Communication and its disorders: Definition and taxonomy from a phoniatric perspective

Abstract Objective: The aim of the paper is to describe communication sciences and disorders from a phoniatric perspective, i.e. from the point of view of medical doctors involved in the rehabilitation management of a communication disorder. Communication: Communication is a complex behaviour, combining physical and mental events, with the aim of exchanging messages between two or more individuals. Communication is the execution of a task by an individual in his daily life. Different body structures and functions, as well as environmental factors, strongly impact on communication and related activities. Communication disorders: A communication disorder is an impairment in sending and/or receiving a message; it could be the consequence of a disease, a treatment or an environmental situation. There are several professions, both medical and non-medical, involved in the management of patients with a communication disorder. The phoniatrician is the only medical doctor whose focus is the diagnosis and rehabilitation of communication disorders. Taxonomy of communication disorders: There are several diseases, conditions and situations that can lead to a limitation and/or restriction in communication. A list of diseases would be misleading in describing possible communication disorders; it might be more useful to offer a framework of the impaired functions that may lead to a communication disorder. A communication disorder taxonomy based on the direct and indirect impairment of voice, speech, language and hearing functions is presented. Conclusion: The presented taxonomy may contribute to the assessment and management of patients with communication disorders and represents a framework for clinical research in the different disciplines involved in the large field of communication science and disorders.