Speech is a person's main mode of communication which develops almost at the same time as the other signs of growth and development become evident. Stuttering is one of the most common and severe disorders that is manifested when a child exhibits uncontrollable repetition of words, sounds or phrases. Along with these features, tension in the voice or sounds, head jerking and eye blinking while talking may also be observed. Causes may range from changes in physical formation or shape of muscles and bones involved in sound production and articulation, to cerebral palsy or other related conditions involving damage to nerves and parts of the brain organizing to control speech.

Voice disorders arise with stress or difficulty of air passage through the lungs, vocal cords, throat, nose, mouth and lips. These disorders usually root from conditions damaging the nerves supporting the muscles for vocal cords, cancer of the throat, cleft palate or palate problems, acid moving up from the stomach and noncancerous groups such as nodules, cysts, polyps, papillomas or ulcers, laryngeal webs or clefts. Observable symptoms include voice hoarseness or raspiness, sudden changes in voice pitch and running out of air mid-sentence.

There are several exams and tests that aid in diagnosis of such disorders such as hearing tests, the Denver Articulation Screening Examination, Early Language Milestone Scale and the Denver II Test. Lighter types of phonological disorders may disappear on their own; the diagnosis usually depends on the cause of the disorder. Speech may be enhanced with speech therapy wherein the child will discover how to generate certain sounds.

Psychosocial difficulty often arises with ineffective communication for children with speech disorders. Intellectual disability and hearing loss often result in speech disorders. It is advised that children with higher risk see an audiologist for an exam and audiological and speech therapy. Through speech therapy, communication is enhanced by improving synchronization of speech muscles through strengthening workout such as pushing the tongue against a tongue depressor, training activities that use sound repetition and simulation, improving the communication linking the brain and the body via visual and auditory aids such as mirrors and tape recorders, and influency through breathing exercises.

Every child that goes through speech therapy responds in a different way depending on individual abilities and disabilities. Several factors such as frequency and consistency of therapy, severity of the problem, and the consistency of help at home determine the duration speech therapy is needed. Through speech therapy, children are observed with an improvement in the ability to comprehend and convey thoughts, ideas and feelings. More effective problem solving proficiency, improved vocal quality, greater self-esteem, increased independence, enhanced practical social skills and school preparedness.