Communication disorders can affect both expressive and receptive communication. They impact a person’s ability to send or receive information in different forms. Some communication disorders you might recognize include deafness, lisping and speech delays.
These conditions are common among children. However, they can be acquired at any time. Some come as a result of an injury or illness. They can impact a person’s social well-being and their development of language skills. Most people who have communication disorders can benefit from rehabilitation.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss what communication disorders are, how they can impact a person’s life, and how rehabilitation can help.
What is a communication disorder?
Communication disorders can affect different types of communication skills. A person may have trouble sending, receiving, processing and comprehending information. These disorders can involve verbal, nonverbal and symbolic systems. They can also involve more complex concepts and auditory processing as well. Communication disorders can range from mild to severe. Some people may have more than one communication disorder. It might be a primary disability or secondary to another condition or disability.
Common types of communication disorders
There are four main types of communication disorders. These include conditions that affect speech, hearing, language and auditory processing. Each of these can be broken down further. For instance, speech disorders can affect the sound or quality of a person’s voice. They can also affect the fluency of their speech or their ability to articulate certain speech sounds. Hearing disorders impact a person’s sensitivity to sound or their ability to hear in general. These can impact the development of language skills as well.
Language disorders and central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) are a bit more far reaching. Language may affect comprehension or expression and use of language on different levels. They may involve the form, content and function of language in any form of communication.
Language disorders can affect the following processes:
- The function and social aspects of language
- The meanings of words and sentences
- The construction of sentences or grammar
- The sounds and syllables that make up words
CAPD can affect many aspects of hearing, understanding and processing auditory information. It may affect auditory signals at any point between the inner ear, the auditory nervous system and the brain.
CAPD can affect the following processes:
- Identifying or discriminating between acoustic signals
- Transmitting information through the nervous system
- Filtering, sorting and combining auditory information
- Storing and retrieving information efficiently
- Organizing and using retrieved information
- Parsing or decoding auditory information
- Attaching meaning to sounds or language
Communication disorders are often unique to the individual. Some have names that describe the specific challenges or differences people experience. Other times, they’re referred to in broader categories. For example, a person may be diagnosed with a fluency disorder or an auditory processing disorder.
Some common examples of communication disorders include:
- Aphasia — Difficulty speaking or understanding language caused by brain damage
- Apraxia — Difficulty with speaking caused by interrupted communication between the brain and speech muscles
- Dysarthria — Difficulty speaking or changes in speech caused by nerve or muscle damage
- Stuttering — A fluency disorder in which sounds may be repeated or prolonged
- Lisping — Difficulty making certain sounds
- Deafness — Inability to hear
- Hardness of hearing — Limited hearing abilities
- Social communication disorder — Challenges in understanding and responding to social cues
- Central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) — Problems with the processing of audible signals that can’t be attributed to hearing or intellectual impairment
- Speech delay (alalia) — In children, not making expected attempts to speak or learn language
How can a communication disorder impact a person’s life?
Communication disorders can affect people at any stage in life. In young children, they may impact the language learning process and socialization. When untreated, they can lead to isolation and difficulties with mental health or emotional well-being. It’s a common experience for people who have these conditions to feel different or face social difficulties. These conditions can impact a person’s work life and personal relationships.
Some communication disorders can be improved with rehabilitation. In other cases, it may be helpful for people to develop skills for alternative communication methods. This is sometimes called augmentative communication. People may use assistive technology, such as text-to-speech devices, or sign language. People should also receive therapies to address the social and emotional aspects of their condition.
What does rehabilitation for communication disorders look like?
Most people will need to work with a speech-language pathologist (SLP). SLPs can help people with skills and conditioning for better functioning. This includes everything from swallowing to speaking fluently, making specific sounds, comprehending language and much more. SLPs help people learn to use assistive devices and communicate in ways other people can understand. They also help with social skills and the emotional aspects of communication disorders.
People who have communication disorders may need help with understanding and processing communication. SLPs may use activities like reading and playing games to help people work on these skills. Simple games like Simon says or red light, green light can help children learn to follow directions. They may also use pictures or communication boards with graphics for different exercises. There’s evidence that school-based SLP services help improve things like reception and expression by about 75%.
Most people who have communication disorders can benefit from rehabilitation. Unfortunately, a significant number of children and adults don’t receive it. Sometimes this is due to a lack of access or financial resources. These conditions are often mistaken for a language deficit, which is very different. Because of the nature of these conditions, people may not get adequate healthcare for other concerns. These difficulties may lead to poor health outcomes.
Minimal research in this specialized area translates to fewer evidence-based treatment processes. It also means there are fewer care providers who have the expertise to help people manage these conditions effectively. At Ability KC, each patient works with an integrated cross-disciplinary team. We’re also working to help more people access these therapies regardless of financial status.
Care teams at Ability KC may include the following professionals:
- Speech-language pathologist
- Rehab psychologist
- Neuropsychologist
- Registered nurses and other nurses
- Case manager
- Social worker
Find personalized rehabilitation for communication disorders at Ability KC
Communication disorders are unique to each individual. To create the best outcomes, care programs need to be personalized, too. At Ability KC, we integrate different therapies into an experience for the whole person. Our patients receive speech therapy, neuropsych treatment, psychotherapy and medical care. Programs also include group therapies, which help create a sense of community and belonging.
We help people with many different types of communication disorders in our pediatric and other rehabilitation programs. We also have a therapeutic preschool. The teachers and therapists on staff are experienced in helping children who have these conditions. You can trust our team because we’re a designated Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility (CORF). We also have a Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accreditation.
Rehabilitation at Ability KC begins with a conversation with a Case Manager. The next step is an in-depth assessment. Then patients meet with their entire care team to talk through their personalized plan.
Are you caring for a loved one who has a communication disorder or considering rehab programs? Contact our team today. We can help you understand your options and make a plan to get your loved one the care they need.