Communication disorders are very common. There is help available and most of these disorders can be successfully treated. Radhika Pooviah (Speech Language Pathologist) talks about some of the common disorders in adults.

STUTTERING / STAMMERING:
As an adult, it is not enough that we have a good vocabulary, and can produce all speech sounds; we also require fluency in our speech. Disfluent speech can be a deterrent in communication.

Stuttering (stammering) is a common fluency disorder seen in adults. Stuttering is characterized by part word repetition (mmmy bike), whole word repetition (I want, I WANT, I WANT TO go out), prolongation of sounds (th th th this is my bike), or silent struggle to say a word, sound/syllable interjections (um-yes um-we can get it).

Some people with stuttering also show a lot of other symptoms like facial grimaces, excessive muscular tension in an effort to speak etc.

Stuttering is a very complex disorder and no two people have the same symptoms. Extensive research into the cause of stuttering has not lead to a conclusion. However, research has lead to a good understanding of the disorder. We now know what factors aggravate stuttering, and what helps to reduce it. Treatment of stuttering has also generated a lot of interest among professionals. It is best to see a speech pathologist, as they are specially trained to deal with baffling speech disorders.

At the institute a 10-day treatment program is offered to adults who stutter.

Voice problem:

Voice is basic to communication, without voice there can be no verbal communication. Only certain voice disorder like a complete loss of voice cause an impediment in communication. Nevertheless a voice disorder like a hoarse, breathy or harsh voice does cause a lot of personal, social and medical problem for the person who has it. Some professionals like teachers, salesmen, and entertainers depend on their voice for their job. Without the ability to sustain a pleasant voice day after day, they would lose their jobs. Unfortunately, it is this very demand on the voice that poses the greatest threat to a healthy voice.
Voice disorders can result due to a problem in any of the following aspect of voice-PITCH; LOUDNESS; QUALITY.

Problem related to pitch:

Puberphonia: Men have low pitch voices and women have high pitch voices. Puberphonia is a common voice problem seen when a man speaks in a feminine voice. During puberty, the voice of boys drops to a low pitch. Generally this transition is smooth, but in some cases the high pitch voice remains.
This problem can be successfully corrected with voice therapy within duration of 15 days.

Problem related to loudness:

Very few people seek professional help for a loudness problem. Generally people seek help for a voice that is too soft. Most cases of inadequate or excessive loudness can be treated easily in a few sessions of voice therapy.

Problem related to quality:

Three major voice quality problems are harshness, breathiness and hoarseness. All these problem result due a malfunctioning of the vocal cords. We all experience temporary hoarseness of voice following a throat infection. Excessive talking, singing say after a picnic can also result in temporary hoarseness of voice.
It is very important to remember that persistent hoarseness should not be neglected. An ENT doctor should be consulted to look after the medical angle of the problem. After medical treatment if hoarseness persist voice therapy is recommended. Voice therapy helps in optional use of voice and is especially useful for people whose profession demands a lot of talking.

APHONIA:
Aphonia refers to a complete loss of voice. It can occur if the voice box (larynx) is damaged as in an accident. It can also be due to stress, anxiety and vocal abuse. Voice therapy aims in correcting the vocal cord functioning and restoring it to normalcy.

LARYNGECTOMY:

Treatment of cancer of the voice box (larynx) entails the surgical removal of the larynx. This is very traumatic for a person as he loses his voice permanently. Rehabilitation of such cases is done by a speech pathologist. Voice therapy is geared towards teaching alternate methods of voice production.

DYSARTHRIA:

Slurring of speech can occur consequent to a neurological impairment. Speech therapy helps in improving the clarity of speech.

Language disorders in adults:

The main language disorder in adults is called Aphasia. An adult can lose his/ her ability to speak consequent to a brain injury or a stroke. Different areas of the brain are responsible for different aspects of communication. The area responsible of speaking is different from the area responsible for understanding spoken language. Hence, selective damage to one area can cause damage only in one aspect of communication, be it the ability to speak or comprehension. If the damage is extensive it can result in loss of many aspects of communication. Family members at first find it difficult to understand this selective impairment. A stroke may also cause paralysis of one side of the body. Generally aphasia occurs with paralysis of the right side of the body.
Intensive speech-language therapy is crucial for a person who has aphasia. Since speech-language pathologists have a clear understanding of this disorder, they are invaluable in helping the patient and the family to cope with this traumatic disorder.

Alzheimer disease/ Parkinson disease:

These neurological disorders result in some speech language problems too. Speech language therapy helps manage all the communication problems.
Radhika Pooviah is a Speech and Language pathologist practicing in Dr. Chandra Shekhar Institute of Speech and Hearing- for more details about the institute log on to www.speechear.org