Speech or Language Impairment

	PARENTS

Speech and language disorders refer to problems in communication and related areas such as oral motor function. These problems range from simple sound substitutions to the inability to understand or use language or use the oral-motor mechanism for functional speech and feeding. Causes of speech and language disorders include hearing loss, neurological disorders, brain injury, mental retardation, drug abuse, physical impairments such as cleft lip or palate, and vocal abuse or misuse. Frequently, however, the cause is unknown.

Educational Implications

Because of the way the brain develops, it is easier to learn language and communication skills before the age of five. Speech-language pathologists assist children who have communication disorders in various ways:

therapy for the child
consultation with the child's teacher about effective ways to facilitate communication in the classroom setting
family counseling to develop goals and techniques for effective therapy in class and at home
assistance to vocational teachers and counselors in establishing communication goals related to the work experience of students
suggestions for strategies specific to transition form school to employment and adult life.

Characteristics

A child's communication is considered delayed when the child is noticeably behind his or her peers in the acquisition of speech and/or language skills.

Speech disorders refer to difficulties producing speech sounds or problems with voice quality. Characteristics may include:

interruption in the flow or rhythm of speech such as stuttering (known as dysfluency);
trouble forming sounds (called articulation or phonological disorders);
difficulties with the pitch, volume, or quality of the voice;
trouble using some speech sounds, such as saying "see" when they mean "ski."

A language disorder is an impairment in the ability to understand and/or use words in context, both verbally and nonverbally. Characteristics include:

improper use of words and their meanings;
inability to express ideas;
inappropriate grammatical patterns;
reduced vocabulary and inability to follow directions.

IDEA Definition


	Speech or language impairment means a communication disorder such as stuttering, impaired articulation, a language impairment, or a voice impairment that adversely affects a child's educational performance.

Info


	For more detailed information, visit NICHCY.

Incidence

More than one million of the students served in the public schools' special education programs in the 2000-2001 school year were categorized as having a speech or language impairment. Not included in this estimate are children who have speech/language problems secondary to other conditions such as deafness. Language disorders may be related to other disabilities such as mental retardation, autism, or cerebral palsy. It is estimated that communication disorders (including speech, language, and hearing disorders) affect one of every 10 people in the United States.