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If someone suffers from a physical defect or disorder(be it mental or physical) that has made them incapable of speech. Does that by default render them completely unable to form any sounds or noises? For example; growling, whimpering etc. What limitations are there in regards to which sounds they can still utter? Does the form or nature of their deficiency effect this limitation, and if so are there any universal possibilities or impossibilities?

Answer

Dear Jessica,<BR><BR>Thank you for sending your question to AskNSDL.&nbsp;<BR><BR>Generally, the speech process consists of air passing through the vocal folds, which causes them to vibrate.&nbsp;&nbsp;The sounds produced &nbsp;by this vibration are then&nbsp;modified by articulators (tongue, teeth, jaw, lips). The velum controls the resonance of speech by allowing or blocking air passage through the nasopharyngeal cavity and nasal passages.<BR><BR>As long as all these mechanisms are working properly speech can occur. However, if the vocal folds can not close (or adduct), then the air that passes through them will not be able to cause a vibration - thus, no sound.&nbsp;<BR><BR>For example,&nbsp; in a case of total vocal fold paralysis, there could not be&nbsp;growling or whimpering noises&nbsp;because these require vibration of the vocal folds. However, the person could still make sounds, such as clucking (tongue to the roof of the mouth), lip smacking, etc.&nbsp;In these cases, too, the person would probably undergo a tracheotomy to protect the airway. For more information on vocal fold paralysis, see the following article on the website of the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association, <A href=http://www.asha.org/public/speech/">http://www.asha.org/public/speech/</A>: "Vocal Fold Paralysis."<BR><A href=http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/vf_paralysis.htm">http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/vf_paralysis.htm</A><BR><BR>Laryngeal cancer may require the removal of the larnynx, which would essentially remove the sound source. The speech pathologist will then work with the patient to explore alternative means of communication. At first, these will probably be paper and pencil, but then the patient may decide to use esophageal speech or an artificial larynx. For more information, see: "Laryngeal Cancer."<BR><A href=http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/Laryngeal-Cancer.htm">http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/Laryngeal-Cancer.htm</A>&nbsp;<BR><BR>A progressive neurological disease that can eventually completely prevent&nbsp;the patient's ability to vocalize or speak is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.&nbsp;As the disease progresses, the speech muscles in the head/mouth and the&nbsp;&nbsp;muscles for breathing, primarly the diaphragm,&nbsp;&nbsp;weaken and &nbsp;atrophy so much that the person&nbsp;may become incapable of speech.<BR>For more information on ALS, please consult the following article on&nbsp; the website of the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association: "Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis."<BR><A href=http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/Amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis.htm">http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/Amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis.htm</A><BR><BR>Basically, as long as a person can breathe and his/her vocal folds can open and shut; s/he can produce sounds.<BR><BR>I hope this helps.<BR><BR>Joyce http://www.asha.org/public/speech/ http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/vf_paralysis.htm http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/Laryngeal-Cancer.htm http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/Amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis.htm speech<BR> http://vrd.askvrd.org/services/answerschema.xml