Which disorder affects a person's ability to communicate effectively?

The chosen answer identifies a communication disorder as a condition that significantly impacts a person's ability to communicate effectively. Communication disorders encompass a range of issues that can affect various aspects of communication, including speech, language, social communication, and hearing. These disorders can manifest as difficulties in expressing thoughts verbally, understanding language, using language in social contexts, or articulating words clearly, which directly influences a person's ability to engage in effective communication.

In contrast, while learning disabilities and developmental disorders can also affect communication indirectly, they encompass broader issues that may include learning or cognitive challenges in addition to communication difficulties. A speech delay specifically refers to a slower than expected development of speech, which is a subset of communication disorders but does not represent the full scope. Thus, identifying communication disorder as the answer accurately encapsulates the central issue of impaired communication ability.