What Are Communication Disorders?
Communication disorders involve difficulties with receiving, sending, processing, or understanding information through systems such as speech, language, and hearing. These disorders can include speech disorders (such as stuttering, articulation difficulties, or apraxia of speech) and language disorders (such as expressive, receptive, or mixed receptive–expressive language disorders).
Communication disorders can develop for many reasons, including developmental conditions, neurological disorders, acquired brain injuries, or other medical factors. They are relatively common, affecting an estimated 5% to 10% of people in the United States. Among children, the prevalence is around 8%, though this varies by specific disorder.
Speech VS Language Disorders
A common misconception is that speech and language disorders are the same. In reality, they refer to different skills:
Speech refers to how we produce sounds and words—through articulation (movement of the mouth, lips, and tongue), voice (use of the vocal folds and breath), and fluency (the rhythm of speech). A speech disorder occurs when one or more of these areas is disrupted. Examples include speech sound disorders, stuttering, or apraxia of speech.
Language refers to the words, grammar, and meaning we use to communicate our thoughts. In a way, knowing a language gives us a “telepathic” ability to send and receive ideas. A language disorder happens when this ability is disrupted.
- Difficulty expressing thoughts and ideas is known as an expressive language disorder.
- Difficulty understanding or interpreting information is known as a receptive language disorder.
An individual may have both a speech and a language disorder, or just one.
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), “What Is Speech? What Is Language?”
Communication Disorder Resources
- Aphasia: Aphasia is a type of language disorder that affects your ability to speak, understand, read, or write. https://aphasie.ca/
- Apraxia: Apraxia is a disorder that affects your ability to execute physical, voluntary movements. https://www.facebook.com/groups/apraxia.kids.canada/
- Auditory processing disorder: Auditory processing disorder is a disorder that affects your ability to process and understand auditory stimuli. https://www.asha.org/public/hearing/Understanding-Auditory-Processing-Disorders-in-Children/
- Autism: Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that may affect your social communication skills. https://www.autisme.qc.ca/
- Developmental Language Disorder: Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) is a disorder that causing difficulties understanding and using language for no known reason https://radld.org/canada/
- Dyslexia: Dyslexia is a learning disorder that affects your ability to read, write, and understand writing. https://dyslexiacanada.org/
- Stroke: Stroke is a disease that may interrupt blood flow to key areas of the brain needed for communication. https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke/effects-of-stroke/communication-and-aphasia
- Stuttering: Stuttering is the involuntary interruption in speech. https://stutter.ca/
- SLPs: Speech-Language Pathologists are health professionals that manage conditions that influence communication. https://www.sac-oac.ca/