Speech disorder is an all inclusive term for a child who isn’t able to speak, articulate speech effectively or is unable to use speech when needed.

Speech delay in a child prevents the child from being able to speak and use words he/she typically should for his/her age. This is due to a delay in speech milestones in the child.

Speech apraxia is a condition where the child has all the physical elements (oro-motor structures) to speak. But, is unable to use them effectively in order to produce speech sounds adequately.

All three conditions described above refer to problems with speech in general, but with different causes and effects. These are not diseases by themselves and can’t be used to explain a diagnosis for Autism. These conditions can occur in a multitude of other developmental disorders too.

DISCLAIMER: Please note that this guide is for information purposes only. Please consult a qualified health practitioner for safe management.