Difficulty in speech - WORLD CLASS DENTAL CLINIC, PUNE

Difficulty in speech can be due to some speech disorders. Speech disorders or difficulty in speech can affect the way a person creates sounds to form words.
Certain voice disorders may also be considered speech disorders.
One of the most common speech disorders is stuttering. Other speech disorders which include apraxia and dysarthria.
Apraxia is a speech disorder caused by damage to the brain which is related to speaking.
Dysarthria is a speech disorder in which the muscles of the mouth, face becomes weak.
Patients with speech disorders are aware of what they would like to say but they are not able to articulate their thoughts..
Speech disorders can affect adults and children. Early treatment can correct these condition.

What causes speech disorders?
Speech disorders affect the vocal cords, muscles, nerves, and other parts within the throat.
Causes may include- vocal cord damage, brain damage, muscle weakness, etc.
Some patients have certain medical or developmental conditions may also have speech disorders that can causes to speech disorders are autism, oral cancer, laryngeal cancer, palatal cleft, cleft lip, etc.

What are the symptoms of a speech disorder?
Symptoms experienced by people with speech disorders are repeating sound, which is most often seen in people who stutter.
Adding extra sounds and words, elongating words, making jerky movements while talking, usually involving the head, blinking several times while talking, visible frustration when trying to communicate.
Taking frequent pauses when talking, distorting sounds when talking, hoarseness, or speaking with a raspy or gravelly sounding voice.

How are speech disorders treated?
Mild speech difficulty might not need any treatment. Some speech disorders may simply go away. Others can improve with speech therapy.
Treatment varies and depends on the type of disorder. In speech therapy, a professional therapist will guide you through exercises that work to strengthen the muscles in your face and throat.
You’ll learn to control your breathing while speaking. Muscle-strengthening exercises and controlled breathing help improve the way your words sound. You’ll also learn ways to practice smoother, more fluent speech.
Some people with speech disorders experience nervousness, embarrassment, or depression. Talk therapy may be helpful in these situations.
A therapist will discuss ways to cope with the condition and ways to improve the outlook of your condition. If your depression is severe, antidepressant medications can help.
Some dental conditions like mouth ulcers are treated by cause of disease and prescription for the same given by the dentist.

What are the potential complications of speech disorders?

Untreated speech disorders may cause a person to experience a great deal of anxiety.

Over time, this anxiety can trigger anxiety disorders or a phobia of speaking in public.

Early treatment for anxiety can help prevent the development of anxiety disorders or phobias. Treatment options include talk.