Exceptional Children and Disability Information
Speech and Language Impairments
Speech and Language Impairments Topic Categories
Introduction to NAPCSE's Speech & Language Impairments Page
Speech or language impairment (SLI) means a communication disorder, such as stuttering, impaired articulation, language impairment, or a voice impairment, that adversely affects a child's educational performance.
Speech and language disorders refer to problems in communication and related areas such as oral motor function. These delays and disorders range from simple sound substitutions to the inability to understand or use language or use the oral-motor mechanism for functional speech and feeding. Some 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.
Some of the causes of speech and language disorders are related to hearing loss, short memory span, cerebral palsy and other neuromuscular disorders, severe head injuries, stroke, viral diseases, certain drugs, physical impairments such as cleft lip or palate, and inadequate speech and language models in the home environment. The majority of voice disorders in children usually result from frequent vocal abuse associated with excessive throat clearing, coughing screaming, or yelling. This abuse can cause inflammation of the larynx (vocal cords), or the formation of nodules and polyps, which are small growths, on the vocal cords. Allergies, smoking, and the consumption of alcoholic beverages are other factors which may adversely affect the larynx (vocal cords) resulting in varying degrees of voice disorder.
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. This estimate does not include 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 .
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. Sometimes a child will have greater receptive (understanding) than expressive (speaking) language skills, but this is not always the case.
Speech disorders refer to difficulties producing speech sounds or problems with voice quality. They might be characterized by an interruption in the flow or rhythm of speech, such as stuttering, which is called Dysfluency. Speech disorders may be problems with the way sounds are formed, called articulation or phonological disorders, or they may be difficulties with the pitch, volume or quality of the voice. There may be a combination of several problems. People with speech disorders have trouble using some speech sounds, which can also be a symptom of a delay. They may say "see" when they mean "ski" or they may have trouble using other sounds like "l" or "r." Listeners may have trouble understanding what someone with a speech disorder is trying to say. People with voice disorders may have trouble with the way their voices sound.
A language disorder is an impairment in the ability to understand and/or use words in context, both verbally and nonverbally. Some characteristics of language disorders include improper use of words and their meanings, inability to express ideas, inappropriate grammatical patterns, reduced vocabulary and inability to follow directions. One or a combination of these characteristics may occur in children who are affected by language learning disabilities or developmental language delay. Children may hear or see a word but not be able to understand its meaning. They may have trouble getting others to understand what they are trying to communicate.
Because all communication disorders carry the potential to isolate individuals from their social and educational surroundings, it is essential to find appropriate timely intervention. While many speech and language patterns can be called "baby talk" and are part of a young child's normal development, they can become problems if they are not outgrown as expected. In this way an initial delay in speech and language or an initial speech pattern can become a disorder which can cause difficulties in learning. Because of the way the brain develops, it is easier to learn language and communication skills before the age of 5. When children have muscular disorders, hearing problems or developmental delays, their acquisition of speech, language and related skills is often affected.
Speech-language pathologists assist children who have communication disorders in various ways. They provide individual therapy for the child; consult with the child’s teacher about the most effective ways to facilitate the child’s communication in the class setting; and work closely with the family to develop goals and techniques for effective therapy in class and at home. The speech-language pathologist may assist vocational teachers and counselors in establishing communication goals related to the work experiences of students and suggest strategies that are effective for the important transition from school to employment and adult life.
Technology can help children whose physical conditions make communication difficult. The use of electronic communication systems allow nonspeaking people and people with severe physical disabilities to engage in the give and take of shared thought.
Vocabulary and concept growth continues during the years children are in school.
Reading
and writing are taught and, as students get older, the understanding and use of language becomes more complex. Communication skills are at the heart of the education experience. Speech and/or language therapy may continue throughout a student’s school years either in the form of direct therapy or on a consultant basis.
Many speech problems are developmental rather than physiological, and as such they respond to remedial instruction. Language experiences are central to a young child's development. In the past, children with communication disorders were routinely removed from the regular class for individual speech and language therapy. This is still the case in severe instances, but the trend is toward keeping the child in the mainstream as much as possible. In order to accomplish this goal, teamwork among the teacher, speech and language therapist, audiologist, and parents is essential. Speech improvement and correction are blended into the regular classroom curriculum and the child's natural environment.
NAPCSE provides its members with numerous resources on speech and language impairments. These can all be accessed by scrolling down the page.
Acronyms, Abbreviations, Definitions
- Acronyms, Abbreviations, Definitions
- Overview of various activities
- Speech Paths-Speech Paths is a speech pathology community resource providing resources and information to speech language pathologists and related medical specialties including audiology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, respiratory therapy and dysphagia clinicians.
