What to do if you suspect a

problem
The first step in evaluating the problem is to rule out a

A child with
speech and
language
disability may
have difficulty
with:

Understanding
what gestures
mean.
Following
directions

hearing problem. Hearing issues are a common cause of

language problems. If no hearing issues are found, and
youre still concerned about your childs language
development, you can seek an evaluation from a
speech-language pathologist (also called a speech
therapist). There several ways to do this:

Seek professional help privately. Speech-language

evaluations may be provided at low cost or for free by
local universities that train speech-language
pathologists. You also can receive a referral from your

Answering
questions

Identifying objects
and pictures

Contact your local school district. you can contact

Taking turns when

talking

can request an evaluation from the public school even if

Learning songs and

rhymes

Difficulty with
pretend play

pediatrician.

your local school district to request an evaluation. You

your child is enrolled in private school.

Works cited:
Am. Speech-Language-Hearing Assoc. (n.d.) What is
language? What is speech?
http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/language_spee

Dominique Carlson
carlsondominique@gmail.com

ch.htm Accessed 2/2/2016

Am. Speech-Language-Hearing Assoc. (n.d.) FAQ.
http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/schoolsFAQ.ht
m#learning Accessed 2/2/2016.

What is the
most common
disability in
children yet
the least well
detected?

 Only 1 in 4 children
with disabilities of
any kind is referred
for needed
assistance.

Take action if you suspect that

your child has a speech or
language impairment.
The Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA) defines
speech/language impairment as a
communication disorder such as
stuttering, impaired articulation,
language impairment or a voice
impairment that adversely affects a
students educational performance.
What causes speech and language
disabilities?

Some causes of speech and language

disorders include hearing loss,
neurological disorders, brain injury,
intellectual disabilities, drug abuse,
physical impairments such as cleft lip or
palate, and voice abuse or misuse.
Frequently, however, the cause is

Are there different kinds of

disorders?
Fluency disorder - the addition of or repetition
of sounds, syllables, and words; prolonged
sounds; avoidance of words; silent periods; or
inappropriate inhalation, exhalation. These may
also be accompanied by facial and body
movements caused by the effort to speak.
Voice disorder difficulty making proper
sounds.
Articulation disorder means the absence of or
incorrect production of speech sounds or
phonological processes that are developmentally
appropriate (e.g. lisp, difficulty articulating certain
sounds, such as l or r.
Language disorder difficulty expressing their
thoughts with words, may also have difficulty
understanding speech.

Early intervention is key

Because all communication disorders carry
the potential of affecting a childs social
development and education It is very
important to identify speech / language
problems early. Many people make the
mistake of believing that speech and
language treatment can wait. The child is
just developing slowly, they will catch up.
The truth is that disabilities are different than
delays. It is best to see a speech-language
pathologist for a diagnosis.
How may a speech-language disorder
affect school performance?
Communication is a huge part of any
academic setting, especially in early
childhood and elementary school settings.
Children who have speech and language
disorders often have a hard time keeping up
with their peers, despite having normal nonverbal intelligence. These difficulties may
show up in

Spelling

Telling time
Recalling numbers

Learning vocabulary
Telling right from left

Learning the alphabet

Reading comprehension

Learning to rhyme
Memorizing multiplication tables

Anger and frustration

Social skills