The ability to communicate is very important in both our professional and personal lives, but many communication disorders make communicating difficult and often almost impossible. A communication disorder is any type of disorder that affects a person’s ability to detect, understand and apply speech and language to communicate effectively with others. Although we think of voice as being the main type of communication issue, there are actually several other disorders other than voice disorders. Here are some common communication-affecting disorders.
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Hearing disorders and deafness
As frustrating as it can be to be unable to hear someone or to be speaking to someone that cannot hear well, it’s a very common problem. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association indicates that about 36 million Americans have some sort of hearing loss. In fact, 1 in 5 has trouble hearing in at least one ear. There is two basic types of hearing loss. One type, which causes permanent hearing loss, is caused when the auditory nerve or inner ear is damaged. A punctured eardrum or a buildup of fluids or earwax in the ear causes the second type of hearing loss. This type of hearing loss can be treated with medication, hearing aids cochlear implants or surgery. Hearing loss can be caused by:
- Aging
- Heredity
- Long-term exposure to loud noise
- Trauma
- Diseases like meningitis or ear infections
Voice problems
There are more people with voice problems than one would imagine. Approximately 17.9 million adults in the U.S. suffer from voice problems or have within the past 12 months according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). Some may be short-term disorders, while others are long-term. Whether something serious like being mute or a simple virus causes a voice problem, it can seriously affect a person’s ability to communicate effectively. Voice disorders usually occur when there is damage to the vocal cords, which can be caused by:
- Diseases paralyzing the vocal cords
- Infections
- Cancer
- Growths due to virus
- Stomach acids traveling into the throat
- Hoarseness from screaming
Speech problems
Speech problems occur in people of all ages. Depending on the severity of the speech problem, speech disorders can seriously affect a person’s self-confidence, which can cause problems in work, school or personal life. Approximately 5% of children have an acknowledged speech disorder by the time they reach first grade. Stuttering is probably one of the most common speech problems. Stuttering affects the way words flow out of someone’s mouth. They may repeat words or have difficulty getting the first word to come out. The NIDCD states that stuttering affects more than 3 million Americans.
Developmental disabilities
There are several types of developmental disabilities that can cause communication problems, and most of them are long-term, severe problems. Developmental disabilities may affect a person’s mental ability and manifest into a learning disability. They can also be a physical problem like blindness or both a mental and physical problem with Down syndrome. Many things may cause developmental disabilities.
- Chromosome or genetic abnormalities
- Preterm birth
- Prenatal exposure to substances like drugs or alcohol
- Specific infections during pregnancy
While there are usually not any cures for most developmental disabilities, many of them can be treated with speech, physical and occupational therapy or psychological counseling.
In the U.S. alone, there are about 40 million American people suffering from communication issues according to the ASHA. The $154 to $186 billion spent annually to help these individuals ensures that they receive the help they need to help them lead as normal lives as possible despite their communication disorders.