Speech and Language Disorders

What is a speech disorder?

Speech or articulation problems are caused by a physical problem with the mouth. You know what you want to say and how to say it, but the mouth doesn’t move in the right way or at the right time. It can make a person sound garbled. Children who stutter and people with rough, hoarse, or nasal voices all have speech problems.

What is a language disorder?

A language disorder is when the person cannot come up with the right words to say or cannot understand what another person is saying. Language is a code that is made up from a group of rules:

• What words mean
• How to make new words
• How to combine words together
• What word combinations are best in certain situations

If a person cannot understand someone else, they have a receptive problem. If a person cannot say words or form sentences to share thoughts, ideas, and feelings, then they have a expressive problem. These problems can exist alone. However, they most often occur together in children and adults. That is called a Mixed Language Disorder.

Language and speech problems can occur together or by themselves. The problem can be mild or severe. No matter what problems a person has, they should always get a comprehensive evaluation. They can see a speech-language pathologist for this evaluation. This specialist should be certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. The evaluation is the first step to improving language and speech problems.

Language-Based Learning Disabilities

A language-based learning disability causes problems with reading, spelling, and writing. This disorder does not mean the person is less intelligent. Most people with learning disabilities have average to high intelligence. These disabilities are caused by a difference in brain structure. It is something they inherit and have from birth. This often relates to specific language problems.

When is a child at risk?

Children at risk may have some of the following:

• family history of delayed speech-language development or literacy problems
• problems processing sounds in words
• trouble finding the words to express basic thoughts and ideas
• problems understanding spoken or written language
• delayed vocabulary development
• trouble using and understanding grammar in sentences
• problems remembering numbers and letters, questions, and directions
• trouble organizing and planning

Children with language-based learning disorders have trouble with both the written and spoken word. This may include:

• Expressing ideas
• Learning new words
• Understanding questions and following directions
• Recalling number sequences, telephone numbers, addresses
• Understanding and retaining the details of a story plot
• Slow reading and reduced understanding of the information
• Learning words to songs or rhymes
• Telling left from right
• Letters and numbers
• Mixing up letter order when writing
• Poor spelling
• Memorizing times tables
• Telling time

The speech-language pathologist can work with the teacher to create strategies for the classroom. They can also work with the child to help them learn ways to organize and focus on their school work.

You should treat children with learning problems as early as problems. This will help them later when school is harder. They become less frustrated and have better self-esteem.

Where can I go for more information?

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is a wonderful resource for students, families and professionals. You can visit them online at www.asha.org/. For general questions and requests, you can email them at actioncenter@asha.org. You can also call them at 800-498-2071.

Click here to make an appointment