Can Speech Impediment Impact Emotional Stability?

Communication is a crucial element of the human experience and the creation of meaningful relationships. When challenges with verbal expression of thoughts, feelings, and ideas occur, it can make it difficult to navigate daily interactions and accomplish simple tasks. 

Speech disorders also referred to as speech impediments, can cause those affected to develop low self-esteem, feelings of frustration, and social anxiety. Challenges with verbal communication can also cause family members and loved ones to be concerned and unsure about how to help and support the individual. 

Speech impediments are not considered to be mental disabilities. A speech impediment is categorized as a communication disorder and is most commonly linked to a physical condition that affects the mechanics and processes required for speech production. It is possible, however, for a speech impediment to occur alongside other developmental conditions, such as Autism Spectrum disorder or Cerebral Palsy. 

Speech therapy for communication disorders offers help and support to those wishing to improve the clarity and fluency of their speech. Working with a speech and language pathologist can help address communication challenges as well as boost confidence and improve social skills. If you or a loved one is interested in working with a speech therapist to improve communication skills, getting started is as easy as scheduling your free introductory call today! 

What Is a Speech Impediment?

A speech impediment, also known as a speech disorder, is a condition that affects the ability to produce speech in a clear and fluent nature. Those who are impacted by a speech impediment typically struggle to produce clear and understandable sounds, syllables, or words, creating communication barriers and challenges connecting with others. 

Current estimates suggest that 1 in every 12 children faces some sort of communication disorder, making speech impediments among the most commonly treated conditions by speech and language pathologists. 

What are the Symptoms of a Speech Impediment?

While speech impediments can present in many different ways with a variety of symptoms, some of the most commonly seen signs and symptoms of a speech impediment include: 

Speech that is Unclear or Unintelligible: Difficulty being understood by others when speaking is one of the most notable symptoms of a speech impediment. 

Sound Omissions: Individuals with a speech impediment may omit a certain sound or part of a word. For example, they may say “cah” instead of “car.” 

Sound Additions: Some cases of speech disorders cause individuals to add additional sounds to words or repeat the same letter sound in a word. For example, they may say “buh-ranch” or “b-b-b-branch” instead of “branch.” 

Sound Substitutions: Some speech impediments make it difficult to produce a certain letter sound. In these cases, the individual may replace the challenging sound with one they can produce more easily. For example, they may say “westaurant” instead of “restaurant.” 

More Frequent Use of Gestures: Some individuals who struggle to communicate due to a speech impediment may use gestures and other forms of non-verbal communication more frequently and emphatically. 

Pitch Differences: In some instances, a speech impediment can affect vocal pitch and volume. Inappropriate pitch or volume when speaking can be associated with a speech disorder, making speech difficult to interpret and confusing for others.

If you or a loved one is experiencing any of the above symptoms, it is important to connect with a qualified speech therapist to get the necessary support. Schedule your free introductory call today to get started on the path to clearer speech. 

What are the Different Types of Speech Disorders?

Speech impediments or disorders can impact various elements of speech. The most commonly identified types of speech disorders include: 

Fluency Disorders: A fluency disorder causing difficulties with the timing and rhythm of speech. Stuttering is the most common type of fluency disorder, causing frequent repetitions, hesitations, or prolongations of sounds, syllables, or words.

Articulation Disorders: Articulation disorders relate to the production of specific speech sounds. These disorders are often linked to physical differences and challenges with correct tongue placement. A lisp is a common type of articulation disorder that affects an individual’s ability to correctly produce a “s” or “z” sound. 

Phonological Disorders: A phonological disorder causes individuals to misuse or omit specific speech sounds when speaking and forming sentences. Individuals with phonological disorders use improper speech patterns and often use sound omissions, substitutions, or distortions during speech. 

Is Speech Impairment a Mental Disorder?

While speech impairments are not considered to be mental disorders, they can occur alongside developmental conditions and have been related to mental health challenges in some instances. Speech disorders can significantly impact an individual’s quality of life, making it difficult to build and maintain meaningful relationships, achieve professional or academic success, and navigate daily life and social interactions. It is common for individuals with communication challenges to experience feelings of shame, embarrassment, and low self-esteem. In more severe cases, individuals may develop social anxiety and depression or become withdrawn and isolated from the outside world.

How Does Speech Therapy Help with Speech Impediments?

Speech therapy is the most common and effective treatment method for speech impediments. Early intervention speech therapy offers the best outcome; however, individuals of any age can benefit from working closely with an experienced speech and language pathologist. 

Speech therapists are experts when it comes to identifying specific challenges with speech and improving speech production and overall communication. Speech therapy treatment for a speech disorder begins with a thorough evaluation to identify the areas of speech that are most impacted and in need of improvement. Once the speech therapist has diagnosed the type of speech disorder present, they will create a tailored treatment plan that includes a combination of exercises, techniques, and tools to help the individual overcome their speech challenges and learn to communicate with ease and confidence. 

Speech therapy for speech impediments may focus on motor control and tongue placement to improve articulation or on more linguistic elements of speech to improve phonology and fluency. The treatment plan will also include at-home exercises to be completed between sessions to ensure ongoing progress. Regular check-ins about progress and goals are also an important part of speech therapy, providing important information and guiding future treatment approaches.

If you or someone close to you is struggling to speak clearly and confidently, it might be time to consult with a speech and language pathologist. Simply schedule your free introductory call today to get started!