title: The relationship of communication disorders to syndrome identification.
abstract: Though birth defects and malformation syndromes often result in serious communication disorders, there has been relatively little input towards the study and delineation of congenital anomalies from speech and hearing sciences. By identifying a particular congenital malformation syndrome, the clinician is able to understand the possible symptoms which may be found in the syndrome, the progression and course of the syndrome, and its eventual prognosis. Understanding the full spectrum of possible symptoms may lead the clinician to search for anomalies which may not be readily apparent on first examination. Knowing a syndrome's progression and course, the clinician can devise realistic treatment plans in terms of both content and timing. Finally, the ability to provide a prognosis allows the clinician to counsel parents and professionals about the expected effects of treatments as well as the course of development. A partial catalogue of speech and hearing disorders associated with over 100 syndromes is included.
mesh_terms: D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005149:Facial Expression; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D011379:Prognosis; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013577:Syndrome