language and speech
. Khalid bin Hassan Al-Malki * Phoniatrics is a medical specialization concerned with diseases of voice, language, speech and swallowing (European Speech Doctors Association). This medical specialty was born in 1905 when Herman Gutzman, the father, the first professor in speech medicine, gave a lecture entitled ( Speech Disorders as Object of Clinical Teaching) at the University of Berlin, and this medical specialization began under the name (Phoniatrics) from Berlin (Hermann Gutzmann, Jr.) and Vienna (Emile Forschels) since 1920 AD and then spread to Europe and the rest of the world, and currently this specialization officially sponsors the World Association of Doctors And Speech Professionals (IALP).
Understanding the nature of this medical specialization and the nature and quality of the origin differ from one country to another. In countries such as Germany, Sweden and Egypt, speech medicine stands as a separate medical specialty, but in many countries it is hardly known, and it is a specialty recognized in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, And this specialization takes its roots mainly from the ear, nose and throat specialization in addition to other specialties such as psychiatry and neurology, and the speech doctor has the authority to make laryngoscopes and to prescribe medications in his field of specialization.
As previously, speech medicine means four branches, the first of which are Voice Disorders with all types and their three causes: organic diseases of the voice, such as paralysis of vocal folds, inorganic sound diseases such as vocal weakness, and minor lesions associated with hoarseness such as the fusion of the ropes (vocal cords) vocal Voice diseases are evaluated by several means, the most important of which is the laryngostroboscopy. These diseases are treated with Voice Therapy sessions or with surgery or both, and when needed for surgery, the patient is referred to the voice surgeon to perform the necessary surgery.
The second branch of specialization is Language Disorders and Disorders with its two main types: Delayed language development in children, and Dysphasia in adults. Delayed language development in children causes several diseases or disorders, including: cerebral palsy, intellectual retardation, autism, disease Distraction, hyperactivity, auditory impairment, as well as delayed language growth of unknown cause, and may be accompanied by other diseases and disorders such as poor academic achievement, language diseases and disorders are treated with language therapy sessions and drug therapy in some cases, and with specific devices such as hearing aids in cases Hearing impairment, after referring it to a doctor or audiologist.
The third branch is Speech Disorders with its five main types: Stuttering, Cluttering, Hypemasality, Misarticulation or Dyslalia, and Dysarthria, and addresses speech disorders and disorders with sessions. Speech Therapy or surgery in some cases, by plastic surgeon and maxillofacial surgeon, as in cases of open beetle.
The fourth branch of speech medicine is Swallowing Disorders and disorders, and it is evaluated by several methods, the most important of which are the nasopharyngoscopy (FEES) and fluoroscopic examination (MBS). These diseases are treated with Swallowing Therap, medication, or surgery in some areas. Cases, in coordination with the chest surgeon or specialist surgeons.
Consultant Speech Medicine
Supervisor of Speech and Swallowing Diseases Unit
King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Riyadh
