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

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.

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

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

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

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Speech disorders Symptoms

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Speech disorders Prevention

Review Date: 09/28/2010
Reviewed By: 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.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)