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Speech disorders - children - Treatment

Alternative Names

Articulation deficiency; Voice disorders; Vocal disorders; Disfluency; Communication disorder - speech disorder

Treatment:

Milder forms of speech disorders may disappear on their own.

Speech therapy may help with more severe symptoms or speech problems that do not improve.

In therapy, the child will learn how to create certain sounds.

Expectations (prognosis):

The prognosis depends on the cause of the disorder. Usually, speech can be improved with speech therapy. Prognosis improves with early intervention.

Complications:

Speech disorders may lead to psychosocial problems associated with ineffective communication.

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if:

Your child's speech is not developing according to normal milestones
You think your child is in a high-risk group
Your child is showing signs of a speech disorder

Reviewed last on: 9/28/2010
Sumana Jothi, MD, Clinical Instructor, UCSF Otolaryngology, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Friedman O, Wang TD, Milczuk HA. Cleft lip and palate. In: Flint PW, Haughey BH, Lund VJ, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier;2010: chap 188.

Choi SS, Zalzal GH. Voice disorders. In: Flint PW, Haughey BH, Lund VJ, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier;2010: chap 203.

Sharp HM, Hillenbrand K. Speech and language development and disorders in children. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2008;55:1159-1173.

Simms MD. Language disorders in children: classification and clinical syndromes. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2007;54:437-467.

Specific language and learning disabilities. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 32.

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