Sprachstörungen

Speech disorders are difficulties in producing spoken sounds clearly and fluently. They are distinct from language disorders, which affect finding words and understanding, and from voice disorders, which affect the sound made by the vocal cords, although these often overlap.

They occur in children whose speech is developing and in adults after illness or injury. Most improve with speech and language therapy, and results are better when therapy starts early and is practised regularly over months. Progress depends heavily on the underlying cause.

Symptome

• Stammering: repeated sounds, stretched sounds or blocks
• Unclear or slurred speech (dysarthria)
• Substituting or leaving out sounds beyond the expected age
• Groping for the right mouth movements, with inconsistent errors (apraxia of speech)
• Difficulty finding words or understanding speech after a stroke (aphasia)
• A hoarse, weak or strained voice
• Nasal-sounding speech
• A child speaking much less than others of the same age

Ursachen und Risikofaktoren

In children, causes include developmental speech sound delay, stammering (which usually begins between ages 2 and 5 and has a genetic component), hearing loss including glue ear, cleft palate, cerebral palsy, autism and learning disability. In adults, the common causes are stroke, head injury, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, brain tumours and cancers of the mouth or larynx and their treatment. Voice problems come from vocal cord nodules, polyps, paralysis, reflux or overuse.

Wie es diagnostiziert wird

• Speech and language therapy assessment: A structured evaluation of sounds, fluency, language, voice and swallowing.
• Hearing test: Essential in every child with delayed or unclear speech.
• Developmental or neurological examination: Looks for wider developmental or nervous system conditions.
• MRI or CT of the brain: For new speech difficulty in an adult, or when neurological signs are present.
• Laryngoscopy: A camera view of the vocal cords for hoarseness lasting over 3 weeks.
• Videofluoroscopy or endoscopic swallow test: When speech problems are accompanied by coughing or choking on food.

Behandlungsmöglichkeiten

• Articulation and phonological therapy: Teaches a child to hear and produce target sounds, with home practice.
• Stammering therapy: Parent-led programmes such as Lidcombe for young children. Fluency and confidence techniques for older children and adults.
• Aphasia and dysarthria rehabilitation: Intensive, repeated practice after stroke or injury, with family involvement.
• LSVT LOUD: A structured voice programme for Parkinson's disease, given over 4 weeks.
• Voice therapy and phonosurgery: Technique and vocal hygiene first. Surgery for polyps, cysts or a paralysed cord when needed.
• Treating the underlying cause: Grommets or hearing aids, cleft palate surgery, or management of the neurological disease.
• Communication aids: Picture boards, tablet apps and voice banking when speech cannot be fully restored.

Wenn es dringend ist

Sudden slurred speech, inability to find words or understand others, particularly with facial droop or arm weakness, is a stroke until proven otherwise: call emergency services. Hoarseness with breathing difficulty or noisy breathing also needs immediate local care.

Reisen nach Türkiye zur Behandlung

Therapy works through frequent sessions in your own language over months, which makes it a poor fit for a short trip abroad. Therapy in English or Turkish will not suit every family. Travel can be reasonable for a diagnostic work-up, vocal cord surgery, cleft-related surgery or an intensive rehabilitation block after stroke, with therapy continued at home afterwards, in person or online.

Senden Sie Ihre Berichte, Scans und eine kurze Geschichte und eine Clinic-Y Koordinator Antworten innerhalb von 24 Stunden mit geeigneten Teams und schriftlich, All-inclusive Vorschläge nebeneinander. Die Überprüfung Ihres Falls ist kostenlos.

Häufig gestellte Fragen