Difficulties of speech - a disorder of speech activity, due to which normal communication and social interaction of people with society is impossible. The violation is indicated by deviations in the work of the psychophysiological mechanisms of speech, if the development does not correspond to age.
One of the defects is slurred speech, due to which communication of a person is complicated. Speech therapists, neurophysiologists, neurologists, otolaryngologists and other specialists are engaged in the study and treatment of such difficulties. They work with adults and children.
Symptoms
Pathology can be expressed in the absence of speech or in violation of pronunciation. This can be manifested by the following symptoms:
- Fuzziness and slowness of speech, its illegibility.
- It’s difficult for a person to choose words and name things incorrectly.
- Quick speech, but meaningless.
- Haste of thinking.
- Separation of syllables and emphasis on each of them.
Why does it appear in adults?
Slurred speech in adults may appear suddenly or develop gradually. It can also occur in children. Specialists first find out why this happened, and only then begin treatment. Slurred speech may appear due to several factors. The reasons are as follows:
- Disorders of the brain.
- Brain injuries caused by a stroke or thrombosis.
- Head injuries.
- Brain tumors.
- Degenerative diseases.
- Excessive consumption of alcohol.
- Weakness of the muscles of the face.
- Weak or tight fixation of dentures.
Types of disorders in children
Slurred speech in a child is associated with various ailments. The main ones include:
- The appearance of a statement is a pronunciation disorder.
- Interior design is a systemic speech disorder.
Types of violations
Slurred speech of phonation (external) design manifests itself separately, and together with other violations. In speech therapy, there are the following types of violations:
- Athony and dysaphonia. There is a disorder or lack of phonation due to pathologies of the vocal apparatus. Usually there is a violation of the pitch, strength, timbre of the voice.
- Bradylalia. There is a slowdown in speech tempo. Features include the slow implementation of an articulated speech program.
- Tachilalia is an acceleration of the pace of speech. Accelerated articulation speech program.
- Stuttering. The organization of speech is disturbed when the muscles of the speech apparatus are convulsed. Usually manifested in children.
- Dislalia. This pathology is presented in the form of a disturbance in the pronunciation of sounds when the hearing and innervation of the speech apparatus in a person are normal. The distorted sound design of the words appears. This is slurred speech. Sound may not be spoken correctly, replaced, or mixed.
- Rinolalia. The pronunciation of sounds and timbre of the voice is disturbed, which is associated with disorders of the speech apparatus. Changes in the timbre of the voice appear when the voice stream of air, when exhaling and during pronunciation, passes into the nasal cavity. This causes a resonance.
- Dysarthria The pronunciation is broken, which is associated with insufficient innervation of the speech apparatus. This disease appears due to cerebral palsy, which is detected at an early age.
Structural and semantic design of speech
On this basis, violations are divided into 2 types: alalia and aphasia. Each type of ailment has its own symptoms. Alalia manifests itself in the absence or incomplete development of speech. This occurs due to damage to the parts of the brain that are responsible for it. Violation may occur during fetal development or at an early age.
With alalia, slurred speech is manifested. This defect is considered one of the most difficult, since speech activity is not fully formed. Aphasia is the loss of the ability to speak, which appeared due to local damage to the brain. Why is slurred speech manifested in this violation? This is due to traumatic brain injuries, neuroinfections and brain tumors.
Diagnostic Features
It is necessary to analyze the complaints made by the patient. The history of the disease is also taken into account. Specialists usually ask when slurred speech appeared and if there are relatives suffering from such an ailment. Be sure to visit a neurologist, go through his examination. The doctor will check the mandibular and pharyngeal reflexes, examine the pharynx, and make sure there is atrophy of the muscles of the tongue.
Reflexes of the lower and upper extremities are checked. It should be examined by a speech therapist. The doctor evaluates the performance of speech, reveals violations of the pace, complexity. An examination by an otorhinolaryngologist is required, which will protect against such processes in the mouth as ulcers and tumors, which can cause disturbances.
Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the head are performed, with the help of which it will be revealed why slurred speech appeared. Causes in adults and children are also determined in consultation with a neurosurgeon. Only after a full diagnosis are prescribed treatment methods.
Treatment principles
If slurred speech is detected, what should I do? It is necessary to treat the main disease, due to which a violation has occurred:
- Tumors are removed surgically.
- Resection of the hematoma, if it is on the surface.
- Surgical removal of ulcers in the skull, followed by the appointment of antibacterial agents.
- Normalization of pressure.
- The use of funds to restore the metabolism of the substance and cerebral blood flow.
People with various disabilities need to visit a speech therapist so that they can correct the deficiency using special exercises. Regular classes are required.
Speech Correction Rules
Speech disturbance appears not only due to the pathology of the articulatory apparatus, neurological pathology and the habit of incorrect pronunciation. Another factor is the psychological reason. With excitement, a person's speech becomes barely audible and almost incomprehensible.
The speech therapist's speech restoration activities are based on the following principles:
- Personal orientation.
- Creating an emotionally favorable environment.
- Interaction with parents.
- Positive motivation.
Speech therapy classes suggest an improvement in the mobility of the articulation apparatus. Work is also underway on the sounds and restoration of phonemic hearing. Specialists work with children in a playful way, using speech games, a computer. Combined activities are carried out, involving the shift of attention from one activity to another.
Rules for the formation of speech
Classes with a specialist in children allow you to form a competent speech, phonetically clear. But such events will not be enough. A speech therapist only helps deliver sound. Everything else depends on the child and parents.
In order for the speech to form successfully, the following rules must be observed:
- You should not blame the child for slurred speech, you just need to carefully correct it.
- Simple exercises should be shown.
- No need to focus on errors, stutters.
- You need to positively set up for classes with a speech therapist.
- Parents need to monitor their speech.
Forecast and Prevention
Speech disorders can be corrected if you start this work from an early age or at an early stage. An important role in improving the condition is influenced by the surrounding people and the efforts of the person himself. If a violation is detected in a timely manner, and treatment is started, then normalization of speech can be achieved. Such children continue to study in ordinary schools and get along well with the children.
With complex forms of the disease, improving speech is not easy. You can only adjust the speech function. In such situations, the range of activities is wider, and the patient needs to visit a specialized institution. It is necessary to observe the continuity of speech therapy organizations: go to special kindergartens, correctional schools. It is also important to be treated in neuropsychiatric hospitals, if this was prescribed by a doctor.
Prevention involves the implementation of effective interventions from birth. The child must be protected from neutroinfection, injuries to the skull and brain. It should not be affected by toxic factors.
It must be borne in mind that success comes with a systematic approach and integrated organization of events. Along with traditional treatment, one should not forget unconventional methods. It is important to carry out activities on physical activity. Using a variety of methods allows you to get excellent results, if used correctly.