NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence - Translational Centre for Speech Disorders

Why research the causes of speech and language disorders? 

Speech and language disorders are common. 

One in five Australian children start school with a speech or language disorder. Some children will grow out of it, but others will have persistent communication difficulties.

Speech and language disorders often run in families. 

This suggests there may be genes that make it more likely a person will have a speech or language disorder.  

Genetic causes of speech and language disorders. 

We know that speech and language disorders arise from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. In recent years, we have learned that genetic factors play a significant role in speech and language.

Understanding the causes of speech and language disorders will improve developments in treatment.

Over the past five years, innovative work completed by our first Centre of Research Excellence in Speech and Language has expanded the field from two causative genes for severe speech disorder to over 30 genes. Our research also identified that as many as one in three children with severe speech disorder (speech apraxia) may receive a genetic diagnosis for their condition.

National and international experts from the Translational Centre for Speech Disorders will collaborate to further study the neurobiology genetic and brain basis of severe speech disorders to better understand the causes.

Learning more about the genetic and brain bases of speech disorders will help transform diagnosis and prognosis and enable precision therapies to improve long-term outcomes for children with speech disorders.

More information

• Centre of Research Excellence – Translational Centre for Speech Disorders
  
  

Contact us

CRE Translational Centre for Speech Disorders
Murdoch Children's Research Institute 
The Royal Children's Hospital 
50 Flemington Road 
Parkville VIC 3052, Australia 

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