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VOLUME 5 , ISSUE 1 ( January-June, 2015 ) > List of Articles

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Age and Sex Distribution of Speech Disorders

Mahdi Al-Dujaily, Sanàa J Abu Nabàa

Citation Information : Al-Dujaily M, Nabàa SJ. Age and Sex Distribution of Speech Disorders. Int J Phonosurg Laryngol 2015; 5 (1):7-14.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10023-1094

Published Online: 01-09-2011

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2015; The Author(s).


Abstract

Background

Speech-language pathology is a specialty in the study, assessment, and rehabilitation of speech-language disorders (or communication disorders) which are common problems that may affect both sexes and all age groups.

Aim

The aim of this study is to raise the attention in Iraq about the role of certified speech pathologists (or speech therapists) in the treatment of patients with communication disorders according to their age and sex distribution, as seen in the phonetic center of University of Jordan.

Patients and methods

Subjects with speech problems, who visited the phonetic center in Jordan University for treatment by certified speech-language pathologists, were analyzed retrospectively during 3 years (1996 to 1998), and it included 731 subjects with speech disorders, consisted of 213 females and 518 males, with a minimum age of 2 years and a maximum age of 72 years.

Results

The most common age presentation of communication disorders varies, and it was found that the major speech and language disorders and their distribution were as follows: delayed language development occurred mainly in age group 3 to 4 years (about 57%), stuttering occurred in 3 to 5 years (about 24%), and in articulation disorder occurred in age group 4 to 6 years with about 42%, and in hearing impaired patients occurred mainly in age group of 2 to 4 years with about 45%, in children with mental retardation occurred in age group of 6 to 8 years with about 29%, voice disorders occurred in age 20 to 29 (25%), nasality problems in age group 3 to 5 years (25%), dyslexia in age group 8 to 10 years (40%), and the cases of apraxia, aphasia, and autism were low in number.

Conclusion

The age and sex distribution of communication disorders varies according to the type of disorder. The speechlanguage pathologists have very important role in the evaluation and treatment of speech language disorders. There is great deficiency of this specialty in this country, and the aim of this article is to ring the bell of attention to these common disorders.

Abbreviations

SLP: Speech-language pathologist; CDs: Communication disorders; DLD: Delayed language development; HIP: Hearing impaired patient; MR: Mental retardation; CP: Cerebral palsy.

How to cite this article

Al-Dujaily M, Nabàa SJA. Age and Sex Distribution of Speech Disorders. Int J Phonosurg Laryngol 2015;5(1):7-14.


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