What is speech?

Speech is the identity as well as a form of application of human intelligence. Actually speech is the habit which we consciously and unconsciously adopt  from our inner and outer environment.

There are a number of speech disorders like:

Aphasia,
Dysathria,
Apraxia of Speech,
Stuttering,
Misarticulation,
Delayed Speech
and Language etc.

Causes of speech disorders:

Brain Stroke (haemorrhagic and ischaemic), Brain Injury (Surgical and Nonsurgical), Brain Infection, degenerative Disease (Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson, ALS etc.), Genetic disorders, Birth defect etc.

Aphasia
General Symptoms

1. Comprehension &/ expressions problems
2. Word finding problem
3. Emotional disturbances
4. May have some meaningless sounds or words as a form of expression

Dysarthria
General Symptoms:

• Facial asymmetry and unintelligible speech
• Flabby or rigid facial and neck muscles
• Choking or coughing or pain in throat during swallowing and drooling
• Change of voice

Apraxia of Speech (AOS)
Generally coexist with aphasia and dysarthria but isolated existence also present.
General Symptoms:

1. Expressions problems
2. Normal or disordered production of the same word on different occasions

Also given speech therapy to Autism, Cerebral Palsy, ADHD, Mental Retardation etc.

Role of speech therapy:
 Proper assessment to understand severity and type of disorders and make a treatment protocol like:

1. Essential muscular exercises, modeling, modifying speech habit
2. Training to recall lost social and speech skills
3. Training to get back swallowing ability
4. Counseling patients and family members

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