Speech refers to how an individual says sounds and words. Speech Sound Disorders can be organic or functional.
Articulation Disorder and Phonological Disorder: What’s the difference?
Articulation Disorder: Articulation Disorder refers to errors (distortions and substitutions) specific to a particular speech sound. Articulation disorders are motoric errors that can happen among people of any age. Typically, articulation disorders occur in children whose speech helpers (tongue, jaw, teeth, lips, and palate) have not developed properly.
Phonological Disorder: Many children utilize “phonological processes” as they learn to speak. Phonological processes are patterns of errors that simplify the child’s speech sound production (child says, “wabbit” for “rabbit” or “saw” for “sock”). As the child’s speech sound system matures, these processes typically disappear. A phonological disorder occurs when a child continues to use these patterns of errors past the typical age of elimination.
How can a Speech-Language Pathologist help me?
Speech-Language Pathologists can complete an inventory of all the consonant and vowel sounds an individual produces, as well as determine the types/patterns of errors. SLPs then take this information to further assess the individual’s ability to correctly combine these sounds into syllables, and words across all positions (e.g., beginning (initial), middle (medial), and ending (final)). Completing this first step allows the Speech-Language Pathologist to create a treatment plan which is tailored to fit the unique speech characteristics of their clients.
Dysarthria and Apraxia: What’s the difference?
Dysarthria: Many muscles must work together to produce speech. Dysarthria is considered a motor speech disorder. There are different types of Dysarthria. Dysarthria occurs when an individual has difficulty coordinating the muscles/systems (respiration, voicing, articulation, resonance, prosody) necessary for speech production. It is a “motor execution” problem caused by weak muscles and incoordination post-secondary to a variety of types of events resulting in brain damage. Dysarthria can happen at birth or after an illness or injury and can range from mild to severe.
Apraxia: Many muscle movements must be planned and sequenced by the brain and then put into motion within milliseconds to create running speech. Apraxia, also sometimes referenced as verbal apraxia or dyspraxia, is a type of motor speech disorder that occurs when there is difficulty in the “motor planning and programming” process required for speech production. Apraxia is caused by any condition that impacts the structures and pathways of the brain involved in planning and programming muscle movements for speech.
How can a Speech-Language Pathologist help me?
Speech-Language Pathologists can help support individuals with both Dysarthria and Apraxia. Therapy plans depend largely on the severity/type of Dysarthria. Similarly, SLPs can support individuals with Apraxia by providing tactile cueing (DTTC methods or PROMPT methods) to the face to support speech sound production and motor planning/programming. Again, therapy for Apraxia also depends on how severe it is. Some examples of ways in which a SLP can help support individuals with Dysarthria and Apraxia are: Slowing down speech, working on coordinating respiration and speech, saying sounds clearly in words and sentences, as well as using other ways to augment existing communication such as use of nonverbal language, written expression, and augmentative and alternative communication, or AAC. Equally impactful, a SLP can work with family and friends to provide support and training on learning additional ways to talk with and understand individuals with a motor speech disorder.
