A short guide on speech disabilities: types, characteristics, barriers, assistive tech, and UX design.

1. Types, Characteristics, Barriers,
Assistive Tech, and UX Design
Speech
Disabilities
A11Y AND INCLUSIVE DESIGN SERIES
@ALENAHUANG

2. This is an introduction to speech disabilities.
Here we will learn about...
1. What are speech disabilities?
2. Types and characteristics
3. Barriers for people with speech disabilities
4. Assistive Technologies
5. UX Design Considerations
Let’s get started!
What will this guide cover?

3. Speech disabilities range from mild slurred
speech to the complete inability to move the
mouth to speak. Disabilities include...
• Articulation Disorder
• Aphasia
• Mutism (No Speech)
What are Speech Disabilities?

4. Types and
Characteristics
Speech Disabilities

5. Articulation speech disorder involves
difficulties in producing specific types of
sounds in speech.
Types of Articulation Disorder include...
• Speech Sound Disorder
• Phonological Process Disorder
• Motor Speech Disorder
Articulation Disorder
TYPES OF SPEECH DISABILITIES

6. Aphasia is defined as impairment of language,
affecting the comprehension or production of
speech and the ability to write and read.
• Mostly due to brain or head injury
• May not be able to recognize words or
understand what is being said
• May have difficulty forming sentences
Aphasia
TYPES OF SPEECH DISABILITIES

7. Mutism is the inability to speak, which can be
caused by damage to brain/speech muscles,
by emotional or psychological reasons, or a
combination of causes.
Types of Mutism include...
• Neurogenic mutism
• Elective mutism
• Selective mutism
• Total mutism
Mutism (No Speech)
TYPES OF SPEECH DISABILITIES

8. Examples of
Barriers
Speech Disabilities

9. Lack of text alternatives for
communication through speech
BARRIER EXAMPLE #1

10. Difficulties speaking to other
people and writing
understandable text
BARRIER EXAMPLE #2

11. Need for repeated exposure to
information before
comprehension and storing
content in long-term memory
BARRIER EXAMPLE #3

12. Examples of
Assistive Tech
Speech Disabilities

13. There are various assistive technologies for
those with speech disabilities including...
• Non-speech inputs
• Articulation aids
• Text-based alternatives
• Electronic communication boards
• Speech apps
Assistive Technologies (AT)

14. UX Design
Considerations
Speech Disabilities

15. • Provide text-based communications for
interactions (chats, emails, contact forms)
• Provide plain simple language in
communication
• Allow for enough time for people to respond
and interact
Forms of Communication
UX DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS