Speech clarity

Speech is made up of coordination of movement and respiration to make up sounds, syllables, words, and phrases, The accuracy of this relationship is what others hear as speech clarity. Any disruption in the coordination of movenet and breath are categorized into various speech disorders (articulation, phonology, motor planning, fluency, voice and resonance). 

Those born with Down syndrome have anatomical and physiological differences that affect gross and fine motor movements and skeletal differences that also cause voice and resonance differences. Defined as an intellectual disability, Trisomy 21 results in cognitive and language disorders that include imapairements of executive functioning.

Trisomy 21 is a syndrome resulting in a specturum of abilities for each person affected with a unique expression of strengths and weaknesses. Specech and language use  are affected by many aspects of this syndrome, making it complex to treat.Treating speech disorders of those with Down syndrome requires a holistic understanding of motor skills and cognitive abilities that combine to make up the speech of each person born with Down syndrome.

Speech clarity is the term to describe all aspects of a person's speech that others can understand.

Speech clarity is achieved when listeners attend to what a person says instead of how they say it.

Speech is made up of sounds and their combinations to form words. When this does not develop timely, in the expected order and manner, or is lost due to trauma, speech delays and disorders are pursued and treated. 

Conversation requires the exchange of ideas and information with others. It's what makes us human beyond mere survival.  We must have good functional communication to succeed in life and form meaningful relationships.

Connected speech is everything beyond saying one phrase at a time such as during monologues, diaglogs, and conversations. Speech clarity is more likely to breakdown in connected speech due to the infinite combinations of sounds and movements before and after each unit of speech.

Speech characcteristics of voice, resonance, rate, loudness, pitch, and prosody are more likely the culprits of decreased comprehensibility. 

Connected speech requires language and executive functioning skills to apply the rules of syntax, grammar, and semantics to retrieve, plan, and execute speech.

Each voice is as unique as a fingerprint. The WAY we speak says many things about us and often gives others an impression of our knowledge, personality, and heritage. We can help each person Be A Voice; Not an Echo when disordered vocal use is identified and treated.

Fluent speech is the uninterrupted fluid forward flow of speech and language use. This can be disrupted by undesired sound, syllable, word, and phrase repetitions, blocks/pausing, and distortions.   

We have effective therapeutic techniques to reduce the impact these interruptions have on daily life.

How well a person is understood in varying environments with varying listeners and conversational partners.

Speech and language techniques to promote speech clarity, build language skills, and improve executive functioning vary by age. Here you will find resources and insights about ways to best help your child/teen/adult, client, student, or patient improve communication skills at all levels of development and ability.

Speech and language skills require constant use and practice to improve, refine, and maintain. Individual variability of speech skills are high based on the person's genetics, opportunities, family variables, therapies, and need to communicate verbally in many social contexts. Each of these variables determine the effectiveness of speech and language therapies for teens and adults ith Down syndrome. 

These age groups must have access to skills of speech clarity to become independent and successful adults!

Speech Clarity IS Independence!

How well a person is understood in varying environments with varying listeners and conversational partners.