Speech Therapy Activities-This site has a variety of printable activities and ideas for different ages, all FREE! Help yourself and share with your colleagues. Parents are also encouraged to enjoy the activities.
- American sign language browser
- American Sign Language
- Anatomy & Physiology of the Larynx
- Aphasia-Overview
- Aphasia Community Groups
- Aphasia Overview
- Aphasia in Adults: Recent Research
- Aphasia Power Point Presentation
- Aphasia Therapy in the New Millenium
- Diagnosing Primary Progressive Aphasia
- Effective Tools for Family Education
- Primary Progressive Aphasia
- Booklets, Books, and Newsletters on Aphasia: Appropriate for individuals with aphasia, their families, and professionals.
- Apraxia
- Apraxia in Adults
- Apraxia of Speech
- Apraxia of Speech-signs and symptoms
- Apraxia, Hypernasality and Velophayrngeal Incompetence (VPI)
- Characteristics of Children with Apraxia of Speech
- Childhood Apraxia of Speech
- Do children with apraxia often have velopharyngeal problems or other structural issues that impede their speech?"
Articulation (Speech) Disorder
- Overview
- Articulation Disorders- signs and symptoms
- Overview
- The Uses and Misuses of Processing Tests
- Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) — An Overview
- Auditory Processing Disorder in Children
- Basic Principles of Auditory Processing Disorder
- Central Auditory Processing (CAP)
- Central Auditory Processing Disorder — An Overview
- central auditory processing disorder
- central auditory processing disorder-aboutCAPD
- Central Auditory Processing Disorders (CAPD's)
- Central Auditory Processing Disorders-signs and symptoms
- Treatment For Central Auditory Processing Problems
- Cleft Lip and Palate Resource
- Speech & Language Milestone Chart
- Speech and Language Developmental Milestones
- Speech developmental norms
- Speech language milestones
Developmental Delays in Speech and Language
- Delayed speech and language development
- Delays and Disorders
- Developmental Speech and Language Disorders
- Developmental Speech Apraxia Resources
- Speech Development
- Late Blooming or Language Problem?
- Speechdelay
- Treatment of Dysarthria in Children
- Dysphagia
- Swallowing Disorders in Children
- New Visions (Feeding and Swallowing Resource)
- Expressive language disorder – developmental
- Mixed receptive-expressive language disorder
- FAQ about speech and Language Disorders
- Frequently Asked Questions from Parents of Children Recently Diagnosed with Apraxia of Speech
- Questions and Answers About Aphasia
- Questions and Answers about Child Language
- Questions/Answers About Voice Problems
- Fact Sheet: Hypernasality: A Treatable Speech Disorder
- How Do We Learn Language?
- How to Help Your Child Get the Most Out of Speech Therapy
- How to Think About a Speech/Language Evaluation
- Language and the Adolescent
- Language Disorders and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Low Cost Speech Therapy
- Signs and symptoms of speech and language disorders
- Taking Care of Your Voice
- SpeechTeach provides information for students, parents & professionals regarding topics of interest in speech/language pathology, including book recommendations, useful web links and answers to frequently asked questions(FAQ's).
- Spoken Language Problems
- Students Who May Have Word Finding Difficulties
- What is a language disorder?
- What is a speech disorder?
- What is a Speech/Language Specialist?
- What Is Voice? What Is Speech? What Is Language?
- Speech & language, literacy and inclusion
- American Academy of Audiology
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
- Canadian Association of Speech and Language Pathologists
- National Aphasia Association
- National Center for Voice and Speech (NCVS)
- National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association (NSSLHA)
- National Stuttering Association
- The National Coalition on Auditory Processing Disorders
Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders
- Phonological Principles
- Receptive language disorders-signs and symptoms
Resource Guide to Support Classroom Teachers Resources to use in the Classroom
Semantic and Pragmatic Difficulties
Sensory integration and motor disorders-signs and symptoms
- Spasmodic Dysphonia-Overview
- Spasmodic Dysphonia-About
- Early childhood stuttering
- Stuttering
- Stuttering-Overview
Stuttering-About - The Stuttering Homepage
- Research and Comment from the Researchers at East Carolina University on stuttering
Traumatic Brain Injury: Cognitive and Communication Disorders
- Vocal Abuse and Misuse
- Vocal Cord Paralysis
- Voice problems in childrenxcellent list
- classroom accommodations
- related to residential life
- on college campus
- PDF file -classroom accommodations
- interesting list
