Causes of speech problems : London Health

Speech problems are very common and they can be caused by a number of different factors. Common causes of speech problems include:

Hearing problems: this makes it more difficult for people to produce sounds because normally sounds are learnt by copying other people or replicating the sound when it is heard on the radio or the television
Cleft palate: a cleft palate causes a hole in the roof of the mouth which affects the flow of air through the mouth and nose; this can affect speech
Genetics: many speech problems seem to run in families; a common example of this is a stammer
Orthodontic problems: the positioning of the teeth may alter the way certain sounds are produced
Other health conditions; conditions such as strokes, neurological diseases (such as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease) and injury to the brain
Learning difficulties: people with learning difficulties may cause speech development to be slower than usual

Guide to Hearing and Speech Problems