Symptoms of communication disorders should be reported to a physician. Early diagnosis and treatment of these disorders is likely to yield the best possible outcome for patients.

A physician will perform a complete physical examination and compile a thorough medical history in diagnosing a communication disorder. In some cases, standardized testing may be performed to assess a patient’s communication skills.

In addition, the physician will examine the patient for other conditions. For example, a patient’s hearing will likely be tested because poor hearing is a frequent source of communication difficulties. The physician will also look for neurological conditions (e.g., cerebral palsy), cognitive problems (e.g., mental retardation) and anatomical problems (e.g., cleft palate) that may be causing the patient’s communication disorder. Finally, a physician may test patients for learning disabilities and other conditions that may be related to the communication disorder.

Speech and language therapy is frequently recommended for patients with most types of communication disorders. The outlook of such therapy may vary, depending on the cause and severity of a patient’s disorder. For example, patients with brain injuries or structural anatomical problems may have more difficulty making progress than others.

In addition to speech therapy, children and adolescents with communication disorders also can benefit from tutoring and appropriate school accommodation, which may help improve their academic achievement and social communication.

Patients may also benefit from psychotherapy if emotional or behavioral problems are associated with their communication disorder.