |
| (speaking), or both. The child may have deficits in | | | | Another common voice issue with children is |
| vocabulary, have difficulty formulating complete | | | | hyponasality or hypernasality. These are generally |
| sentences or difficulty answering questions. He | | | | affected by cleft palate (repaired or unrepaired) |
| may exhibit poor grammar or misuse pronouns. | | | | or hearing impairment. |
| His speech may sound fairly normal, but he may | | | | Speech-language pathologists also work with |
| not use it appropriately in social situations. | | | | some issues that are not directly related to |
| Stuttering | | | | speech, such as swallowing disorders. |
| A child (or adult) who stutters has difficulty with | | | | If you suspect that your child may have a |
| the fluency of his speech. He or she may repeat | | | | problem in any of these areas, a speech and |
| sounds or syllables. He may stretch out sounds at | | | | language assessment may be advisable. A speech |
| the beginning of words or "get stuck" when | | | | pathologist can help determine whether your |
| speaking. He may avoid social situations that he | | | | child's speech behaviors need remediation, should |
| fears will cause him to stutter. Many children | | | | be watched and rechecked later, or are within |
| exhibit short periods of disfluency between the | | | | normal limits for his age. |
| ages of two and four as their language skills are | | | | |