Frequently Asked Questions
Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), also known as developmental apraxia of speech or dyspraxia, is a neurological speech disorder that affects a child’s ability to plan and execute the precise movements required for clear speech. Unlike other speech disorders where the muscles involved in speech production may be weak or uncoordinated, in CAS, the issue lies primarily in the brain’s ability to send appropriate signals to the muscles involved in speech to make willful voluntary movements.
Hearing impairment, also known as hearing loss or deafness, refers to a partial or total inability to hear sounds. There are various types and degrees of hearing impairment, ranging from mild to profound, which can affect one or both ears.
Dyslexia and other reading disorders are neurodevelopmental conditions that affect an individual’s ability to acquire reading skills despite adequate intelligence, educational opportunities, and normal sensory abilities. These disorders are characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction, as well as restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. Asperger’s Disorder was previously considered a separate diagnosis but is now encompassed within the broader category of ASD.
refer to difficulty producing speech sounds correctly. They typically involve omissions, substitutions and distortions which are the result of structural, motor or sensory impairments. Clients who are able to produce sounds, however follow a simplified pattern of errors as they develop adult speech, are said to have phonological delays, which are more functional in nature. Both types of errors can be present.
Language disorders involve difficulties with understanding and/or using language effectively, in both their spoken or written forms. When we speak of language, there are four things to consider: semantics, morphology, syntax, and pragmatics. Difficulty in one or more aspects of language, can result in a language disorder.
Some people may have difficulty using language effectively to interact socially with peers and/ or in specific situations. These difficulties can manifest in various ways and may be associated with different factors, including neurodevelopmental conditions, social anxiety, shyness, or lack of exposure to social situations.
Swallowing disorders, also known as dysphagia, refer to difficulties or abnormalities in the process of swallowing food, liquids, or medications. Swallowing is a complex process involving coordination of muscles and nerves in the mouth, throat (pharynx), and esophagus. Dysphagia can occur at any stage of swallowing, from the oral phase (chewing and forming a bolus), through the pharyngeal phase (moving the bolus through the throat), to the esophageal phase (passage of the bolus into the stomach). A speech language pathologist is one part of the medical team, who diagnoses and treats swallowing disorders.
Voice disorders, also known as dysphonia, refer to abnormalities in the quality, pitch, volume, or resonance of the voice that interfere with communication. These disorders can result from various underlying causes, including structural abnormalities, neurological conditions, functional issues, or environmental factors.
Stuttering, also known as dysfluency, is a speech disorder characterized by disruptions or interruptions in the forward flow of speech, leading to hesitations, repetitions, prolongations, or blocks of sounds, syllables, words, or phrases. Stuttering can vary in severity and frequency and may be accompanied by physical tension and/or struggle behaviors.