Typical symptoms of speech disorders

Written By Zixuan Xin

Speech and language disorders encompass a wide range of difficulties in communication and expression. It's important to note that the symptoms can vary significantly depending on the specific disorder and its severity. Here are some typical symptoms associated with speech disorders **note that this blog doesn’t include language disorders!

Three common speech disorders are articulation disorder, fluency disorder, and voice disorder.

  • Articulation Disorder refers to difficulty in producing speech sounds. Examples include substituting one sound for another (e.g., saying "wabbit" instead of "rabbit") or omitting sounds from words. Ways for parents to notice this disorder in kids include:

    • Leaving off sounds from words, such as saying “coo” instead of “school”

    • Adding sounds to words, such as saying “puhlay” instead of “play”

    • Distorting sounds in words, such as saying “thith” instead of “this”

    • Substituting sounds in words, such as saying “wadio” instead of “radio”

      (citing from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia)

  • Fluency Disorder (Stuttering) refers to repetitions, prolongations, or blocks in speech, that makes children unable to produce fluent speech. Ways for parents to notice this disorder in kids include:

    • Covering your mouth or pretending to cough or yawn to cover up stuttering

    • Not speaking, even when you want to or need to

    • Not using certain words that seem to cause stuttering

    • Pretending to forget what you wanted to say

    • Changing the order of words in sentences

    • Using "filler" sounds between words to make the rate of speech sound more normal

      (citing from University of Rochester)

  • Voice Disorder refers to changes in pitch, volume, or quality of the voice, leading to hoarseness, breathiness, or a strained voice. Symptoms include:

    • Aphonia (loss of voice)

    • Asthenia (weak voice)

    • Hoarseness

    • Increased effort while speaking

    • Quivering or shaky voice

    • Breathy voice

    • High or low volume

    • High or low pitch

    • Pain while speaking

    • “Lump” in your throat when speaking or swallowing

(citing from Oasis)

Zixuan Xin