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Articulation and phonology
An articulation disorder involves problems making sounds. Sounds can be substituted, left off,
added or changed. These errors may make it hard for people to understand you.
A phonological process disorder involves patterns of sound errors. For example, substituting all
sounds made in the back of the mouth like "k" and "g" for those in the front of the mouth like "t"
and "d" (e.g., saying "tup" for "cup" or "das" for "gas").
(adapted from the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association)
Receptive and Expressive Language
Some children have problems with understanding, also called receptive language. Children may
have difficulty with the following skills: Understanding what gestures mean, following
directions, answering questions, identifying objects and pictures, and taking turns when talking
with others
Some children have problems talking, also called expressive language. They may have trouble:
Asking questions, naming objects, using gestures, putting words together into sentences, learning
songs and rhymes, using correct pronouns, like "he" or "they,” knowing how to start a
conversation and keep it going
Many children have problems with both understanding and talking.
(adapted from the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association)
Stuttering
Stuttering affects the fluency of speech. The disorder is characterized by disruptions in the
production of speech sounds, also called "disfluencies." Most people produce brief disfluencies
from time to time. For instance, some words are repeated and others are preceded by "um" or
"uh." Disfluencies are not necessarily a problem; however, they can impede communication
when a person produces too many of them. Stuttered speech often includes repetitions of words
or parts of words, as well as prolongations of speech sounds. These disfluencies occur more
often in persons who stutter than they do in the general population.
(adapted from American Speech- Language and Hearing Association)
National Stuttering Association http://www.nsastutter.org/index.html
Augmentative and alternative communication
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) includes all forms of communication (other
than oral speech) that are used to express thoughts, needs, wants, and ideas. We all use AAC
when we make facial expressions or gestures, use symbols or pictures, or write.
People with severe speech or language problems rely on AAC to supplement existing speech or
replace speech that is not functional. Special augmentative aids, such as picture and symbol
communication boards and electronic devices, are available to help people express themselves.
This may increase social interaction, school performance, and feelings of self-worth.
(adapted from American Speech-Language and Hearing Association)
**Link to AT Page
Voice disorders
Nodules and Polyps are physical differences on the vocal cords. Vocal cord nodules are benign
(noncancerous) growths on both vocal cords that are caused by vocal abuse. Polyps appear on either
one or both of the vocal cords. They appear as a swelling or bump (like a nodule), a stalk-like growth,
or a blister-like lesion.
Everyone has two vocal cords in his or her larynx (voicebox). If one or both vocal cords are unable to
move then the person will experience voice problems and possibly breathing and swallowing problems.
This is vocal cord paralysis.
These medical issues can result in voice disorders described as hoarse, breathy, scratchy, harsh,
and/or can result in difficulty swallowing.
(adapted from American Speech-Language and Hearing Association)
Support foundation for voice disorders http://www.voiceproblem.org/ ????this is the only one I could
find
Feeding and Swallowing disorders
Feeding disorders include problems gathering food and getting ready to suck, chew, or swallow it. For
example, a child who cannot pick up food and get it to her mouth or cannot completely close her lips to
keep food from falling out of her mouth may have a feeding disorder.
Swallowing disorders , also called dysphagia (dis-FAY-juh), can occur at different stages in the
swallowing process:


Oral phase- sucking, chewing, and moving food or liquid into the throat
Pharyngeal phase- starting the swallow, squeezing food down the throat, and closing off the
airway to prevent food or liquid from entering the airway (aspiration) or to prevent choking

Esophageal phase- relaxing and tightening the openings at the top and bottom of the feeding
tube in the throat (esophagus) and squeezing food through the esophagus into the stomach
Feeding disorder can result in dehydration or poor nutrition, aspiration (food or liquid entering the
airway,) pneumonia or repeated upper respiratory infections that can lead to chronic lung disease, or
embarrassment or isolation in social situations involving eating
Children with feeding and swallowing problems have a wide variety of symptoms. Not all signs and
symptoms are present in every child. Some signs include: refusing foods or different textures (ex:
only purees or only dry foods), difficulty chewing, coughing and gagging during meals or difficulty
breathing, gurgly voice during feedings, long feeding times (more than 30 minutes), excessive
drooling or loss of food during feeding, recurring pneumonia or poor weight gain.
(Adapted from American Speech-Language and Hearing Association)