Disorders we treat in speech therapy
An overview of the disorders we treat at our practices — briefly explained, with further sources. This overview does not replace diagnostics; if you have questions about your individual situation, we're happy to advise you in person.
Articulation disorders
Children pronounce individual sounds incorrectly, omit them, or replace them with others (e.g. saying "tat" instead of "cat"). Affects phonetic-phonological development and is one of the most common reasons for presentation in childhood.
Source: Deutscher Bundesverband für Logopädie e.V. (o. D.). Aussprachestörungen.
Language development disorders
The acquisition of vocabulary, grammar and/or language comprehension is noticeably delayed or deviates compared with children of the same age — often several language levels are affected at once.
Source: Grohnfeldt, M. (Hrsg.). (2017). Grundwissen der Sprachheilpädagogik und Sprachtherapie. Kohlhammer.
Late talkers
Children who, at around 24 months, have a vocabulary of fewer than 50 words and are not yet forming two-word sentences. Some of these children catch up on their own, while others go on to develop a language development disorder.
Source: Deutscher Bundesverband für Logopädie e.V. (o. D.). Späte Sprachentwicklung (Late Talker).
Dysgrammatism (grammar acquisition disorders)
Difficulties acquiring grammatical rules — for example with sentence structure, verb placement, inflection, or the use of articles and prepositions.
Source: Grohnfeldt, M. (Hrsg.). (2007). Lehrbuch der Sprachheilpädagogik und Logopädie. Kohlhammer.
Vocabulary acquisition disorders
Active and/or passive vocabulary develops more slowly or differently than expected for the child's age — children understand or use noticeably fewer words than their peers.
Source: Deutscher Bundesverband für Logopädie e.V. (o. D.). Sprachentwicklungsstörungen.
Language comprehension disorders
Spoken language is not understood as expected for the child's age — this can affect individual words, sentence structures or more complex contexts, and often also impacts school performance.
Source: Grohnfeldt, M. (Hrsg.). (2017). Grundwissen der Sprachheilpädagogik und Sprachtherapie. Kohlhammer.
Orofacial dysfunctions / myofunctional disorders
A disrupted interplay of the muscles of the mouth, tongue and face — for example due to an incorrect resting tongue position or swallowing pattern. Can affect articulation, tooth position and jaw development, and occurs in both children and adults.
Source: Deutscher Bundesverband für Logopädie e.V. (o. D.). Myofunktionelle Störungen.
Fluency disorders (stuttering, cluttering)
In stuttering, the flow of speech is interrupted by repetitions, prolongations or blocks; in cluttering, speech is rushed and unclear. Both can begin in childhood and persist into adulthood.
Source: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Phoniatrie und Pädaudiologie. (o. D.). S2k-Leitlinie: Redeflussstörungen – Stottern, Poltern. AWMF.
Auditory processing disorder (APD)
Despite normal peripheral hearing, it is difficult to process, distinguish or assign acoustic signals — with effects on language development, attention and school learning.
Source: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Phoniatrie und Pädaudiologie. (o. D.). Leitlinie: Auditive Verarbeitungs- und Wahrnehmungsstörungen (AVWS). AWMF.
Voice disorders (dysphonia)
The voice sounds hoarse, rough, strained, or tires quickly — either organic (e.g. vocal fold nodules) or functional (e.g. due to vocal overuse), in both children and adults.
Source: Deutscher Bundesverband für Logopädie e.V. (o. D.). Stimmstörungen.
Dyslexia (reading and spelling disorder)
Marked, persistent difficulty learning to read and/or spell that cannot be explained by intelligence, teaching, or sensory impairment.
Source: Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wissenschaftlichen Medizinischen Fachgesellschaften. (o. D.). Leitlinie: Lese-Rechtschreibstörung. AWMF.
Aphasia (language disorder)
An acquired language disorder following brain damage — usually after a stroke — that can affect language comprehension, word finding, sentence formation, reading and/or writing. Intelligence remains unaffected.
Source: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurologie. (o. D.). Leitlinie: Rehabilitation aphasischer Störungen nach Schlaganfall. AWMF.
Dysarthria (speech disorder)
A neurologically caused disorder of speech motor control — breathing, voicing, articulation and speech melody are impaired by damage to the nervous system, for example after a stroke or in Parkinson's disease.
Source: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurologie. (o. D.). Leitlinie: Dysarthrie. AWMF.
Dysphagia (swallowing disorder)
Swallowing saliva, liquid or food is difficult or unsafe — with a risk of aspiration and malnutrition. Common after a stroke, in neurological conditions, or in old age.
Source: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurologie. (o. D.). Leitlinie: Neurogene Dysphagie. AWMF.
Apraxia of speech
An acquired disorder of the planning and programming of speech movements following brain damage — those affected know what they want to say, but articulation does not succeed reliably.
Source: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurologie. (o. D.). Leitlinie: Sprechapraxie. AWMF.
Questions about a specific disorder?
We're happy to advise you on whether speech therapy treatment makes sense and what the path there looks like.