Communication disorder

Communication disorder is a broad term that encompasses a variety of conditions that affect a person's ability to communicate effectively. These conditions can affect a person's speech, language, and hearing abilities.

Pronunciation

/kəˌmjuːnɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n dɪsˈɔːdə/

Etymology

The term "communication disorder" is derived from the Latin word "communicare", which means "to share", and the Greek word "δυσ-", which means "bad" or "difficult".

Types of Communication Disorders

Communication disorders can be broadly classified into four main categories:

Speech disorders: These include conditions such as stuttering, cluttering, and articulation disorders, which affect a person's ability to produce sounds correctly and fluently.
Language disorders: These include conditions such as aphasia, dyslexia, and language delay, which affect a person's ability to understand and use language effectively.
Voice disorders: These include conditions such as vocal cord paralysis, vocal nodules, and laryngitis, which affect the quality, pitch, and volume of a person's voice.
Hearing disorders: These include conditions such as hearing loss, tinnitus, and auditory processing disorder, which affect a person's ability to hear and process sounds correctly.

Related Terms

Speech-language pathology: The field of healthcare that specializes in diagnosing and treating communication disorders.
Audiology: The field of healthcare that specializes in diagnosing and treating hearing disorders.
Speech therapy: A type of therapy that helps individuals improve their speech and language skills.
Audiometry: A test used to measure a person's hearing ability.