The Role of Speech-Language Pathologists in Communication Disorders

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Background: speech-language (or communication) disorders are common problems that
may affect all age groups. The speech-language pathology is the specialty concerned with
assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of speech disorders, which is well-established in
developed countries and to a lesser extent in few Arab countries as in Jordan and Egypt,
but it is not available, in terms of certified subjects, in this country (Iraq).
Objective: To raise the attention in this country about the role of certified speech
pathologists (or speech therapists) in habilitation/rehabilitation of patients with
communication disorders, as seen in the phonetic center of University of Jordan.
Methods: Subjects with speech problems, who visited the phonetic center in Jordan
University for speech assessment and treatment by certified speech-language
pathologists, were analyzed retrospectively during three years 1996-1998, 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: Delayed language development, stuttering, articulation, and hearing impaired
patients speech disorders constituted about 80% of the cases, the rest of the speech
problems included mental handicap, voice/nasality problems, dyslexia, apraxia, aphasia,
and autism.
Conclusion: The speech-language pathologists have very important role in the diagnosis
and habilitation/rehabilitation 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.