Speech or Language Impairment

Michelle McCowan

First a Quick Review!What is Speech?

Ideas, feelings, and thoughts expressed orally through a series of complex muscle movements in the head, neck, chest, and abdomen that produce decodable sounds.

What is Language? The expression of human

communication through which knowledge and behavior can be experienced, explained, and shared.

Based on systematic, conventionally used signs, sounds, or gestures that convey understood meanings within a group or community.

Did You Know?By the first grade roughly 5% of children have noticeable speech disorders.Between 6 & 8 million individuals in the U.S. have some form of language impairment.

What is a Speech or Learning Impairment?

Under the IDEA definition, a speech or language impairment is a communication disorder such as stuttering, impaired articulation, a language impairment, or a voice impairment that adversely affects a child’s educational performance.

What’s the Difference?Speech Disorder

Children who have trouble producing speech sounds correctly

Children who hesitate or stutter when talking

Children who have difficulty putting sounds and syllables together in the correct order to form words (Apraxia)

Language Disorder Children who have

trouble understanding what others say (receptive language)

Children who have difficulty sharing their thoughts (expressive language)

Children who have a specific language impairment (SLI)

Types of DisordersSpeech

Childhood Apraxia of Speech

Dysarthria Orofacial Myofunctional

Disorders Speech Sound Disorders:

Articulation and Phonological Processes

Stuttering Voice

Language Language-Based

Learning Disabilities Preschool Language

Disorders Selective Mutism

Medical & Developmental Conditions

ADHD Autism Cleft Lip and Palate Right Hemisphere Brain

Injury Traumatic Brain Injury

CharacteristicsCommunication

Frequently do not perform at grade level and have difficulty with tests

Struggle with reading

Have difficulty understanding and expressing language

Misunderstand social cues

Avoid attending school

Show poor judgment

Language Difficulty in learning to listen,

speak, read, or write

Have difficulty using language to communicate, think, and learn

Exhibit problems in the production, comprehension, and awareness of language sounds, syllables, words, sentences, and conversation

Learning Strategies

Speech

• Consult a speech language pathologist before planning assignments and activities.

• Anticipate areas of difficulty and involve the student in problem-solving.• Provide assistance and positive reinforcement when the student shows the ability to do something unaided.

• Use a peer-buddy system when appropriate.

Language

• Focus on interactive communication & use tactile and visual cues.• Have a speech therapist present language units to the entire class.• Be aware of the student’s functioning level in auditory skills, semantics, word recall, syntax, phonology and pragmatics.

• Work at the student’s pace.

Academics &

Behavior

• Reduce unnecessary classroom noise.• Allow more time for the student to complete assignments and tests.• Have routines that the student can follow.• Use augmentative communication systems to ensure that nonverbal students and students with severe physical disabilities have effective ways to communicate.

• Ensure that the student has access to their communication system across all contexts, all the time.

Additional Resources

http://www.asha.org/

• Activities to encourage speech and language development:

• http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/Parent-Stim-Activities.htm

http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/

• Directory of Organizations:

• http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/directory/

http://www.do2learn.com

• Learning Strategies:

• http://www.do2learn.com/disabilities/CharacteristicsAndStrategies/SpeechLanguageImpairment_Strategies.html