Communication Disorders in Children
By
Dr. Rehab Hassan Kafl
Associate Professor of Pediatric Nursing
Faculty of Nursing, Suez Canal University
Outlines
• Introduction
• Types of communication disorders
• Speech disorders
• Language disorders
• Stuttering
• Causes of communication disorders
• Impact of communication disorders
• Importance of early identification & treatment of communication disorders
• How to deal with communication disorders
Introduction
Communication disorders are conditions that affect a child's ability to
communicate effectively. These disorders can impact a child's ability to
speak, understand, read, and write. Communication disorders can have a
significant impact on a child's academic and social development, so it is
important to identify and treat them early.
Types of communication disorders in children
There are 3 types of communication disorders in children
▪ Speech disorders
▪ Language disorders
▪ Stuttering
Speech disorders
Speech disorders are conditions that affect a child's ability to produce
sounds, syllables, and words. This can make it difficult for them to
communicate effectively with others. There are several types of speech
disorders that can impact a child's ability to speak and be understood
such as articulation disorder, phonological disorder and Childhood
apraxia of speech.
Speech disorders cont.,
Articulation disorder is the first type of speech disorder. It occurs when a child has
difficulty producing individual sounds correctly. For example, they may have
difficulty pronouncing the "r" sound, resulting in saying "wabbit" instead of "rabbit".
This can make it difficult for others to understand what the child is saying.
Phonological disorder. This occurs when a child has difficulty understanding and
using the rules for combining sounds. For example, they may have difficulty saying
"spoon" instead of "poon". Phonological disorders are often related to developmental
delays and can be treated through speech therapy
Speech disorders cont.,
Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). CAS is a neurological disorder that affects a
child's ability to plan and coordinate the movements needed for speech. Children with
CAS may have difficulty producing sounds, syllables, and words in a coordinated
manner. For example, the child may say "chicken" instead of "kitchen"
Language disorders
Language disorders are conditions that affect a child's ability to understand and use
language effectively. Children with language disorders may have difficulty
understanding words and sentences, expressing their thoughts and ideas, and
communicating effectively with others. There are two main types of language
disorders: receptive language disorder and expressive language disorder.
Language disorders cont.,
Receptive language disorder: It occurs when a child has difficulty understanding
language. This can make it difficult for the child to follow instructions, answer
questions, participate in conversations, following multi-step directions and
understanding complex sentences
Language disorders cont.,
Expressive language disorder: It occurs when a child has difficulty using language
to express their thoughts and ideas. This can make it difficult for them to
communicate effectively with others. Children with expressive language disorder may
have difficulty using vocabulary, syntax, and grammar correctly. They may also have
difficulty organizing their thoughts and ideas and expressing them in a logical
sequence.
Stuttering
• Stuttering is a speech disorder that affects the flow of speech. Children who stutter may
repeat sounds, syllables, or words, or have prolonged pauses in their speech. Stuttering can be a
frustrating and challenging experience for children, and it can impact their social, academic, and
emotional development.
• Stuttering typically begins between the ages of 2 and 5, when children are developing their
language and communication skills. If stuttering persists beyond 6 months or is accompanied by
other symptoms, such as tension or frustration, it may be a sign of a stuttering disorder.
Causes of communication disorders in children
▪ Physical conditions such as cleft palate, hearing loss, or tongue tie.
▪ Neurological conditions affects the brain as accidents
▪ Developmental delay
▪ Family history of communication disorders
▪ Psychological trauma or stress
Impact of communication disorders
▪ Negatively interfere with the child’s normal development
▪ Affect child’s ability to socialize with others normally
▪ Affect the child’s academic achievements
▪ Hinder the child from expressing his feelings and thoughts.
▪ lower self-esteem and emotional instability
Importance of early identification & treatment of
communication disorders
1. Early identification and treatment can prevent communication disorders from interfering with a child's
development and help them develop effective communication skills.
2. Early intervention can lead to better outcomes. The earlier a communication disorder is identified and
treated, the more effective the treatment is likely to be. This is because young children's brains are still
developing, and they are more receptive to new learning experiences. Early intervention can prevent
communication disorders from becoming more severe and harder to treat in the future.
3. Early identification and treatment of communication disorders can help children develop the skills they
need to communicate effectively and feel more confident in social situations.
4. Early identification and treatment can lead to treatment of medical conditions, such as hearing loss or
developmental delays which causes communication disorders.
How to deal with communication disorders in children
▪ Speech therapy by a speech-language pathologist who work with the child to develop
some strategies to overcome the problems as slowing down speech, using smooth and
easy speech techniques, and reducing anxiety and tension related to speaking.
▪ Parents and caregivers can help by monitoring their child's communication skills and
seeking evaluation if they have concerns.
• Parental support through listening attentively to the child, speaking in a relaxed and
unhurried manner, and avoiding interrupting or completing their sentences
Thank You
