DefinitionSpeech disorders refer to several conditions in which a person has difficulty communicating by mouth.See also: Speech impairmentAlternative NamesArticulation deficiency; Voice disorders; DisfluencyCauses, incidence, and risk factorsSpeech is one of the primary ways we communicate with those around us. It is an effective way to monitor normal growth and development as well as to identify potential problems.Disfluencies are rhythm disorders that are usually characterized by the repetition of a sound, word, or phrase. Stuttering is perhaps the most serious disfluency.Articulation deficiencies involve sounds made incorrectly or inappropriately.Voice disorders involve abnormalities in the quality, pitch, and loudness of the sound.There are many potential causes of speech impairment. T