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Speech & Language disabilities are often related, but they are not the same, and one can certainly appear without the other! These disorders can affect people of all ages, from a child with a developmental speech or language issue to an adult struggling after a stroke, other injury, or trauma.

Speech Disorder: a disability affecting how one produces, articulates, and speaks words.

Language Disorder: a disability that may affect one's syntax, speech, comprehension, or reading + writing ability.
(Smith et al., 2018), ("Speech and Language Disorders", n.d., para. 1-2)

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Characteristics for these disorders can look different for children and adults, so it's important to distinguish the signs for each age group.

Signs of a Speech Disorder in Children:
- incorrect sound pronunciation (ex: p, b, m, h, w)
- unclear speech production
- frustration in trying to produce words, repetition, prolonged pronunciation (*disfluency/stuttering signs)
- articulation errors (substitution, omission, distortion, and/or addition)

Signs of a Language Disorder in Children (birth-5 years):
- no social interaction or babbling
- lack of comprehension of spoken language
- limited speech
- difficulty formulating sentences
- spoken words are difficult to understand
- reading difficulties

Signs of a Speech or Language Disorder in Older Children to Adults:
- incorrect sound pronunciation
- slower rate of speech
- stutter
- mouth/speech coordination difficulties
- repetition
- voice disorders (ex: breathy, nasal, or hoarse quality)
- speaking in fragmented phrases with incorrectly ordered words
- difficulty recalling words one wants to speak
- comprehension difficulty in reading, writing, or spelling
("Know the Signs of Speech and Language Disorders", 2023)

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Identifying a Speech/Language Disorder & Service Delivery

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Identifying a Speech/Language Disorder & Service Delivery

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Speech-Language Pathologists are trained to identify and treat speech and language disorders. They can work inside schools, medical facilities, and in private practice; wherever is available and best for the student to work with them. SLP's will work with you through an extensive assessment process to create a treatment or therapy plan. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) describes what this process can look like: "Assessment means 'the ongoing procedures used by qualified personnel to identify the child's unique strengths and needs and the early intervention services appropriate to meet those needs throughout the period of the child's eligibility...and includes the assessment of the child...and the assessment of the child's family' (IDEA, Part C, Section 303.321) ("Assessment and Evaluation of Speech-Language Disorders in Schools", n.d.)".

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Speech Disorders in Children - Childhood Apraxia of Speech - Dysarthtria - Orofacial Myofunctional disorders - Speech Sound disorders - Stuttering - Voice disorders

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There are plenty of options for learning adaptations and accommodations for those with a speech or language disorder. Students with a speech or language disorder can typically stay in a general classroom setting, with accommodations if needed. A student's IEP will help identify accommodations needed to provide the student with the best education possible.

- AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) device: tablet or laptop that typically produces synthesized speech in order to help with communication.
* AAC devices are some of the greatest helpers to those with speech disorders! They also have many different faces, from tablets to digital eye-recognition speech synthesizers!
- allowing silence during class unless absolutely necessary, or accepting verbal responses in a different format
- private presentations/speeches if speaking is necessary
- allowing extra time for responses, exams, etc.
- electronic fluency devices: devices that play a speaker with a stutter's speech back to them, either delayed or in an altered pitch to help improve their fluency.
("Speech Disorders: Common Assistive Technologies", n.d.)

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Behavior Management & Associated Social Strategies, Adaptations, or Accommodations

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Behavior Management & Associated Social Strategies, Adaptations, or Accommodations

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Socially, having a speech or language disorder can generate anxiety in those affected since speech is the primary form of communication. Some people who have a speech/language disorder may also have another disability that impairs their social skills.

- Once again, AAC devices can help those with a speech or language disorder communicate more clearly to others, and/or improve their fluency.
- Working with an SLP is the #1 aid for those struggling with a speech or language disorder. A clinician will set up a treatment plan that is tailored toward an individual's needs, what works for them, and that's designed to help them improve in all areas needed to the best of their ability.
*An SLP can also help with anxiety surrounding speech/language disorders: understanding where fears are coming from can help them know what to include in a treatment plan and what to practice with a patient!

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Reminder for teachers & your students: please always be accommodating, respectful, and kind to those with a speech or language disorder! Having a speech/language disorder does not make anyone less intelligent, competent, or valuable. The only difference between you is simply the way you communicate.

Resources:
- Provides info about how to accommodate instruction, assignments, and participation.
https://www.education.udel.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/LanguageDisorders.pdf\

- Provides info on how to accommodate in-person and virtual classroom settings and associated instruction.
https://www.asha.org/news/2020/how-to-help-children-with-speech-and-language-disorders-in-virtual-and-modified-in-person-classroom-settings/

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- Provides info on how to help your child adjust in in-person and virtual classroom settings.
https://www.asha.org/news/2020/how-to-help-children-with-speech-and-language-disorders-in-virtual-and-modified-in-person-classroom-settings/

- Provides identifying criteria for child speech disorders. https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/childsandl/

- Provides identifying criteria for adult speech disorders. https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/adultsandl/

- Provides causes, identifying criteria, and possible plans of action for child language disorders. https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=language-disorders-in-children-160-238#:~:text=Language%20disorders%20can%20have%20many%20possible%20causes%2C%20such%20as%20a,and%20understanding%20through%20simple%20activities

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Accommodations and instructional strategies. Regents’ Center for Learning Disorders. (n.d.). https://www.rcld.uga.edu/accommodations-and-instructional-strategies

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.-a). Assessment and evaluation of speech-language disorders in schools. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. https://www.asha.org/slp/assessment-and-evaluation-of-speech-language-disorders-in-schools/

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.-b). Speech and language disorders. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/

Libguides: Speech disorders: Common assistive technologies. Common Assistive Technologies - Speech Disorders - LibGuides at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. (n.d.). https://guides.library.illinois.edu/c.php?g=613892&p=4265891

MFB_admin_MFB. (2020, March 12). Augmentative and alternative communication: Devices. Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. https://www.maryfreebed.com/augmentative-communication-provides-options-for-speech

Pin by Myranda Tuck on SLP: Speech language pathology grad school, speech language pathology assistant, school speech therapy. Pinterest. (2022, December 29). https://www.pinterest.com/pin/351912463661142/

Signs of speech and language disorders. Identify The Signs. (2023, March 6). https://identifythesigns.org/signs-of-speech-and-language-disorders/

Smith, D., Tyler, N. & Skow, K. (2018). Introduction to Contemporary Special Education: New Horizons

Therapy & Wellness Connection. (2019, September 17). Top 10 causes of child speech delays and language problems. https://therapyandwellnessconnection.com/speech-therapy/top-10-causes-of-child-speech-delays-and-language-problems/

What is an AAC device?. Lingraphica. (2023, May 12). https://lingraphica.com/aac-devices/what-is-an-aac-device/#:~:text=An%20augmentative%20and%20alternative%20communication,device%20or%20simply%20communication%20device

YouTube. (2018, June 18). Speech-language pathologist career video. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGeXedoJ764