Types of Communication Disorders

 

A Los Angeles resident and speech-language pathologist, Kariel Thompson has her practice where she assesses, diagnoses, and treats children with communication disorders. As an SLP therapist, Kariel Thompson works with children who suffer from developmental disorders that impact their communication skills.

Communication disorders typically fall into two categories - speech and language disorders. Speech disorders involve problems with articulation, fluency, and controlling sounds produced by the voice (prosody), and language disorders are those that involve using proper form (phonology, morphology, and syntax), semantics, and pragmatics.

Articulation, fluency, and prosody problems make it difficult for people to speak clearly. Articulation problems result from mispronouncing words. For example, instead of saying “spoon” a child might say “poon.” Fluency problems most commonly manifest as stuttering, and prosody disorders might result in the person speaking hoarsely, loudly, or with a high pitch.

Language form problems happen when there is difficulty differentiating between letter sounds or grammatically correct sentences. For instance, someone with form problems has difficulty distinguishing the letter “p” from “b,” distinguishing between words like “cap” and “ca,” and difficulty differentiating between a correct sentence such as “David goes to the store” and an incorrect one like “David go to the store” (the subject is not being commanded to go to the store).

Semantic and pragmatic are two kinds of language form problems that comprise a good portion of the skills needed for social communication. Someone who has semantic language problems has problems with understanding word and message meanings, so they would not be able to identify objects in a picture, answer simple questions, or follow directions. Alternatively, pragmatic issues in speech occur when a person has problems interpreting and expressing language in social situations.

Outside of these two disorders, problems related to central auditory processing can result in language problems. These problems make it difficult for a person to hear sounds clearly to interpret language.

What to Do If You Suspect Your Child Has a Developmental Disability

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Kariel Thompson is a psychologist with an MA in communication disorders from California State University. Currently practicing in Los Angeles, California, Kariel Thompson works with parents to assess, diagnose, and treat developmental disabilities in children.

Developmental disabilities are conditions that impair a child’s physical, learning, or behavioral progression. They are most noticeable when a child is developing. This is the period when a child accomplishes milestones like taking his or her first step, waving goodbye, or saying "mama." While all children grow at their own pace, there are cases where a child’s progress is particularly delayed. As a parent, if you believe your child is not learning the skills he or she should be at a particular age, a developmental disability may be the cause.

One in six children has a developmental disability. Early detection can improve children’s ability to learn while reducing the cost of intervention.

If you suspect that your child has a developmental disability, consult a doctor promptly. The doctor will assess any developmental delays your child is experiencing (developmental monitoring) while addressing your concerns. The doctor will then perform developmental screening to test if a child is accomplishing basic skills, or if he or she is experiencing delays. If there are delays, the doctor will work with you on an appropriate intervention program.