About communication disorders and impairments
The most common communication disorders and impairments in children are:
- language disorders – these are problems understanding and/or using spoken language to exchange ideas
- speech disorders – these are problems making and combining sounds in words so that people can understand
- stuttering
- voice problems like hoarseness, breathiness, harshness or a voice that’s too high/low or too loud/weak
- social communication disorder.
Support and treatment for children with communication disorders or impairments
Some children grow out of communication disorders or impairments. But others have longer-lasting challenges.
If your child has a communication disorder, the support and treatment he needs will depend on the disorder he has.
It’s likely that your child will work with a speech pathologist. A speech pathologist can assess your child to work out the best way to help her develop her ability to communicate.
You and your child might also work with some or all of these professionals:
Causes of communication disorders and impairments
We don’t know what causes many communication disorders and impairments.
Some communication problems might have genetic links.
Sometimes children have communication disorders and no other developmental concerns.
Sometimes children have communication disorders along with other health or developmental conditions. These conditions include: