Understanding the Cognitive Causes of Speech Disorders

Speech and communication are complex, nuanced skills. They are physical in nature. Your mouth, your tongue, your vocal cords, and the muscles in your throat move in specific ways to produce recognizable sounds.

However, there is also a mental process happening at the same time—one that does not necessarily register during everyday communication but nevertheless impacts it heavily. You don’t consciously know all of the skills your brain is leveraging to form a simple sentence, but they are happening in the background nonetheless.

While many people are able to communicate effectively without ever needing to contemplate the cognitive process behind it, mental barriers to speech are common at every stage of life. They do not indicate a generalized lack of mental acuity. They are simply an indication that something in the communication process has become slightly mismanaged.

The cognitive barriers to speech disorders are not easy to tackle. In this article, we take a look at what they are, why they happen, and how speech-language pathologists help make them more manageable.

How Cognitive Foundations Impact Speech

There are several core functions of speech-related communication that are rooted in cognitive processing. These include:

• Attention to detail
• Memory
• Executive functioning
• Processing speed
• Metacognition

There are some big words and less commonly used phrases in this mix, but it essentially boils down to a simple idea. When you’re communicating with someone, you need immediate recall of the context of the conversation. You need to be able to keep track of what the other person is saying, what you want to say, and where the conversation is headed.

You also need to be able to focus on details while processing information at a speed that matches the pace of the conversation. In addition, you need to be able to self-monitor the quality of communication. Sometimes this means asking for clarification, acknowledging when you’ve misspoken, or recognizing when you’re out of your depth.

Individuals without significant communication barriers perform these cognitive functions automatically, usually without noticing them at all. However, there are a wide range of reasons why someone might struggle with the mental components of communication.

Common Causes of Cognitive-Related Speech Interruption

Some people are born unable to fully grasp the mental aspects of effective speech-related communication. This does not necessarily mean that they cannot speak at all, but rather that they struggle to communicate with the pace or clarity that typical conversations require.

Others develop barriers to speech as a result of life circumstances. For example, a head injury can create speech-related challenges. Stroke is a very common cause of speech difficulty. Memory-related illnesses, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, are also common causes of speech impairment.

Because the causes of cognitive-related speech issues are so broad, it is not uncommon for otherwise healthy individuals to require the services of a speech-language pathologist at some point in their lives.

Are Cognitive-Related Speech Issues Treatable?

Here’s the good news. Both cognitive- and physical-related speech issues are very treatable. Of course, individual outcomes will vary based on the extent of the disability, the method of treatment, and the overall level of effort that goes into managing the skills.

That said, speech challenges of all kinds often end up being far more susceptible to treatment than most people initially assume.

The first and most important step is to seek out the services of a speech-language pathologist. Depending on the context, these services may be free or significantly more affordable than you might expect. In school settings, for example, speech-language pathology is often an integrated component of special education services. It is also a common element of senior care.

How speech-language pathologists treat cognitive-related speech barriers will vary based on both the condition and the individual. However, they will generally work with the patient to develop exercises that strengthen context-related memory and improve processing speed. With time and repetition, many people experience meaningful improvements in their ability to communicate.

Environmental Support Matters

Even with the most proactive and intensive treatment approaches, a person will typically only spend a few hours per week with a speech-language pathologist. Most of the work ultimately happens outside of therapy.

If you or a loved one is struggling with cognitive-related barriers to speech, it’s important to remember that repetition is the most critical part of the process. As a family member or ally, your role is to support the individual and help practice the skills they are learning in therapy with patience, grace, and kindness.

This is often a difficult and rarely linear process. Some days, progress will feel strong and noticeable. Other days, it may feel like starting from the ground up. That’s okay. This kind of fluctuation is very normal. What matters most is remembering that you are building toward improvement, even when progress isn’t immediately visible.

Conclusion

Barriers to speech and communication, no matter how big or small, can have a serious impact on a person’s quality of life. Not only can they limit the ability to express thoughts and connect with others, but they can also affect confidence, increase anxiety, and contribute to depression.

There is a path forward. When people commit to the process, seek appropriate help, and practice speech-related skills consistently, improvement does occur. Perfection or complete mastery may not always be possible, but some level of progress is highly likely.

Do not feel hopeless. Seek help, commit to the process fully, and keep going.