Language disorders affect a person’s ability to understand, use, or process language. They can impact speaking, listening, reading, or writing. Speech therapy helps improve communication skills for clearer expression and comprehension.

Articulation and phonological disorders affect how speech sounds are produced, leading to unclear or incorrect pronunciation. Speech therapy helps improve sound production for clearer communication

Pragmatic language disorders affect social communication, making it challenging to use language appropriately in conversations, relationships, and daily interactions. Speech therapy helps build skills for effective and meaningful communication.

Fluency disorders, like stuttering and cluttering, affect the flow and rhythm of speech. Speech therapy helps improve speech smoothness, confidence, and effective communication.

Motor speech disorders, like apraxia of speech and dysarthria, affect a person’s ability to plan or control speech movements. Speech therapy helps improve clarity and coordination for more effective communication.

Voice disorders affect the pitch, volume, or quality of the voice, making speaking difficult or uncomfortable. Speech therapy helps improve voice production, ensuring clearer, healthier communication.

AAC, or Augmentative and Alternative Communication, includes all the ways someone communicates besides speaking. People of all ages may use AAC if they experience challenges with speech or language. "Augmentative" refers to methods that enhance speech, while "alternative" refers to methods used instead of speech. Some individuals rely on AAC throughout their lives, while others use it temporarily, such as after surgery when they cannot speak. Since communication happens in many ways, a person may use multiple types of AAC. The combination of tools they use is called their AAC system.