A Speech Disorder is characterized by which of the following?

• A. Difficulty in reading text fluently.
• B. Difficulty in producing speech sounds, controlling voice production, and maintaining speech rhythm.
• C. A balance disorder causing spinning sensations.
• D. A skin condition affecting the lips.

Answer: (B)

Speech disorders involve how we produce speech, including the actual sounds (articulation), the voice used (phonation), and the rhythm or flow of speech (prosody). The description that mentions difficulties in producing speech sounds, controlling voice production, and maintaining speech rhythm captures all these aspects—articulation problems, voice quality or control issues, and fluency or timing of speech. Reading fluency is about decoding text, not how speech is produced; a balance disorder with spinning sensations points to vertigo or vestibular issues; a skin condition affecting the lips describes a dermatologic problem. So, the option that covers articulation, voice control, and rhythm best describes a speech disorder.