Communication disorders in pediatrics

Abstract

Communication centered on the concept of exchanging information and ideas. Communication considered disordered if the individual’s ability to receive, send, and process is impaired. Communication disorder may be evident in the process of speech, language, and/or hearing. Children acquire speech and language skills naturally without formal instruction; however, some children experience difficulties in their acquisition that vary in severity. It is currently acknowledged that at least 8% of children aged 3-17 years had a communication disorder and approximately 55% of those children received an intervention service (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Communication disorders and use of intervention services among children aged 3-17 years: United States, 2012, 2015). Medical practitioners are expected to be familiar with speech and language disorders types, levels and classifications to make the best possible clinical decisions and appropriate referrals as needed. The medical practitioners namely pediatric specialists is often the first one consulted about speech and language difficulties and the doctors should avoid wait and see approach as simplistic explanations by saying ‘he’ll grow out of it’ based on subjective examination. In the light of lacking resources in developing countries the doctors may find themselves in position to make clinical judgments about speech and language disorders that should not exceed detection and monitoring progress. However, we should always remember that assessing and treating speech and language disorder needs a highly advanced and specialized training represented only by the well trained speech-language pathologist. With all these challenges and complexities in mind, I hope to share all possible information about speech and language disorders in the pages that follow to help the doctors reaching successful management considering their scope of practice.