Breakdown of Speech: Causes and remediation

by Nancy R. Milloy

Overview

Be a craftsman in speech, so that thou mayest be strong, for the tongue is a sword, and speech is more valoraus than any fighting. Egyptian Proverb The first duty of a man is to speak; that is his chief business in this world. R. L. Stevensan Memories and Portraits, 1888 Communication is of paramount importance to people. After the 1939-45 war Winston Chur.chill changed from his fighting attitude and advised world planners to adopt 'jaw, nor war'. The present 'glasnost' is also reliant on the power of speech which, when used at its highest level, facilitates understanding. Only human beings possess this power. To illustrate how the acceptance of the automatic nature of speech has come about, consider the following clinical examples. Michael, aged 5;0, is one of identical twins. They have an elder brother of 8;0. Michael has severe cerebral palsy. His brothers are both normal healthy boys. Despite their mother's experience with his brothers, her greatest hope for Michael was to see him walking. However, after recent discussion and consideration of the situation she is now determined to help Michael to learn to communicate by whatever means is avail­ able to him. She has realized that the essence of a person is in being able to express feelings, desires and opinions as well as in being mobile.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780412315503
Publisher:	Springer US
Publication date:	01/01/1991
Series:	Therapy in Practice Series , #20
Edition description:	1991
Pages:	174
Product dimensions:	5.51(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Part 1 Speech v language: working definitions
the vocal tract
the brain
specific characteristics
critical periods of learning. Part 2 Factors which disrupt normal development of speech: genetic conditions—Down's syndrome, other genetic aberrations
structural deviations—cleft palate, other structural anomalies. Part 3 Neurological impairments: developmental dysarthrias—types
dysphagia
feeding techniques
motor schemas
maturation
cerebral palsy. Part 4 Developmental dyspraxias—types: developmental articulatory dyspraxia
immature articulatory dyspraxia. Part 5 Developmental dysfluency: stuttering v dyspraxia
cluttering. Part 6 Developmental voice disorders: due to vocal fold lesions
due to neurological impairment
selective mutism. Part 7 Adult speech: continuing developmental disorders
acquired disorders due to disease or trauma
disorders due to ageing. Part 8 Management of adult speech disorders: normal maintenance
continuing developmental disorders
acquired disorders due to disease or trauma. Part 9 Disorders of resonance: aphonia—current management techniques
disorders associated with ageing. Appendices: basic exercises
space, time and sequencing
oral mechanism and examination
feeding/eating techniques
prosody.

Editorial Reviews

Focuses on speech--the neurophysiological and neuromuscular activities of the human vocal tract as driven by the brain--rather than on language. Explores why the ability to speak does not develop or breaks down, and the therapies to treat the problem. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews