​What are Speech Disorders?
Speech refers to the communication and expression of our thoughts in spoken words. The sounds we make, voice clarity and speech fluency all affect the way we express ourselves in a clear and effective manner. Speech disorders can be detected and eliminated from a young age when using the right therapy.

Speech Disorders include:

• Articulation Disorder | this occurs when one or more of the articulators in our mouth i.e. tongue, teeth, palate and/or lips are not moved in a precise and rapid manner. This affects the clarity of our speech. It is a specific kind of motor learning.
• Phonological Disorder | this occurs when the systems and/or patterns of phonemes are mixed up. That is, the child is able to produce the sound on its own but in spoken words, cannot arrange the phonemes to make meaningful words.
• Childhood Apraxia of Speech | this occurs when the execution of the sounds in words are disordered. It affects the expressive communication including the sequence of sounds, prosodic features and the use of correct sounds. Errors are inconsistent.
• Stuttering | this occurs when natural verbal speech is interrupted by blocks, repetition and prolongations of sounds and words. Stuttering makes it hard for communication to be smooth and easy to follow. The cause of stuttering is unknown but can occur with children from the age of 2. Treating stuttering at a young age is preferable. Research shows that early intervention treatment, between the ages of 2 and 7 years, is most effective. 
• Voice Disorder | this is a medical condition affecting the voice quality, pitch and volume. There are various causes and types of voice disorders. Some of which include: vocal cord nodules and polyps, vocal cord paralysis and dysphonia. Voice disorders are most often treatable when the underlying cause or condition is known. 

Does my child have a Speech Delay?
If you are concerned about your child’s speech, please feel free to complete our online
Speech and Language Checklist

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