Below are the most common types of speech disorders we treat at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center:

• Alaryngeal speech is achieved following a laryngectomy through the use of an external vibratory source such as an electrolarynx or an internal vibratory source such as that created by a tracheoesophageal puncture. 
   
• Apraxia (also known as verbal apraxia or dyspraxia) is a speech disorder in which a person has difficulty producing speech accurately and consistently for reasons other than weakness or paralysis of the muscles that control speech. Typically, people with apraxia/dyspraxia demonstrate difficulty with the motor-planning component of speech. 
   
• Articulation disorders affecting speech sound production are characterized by the substitution, omission or distortion of sounds. 
   
• Dysarthria is the imperfect articulation of speech caused by disturbances of muscular control that result from damage to the brain or nerves. 
   
• Stuttering is a speech disorder in which the normal flow of speech is interrupted by frequent repetitions or prolongations of speech sounds, syllables or words, or by an individual's inability to start a word. These interruptions may be accompanied by blinks, tremors of the lips or jaw, or other signs of effort.