How Speech and Language Disabilities Affect Online Experiences — and How to Fix Accessibility Gaps

Digital design often focuses on visuals and navigation — but clear, accessible communication matters just as much. People with speech and language disabilities face unique challenges online, from voice-based tools that don’t understand them to text-heavy content that’s hard to process.

Below, we’ll take a closer look at what those disabilities are, how they impact a person’s online experience, and how to build digital content that works for them. Plus, we’ll highlight how AudioEye helps remove communication barriers across the web.

What are Speech and Language Disabilities?

Speech and language disabilities affect a person’s ability to produce, understand, or use language effectively. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), “Speech and communication disorders can result from various causes, including neurological conditions, developmental issues, or physical impairments.”

Common Types of Speech and Language Disabilities

There are many types of speech and language disabilities, each with its own causes and symptoms. Below are some of the most common:

• Aphasia: Difficulty understanding or producing language, often caused by brain injury or stroke.

• Dysarthria: Weakness or paralysis of the muscles used for speech, making words slurred or slow.

• Apraxia: Trouble coordinating the movements needed to speak, even when muscles work normally.

• Dysphagia: Difficulty swallowing that can often affect speech and safe eating or drinking.

• Stuttering: Repetitions, prolongations, or blocks that interrupt the flow of speech.

• Articulation Disorder: Challenges in forming specific sounds correctly. 

• Phonological Disorder: Patterns of sound errors that make speech difficult to understand. 

• Vocal cord paralysis: Loss of movement in one or both vocal cords, affecting voice strength and clarity. 

• Vocal abuse: Overuse or misuse of the voice that leads to hoarseness or strain.

• Vocal Nodules: Small growths on the vocal cords that affect sound quality. 

• Cognitive-Communication Impairment: Problems with attention, memory, or problem-solving that make communication and daily tasks harder.

What Causes Speech and Language Disabilities?

As mentioned above, speech and language disabilities can result from a wide range of neurological, medical, or physical conditions, including:

• Neurological disorders such as stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, ALS, or multiple sclerosis.

• Head and neck cancer or surgery that impacts the structures used for speech and swallowing.

• Development and medical conditions such as intellectual disabilities or physical differences like a cleft palate. 

Each of these conditions can make reading, speaking, writing, and comprehension more difficult, creating unique challenges when using digital tools, online forms, and communication platforms.

Open laptop showing a man wearing glasses; a magnifying glass over an error icon is in the upper left-hand corner and a gear shaft with the accessibility symbol is in the bottom right-hand corner.

How Speech and Language Disabilities Affect Online Experiences

Even with the latest advances in technology, people with speech and language disabilities often encounter barriers when using the internet. These barriers can make everyday online tasks — like filling out forms, participating in video calls, or using voice-activated tools — difficult or frustrating. 

Barriers to Online Communication

• Voice recognition and AI tools: Many websites and apps rely on voice input, such as virtual assistants, voice-to-text features, or automated customer support. Users with speech impairments may find that these tools fail to accurately understand them, limiting their access. 

• Complex text and instructions: Users with language comprehension difficulties may struggle with jargon-heavy content, lengthy instructions, or poorly structured forms, which can lead to confusion and errors. 

• Video and audio content: Online meetings, webinars, or video tutorials often assume smooth verbal participation. Users who stutter, have apraxia, or other speech challenges may feel excluded or anxious about contributing. 

• Interactive forms and chatbots: Automated chatbots that rely on quick, precise responses can be difficult for users who process language differently or require more time to respond.

Real-World Example: Gabby Gifford’s Experience with Aphasia

In 2011, former U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords was critically injured in a shooting that left her with severe brain trauma and resulting aphasia — a condition that impaired her ability to speak and understand language. For individuals with aphasia, everyday communication, including online interactions, can be particularly challenging.

Gabby has expressed frustration with technology that relies heavily on voice input. She has noted that while she understands the content, she struggles to express herself clearly, especially in real-time digital conversations.

Her experience (along with millions of others with aphasia) underscores the importance of designing digital platforms that accommodate users with speech and language disabilities, ensuring they can navigate and interact effectively online.

Common Accessibility Issues that Affect Users with Speech and Language Disabilities

People with speech and language disabilities often encounter online barriers when navigating online content that can make the whole experience frustrating, if not entirely inaccessible. Some of the most common issues include:

• Voice-only authentication: Many websites and apps rely on voice for login or verification. Users with speech impairments may be unable to complete these processes without alternative tools.

• Complex or overly flowery language: Long sentences, jargon, and complicated phrasing can make content difficult to understand for users with language comprehension challenges.

• Forms requiring phone calls or verbal confirmation: Tasks that require spoken responses or phone verification create unnecessary barriers for users who have difficulty speaking. 

• Timed responses in forms, chats, or interactive content: Short time limits on inputs can prevent users who need extra processing or typing time from completing forms or interacting effectively. 

• Lack of captions: Video content without captions excludes users who rely on reading dialogue or instructions rather than hearing them.

• No transcripts: Audio content without transcripts prevents users from accessing information in text format, which may be easier to process. 

• Overly complex navigation structures: Websites with deep menus, unclear headings, or inconsistent navigation can be confusing for users with cognitive or language processing challenges. 

• Poor instructions: Unclear or missing guidance on completing tasks, using tools, or accessing resources increases frustration and error rates. 

Best Practices for Speech and Language Accessibility

Creating an accessible, inclusive digital experience for users with speech and language disabilities requires thoughtful design and practical accommodations. Here are some best practices to follow:

1. Include Alt Text

Alt text provides a written description of images, diagrams, and other visual content. While primarily used for screen readers, alt text also helps users who may have difficulty processing visual or verbal information by giving context in plain language.

2. Include Captions

All video and audio content should include captions. Captions ensure that users who have difficulty understanding spoken language can still access key information. Providing both captions and transcripts improves comprehension and usability.

3. Use Plain Language

Simplify language across all digital content, including forms, instructions, error messages, and web pages. Avoid jargon, idioms, and unnecessarily complex sentence structures. Plain language helps users with language processing challenges understand and complete tasks efficiently.

4. Provide Flexible Authentication Options

Avoid relying solely on voice-based or phone-based authentication. Offer alternatives, such as email verification, text codes, or password recovery options, to accommodate users who have difficulty speaking.

5. Offer Multimodal, User-Friendly Customer Support

Provide support across multiple channels — phone, chat, and email — to ensure all users can reach help in the way that works best for them. Clear instructions, responsive interfaces, and patience are key to supporting users with speech and language disabilities effectively. 

An accessibility symbol is in the middle of a minimalist graphic of earth. People surround the earth, four with glasses and two are smiling.

Stop Guessing. Start Making Your Digital Content More Accessible

Even in a world designed for screens and keyboards, not everyone experiences the web the same way. For people with speech and language disabilities, features that are “normal” (e.g., voice commands, interactive forms, or video instructions) can be frustrating rather than helpful. These challenges aren’t just inconvenient — they can limit participation, create misunderstandings, and leave users feeling excluded. 

That’s where AudioEye comes in. With our three-pronged approach to accessibility, AudioEye removes the guesswork. Our automation tools identify common issues quickly while our Expert Audits uncover nuanced, context-specific barriers that automation alone might miss. Plus, with AudioEye Assurance, you’ll enjoy peace of mind knowing your content is 400% more protected than consulting or automation-only approaches. 

Ready to make your digital content more accessible? Start with a free accessibility scan to uncover barriers. Or schedule a demo to see AudioEye in action.