Communication
Disorders
Denise Flanders
Overview
• What is a
communication
disorder?
• Difference between
a speech impairment
and a language
impairment
• Types of Speech
Impairments
• Causes
• Prevalence
• Identification and
Assessment
• References
What is a Communication
Disorder?
• An impairment in the ability to receive,
send, process, and comprehend
concepts or verbal, nonverbal and
graphic symbols systems
Components of
Communication Disorders
Communication
Disorders
Speech
Impairments
Articulation
disorders
Fluency
disorders
Language
Impairments
Voice
disorders
Receptive
Language
disorder
Expressive
Language
disorder
Speech Impairments
• What is a speech impairment?
• Three types:
– Articulation disorders
– Fluency disorders
– Voice disorders
Language Impairments
• What is a language
impairment?
• Two main types:
– Receptive language
disorder
– Expressive language
disorder
Causes
• Speech Impairments
–
–
–
–
Cleft palate
Speech muscles
Teeth
Traumatic brain injury
• Language Disorders
– Mental retardation
– Hearing impairments
– Environmental
deprivation
Prevalence of
Communication Disorders
• 2% of all school-aged children
• More prevalent in males
• 50% of children in special education
Elementary School Children
with Communication Disorders
58.2
60
47.5
50
38.4
40
30
20
10
3.4
0.6
1.7
0
Speech Sound Production
Spoken Language Comprehension
Voice
Spoken Language Production
Fluency
Pragmatics
Identification and
Assessment
•
•
•
•
Teacher observations
Speech-Language Pathologist
Physical exam and assessment
Treatment
References
• Heward, W. (2003). Exceptional children: An
introduction to special education (7th ed.).
New Jersey: Johnston.
• Kid Source Online. (2000, August). Info about
speech & language disorders. Retrieved April
24, 2005, from
http://www.kidsource.com/NICHCY/speech.ht
ml
• Owens, R. (2005). Language development:
An introduction (6th ed.). New York: Dragin.