Table of ContentsSummaryIntroductionCauses, EffectsTopic AnalysisConclusionSummaryThis research paper is written in the context of communication disorder. Communication disorder is a condition in which a person loses the ability to send, receive, or process verbal or non-vocal concepts. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is one of the acquired communication disorders. This research paper begins with the introduction of ALS, followed by the causes of ALS. The next part of the research paper explains the effects of ALS on the person suffering from this disease. The role of a speech therapist (SLP) added to the social, educational and professional effects on the routine of people with ALS will be elaborated in the next session. This discussion ends with the answer: "How will I use my knowledge as an OTA/PTA?" Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essayIntroductionAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an acquired communication disorder. It is also known as motor neuron disease (MND). In the United States, the disease is also known as "Lou Gehrig's disease", named after a famous baseball player who died of ALS. ALS is a neurological disorder that causes increasing muscle weakness and eventually paralysis, which in most cases is fatal. This results in degeneration of the upper motor neuron as well as the lower motor neuron, which leads to muscle atrophy throughout the body. The majority of ALS victims died from respiratory failure approximately 3 to 5 years after the first signs and symptoms of ALS appeared. When it comes to the effect of ALS on gender, men are affected more than women. Causes and EffectsCauses: The actual cause of ALS is unknown. Several possible causes are explained in the following section which is based on a review of the literature. Chemical imbalance: The level of the chemical glutamate is higher in people with ALS. Too much glutamate is responsible for some damage to nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Protein hijacking: Certain proteins accumulate abnormally in nerve cells, leading to nerve cell death. Disordered immune response: Sometimes a person's immune system attacks themselves. normal cells in the body that kill their own nerve cells. Genetic mutation: Genetic mutation of the SOD1 gene produces the SOD1 protein. This protein may be responsible for toxic effects on nerve cells. Some studies show that there are certain risk factors for ALS. Smoking is a dose-dependent risk factor for this disease. Exposure to heavy metals is also an important factor. The level of lead and manganese in the blood and spinal fluid also increases the risk. People related to an electromagnetic profession are also at higher risk of ALS. ALS has both upper motor neuron symptoms and lower motor neuron symptoms. Signs and symptoms are usually asymmetric at first. They are therefore on one side of the body and generally progress from distal to proximal muscles. As the disease progresses, the patient loses the ability to control their muscles. This leads to weakness and eventually paralysis. Symptoms can be quite subtle at first and the disease affects everyone differently, which can make diagnosis difficult in some patients. The first signALS is muscle weakness or lack of motor control in the arms and legs. In some people, the disease may first affect the muscles of the throat and tongue, making it more difficult to swallow or speak. In some cases, the respiratory muscles are the first to be affected, leading to shortness of breath. ALS can affect the muscles of the tongue, lips, vocal cords and chest. This results in difficulty speaking and voice fatigue called dysarthria. He also has difficulty chewing, swallowing and vocalizing words. As the disease progresses, the muscles needed for speech become weaker and therefore the patient cannot speak clearly.Subject AnalysisSpeech disorder in ALS: It is characterized by slow, fuzzy and unclear speech. There is a nasal quality to the voice. It becomes soft and weak. The patient has difficulty managing tone, pitch and rhythm of speech. He also has some problems pronouncing certain words. As the disease progresses, a patient may feel exhausted from speaking, particularly later in the day. Role of the speech therapist: The role of the speech therapist is to ensure that the person with ALS maintains their ability to communicate by using compensatory strategies and augmentative and alternative (AAC) communication methods. The speech therapist would assess the speech mechanism, function and swallowing mechanism. It would educate patients, family members, and caregivers on compensatory strategies and tools to improve functioning and quality of life. Thus, the assessment, evaluation and appropriate intervention for individual communication challenges are carried out by the speech-language pathologist. Social, educational and professional effects of this challenge: ALS patients suffer from the greatest communication problems. They lose the ability to communicate with society and feel alone. Emotionally, they are upset because they cannot talk with people and cannot communicate normally. They suffer from various emotions like anger, grief, helplessness and confusion. This affects quality of life. Social interaction and educational opportunities are decreasing day by day for them. The person suffering from this form can understand written things and can also read, but cannot express themselves through speaking, which frustrates them. They may also suffer from apprehension and despair. A sudden cry or laugh is part of the affected person's routine. They face a lot of difficulties when interacting with a people. Social isolation is one of their main problems. They may have fewer educational opportunities because their ability to convey messages is significantly affected. They struggle with job-related goals. When they reach retirement age, they may not get all the benefits because it is very difficult to communicate with others. How will I use this knowledge as an OTA/PTA: I might work with a client with such a communication challenge in rehabilitation centers where people come after an injury to learn new skills or compensatory strategies to accomplish the tasks of daily life. Other places such as long-term care facilities, hospitals, clinical facilities, and speech therapists' offices where I have to communicate with ALS patients with communication difficulties. I can offer myself in all the places mentioned above to serve people suffering from this disease. I would like to use my knowledge and help someone if that..