Better Hearing & Speech Month, a month dedicated to increasing the awareness about communication disorders and the role of speech-language pathologists in providing treatment, is almost at an end! The month of May was an exciting time here at ETLC. We all were able to reflect on what makes being a speech-language pathologist so special to us and spend time celebrating the children we work with on a daily basis. It is crazy to think that there are currently 40 million Americans diagnosed with a communication impairment. Even with that much of the population affected, the term “communication impairment” can be confusing to some, as it is an umbrella term that refers to many impairments and disorders.
I thought it would be useful to use this blog to help clear up some of that confusion and clearly describe the difference between speech, language, and communication, and how these different areas can be impaired.
COMMUNICATION
DEFINITION:
According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), a communication disorder is an impairment in the ability to receive, send, process, and comprehend concepts or verbal, nonverbal, and graphic symbol systems. A communication disorder may be evident in the processes of hearing, language, and/or speech. It may be developmental or acquired. Individuals may demonstrate one or any combination of communication disorders.
SPEECH
DEFINITION:
According to ASHA, speech is how we say sounds and words. People with speech problems may:
- not say sounds clearly
- have a hoarse or raspy voice
- repeat sounds or pause when speaking, called stuttering
FUN SPEECH FACTS:
- 8 to 9% of children have speech sound disorders. By first grade, 5% have noticeable speech disorders.
- Most children with articulation disorders have no other handicaps or causative factors.
- More than 3 million Americans stutter. The highest prevalence of stuttering is between the ages of 2 and 6 and fewer than 1% of adults stutter.
- About 7.5 million Americans have voice disorders.
- Speech sound disorders may refer to Apraxia of Speech, Articulation Disorder, Phonological Disorder, Voice Disorders, Stuttering, etc.
WHAT YOUR CHILD’S SPEECH SHOULD SOUND LIKE:
We created this fun and easy chart to help you determine if your child is producing age-appropriate sounds or may have a delay:
HOW TO HELP WITH SPEECH DEVELOPMENT AT HOME:
Check out our previous blogs for more information and fun activities!
- Practicing Speech Sounds at Home
- Tips for Increasing Fluency in a Child Who Stutters
- Speech and Language Development Through Play: Bubbles
- Speech and Language Development Through Play: Blocks
LANGUAGE
DEFINITION:
According to ASHA, language is the words we use to share ideas and get what we want. A person with a language disorder may have problems:
- understanding
- talking
- reading
- writing
FUN LANGUAGE FACTS:
- 6–8 million Americans have some form of language impairment.
- About 1 child in 20 has a language impairment.
- A Receptive Language Disorder is when a child has difficulty understanding language. They have trouble comprehending when they listen or read. Problems with receptive language skills usually begin before age 4.
- An Expressive Language Disorder is when a child has difficulty talking or expressing his/her ideas. This difficulty in talking is not because of “how” they are speaking or saying the sounds (articulation), but because of “what” they are saying (form, content, and function).
- Children can have a receptive language delay, an expressive language delay, or both. A typical rule of thumb is that you comprehend more than you can speak.
WHAT YOUR CHILD’S LANGUAGE SHOULD LOOK/SOUND LIKE:
We created this fun and easy chart to help you determine if your child is developing age-appropriate language skills or may have a delay:
HOW TO HELP WITH LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT AT HOME:
Check out our previous blogs for more information and fun activities!
- Toddler Talk: 7 Tips to Increase Language Development
- Speech and Language Development Through Play: Ball Games
- Speech and Language Development Through Play: Puzzles
- Spring Into Building Language at Home
Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center has locations in the Iowa City, IA area and Des Moines, IA area. We provide individual speech-language therapy and tutoring as well as offering small group academic programs. At Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center our passion is to help kids achieve effective communication skills and gain academic success. Contact us for more information on how we can help your child succeed.
info@enrichmenttherapies.com
740 Community Drive, Unit A
North Liberty, IA 52317
319-626-2553
infodm@enrichmenttherapies.com
5530 West Pkwy, Suite 300
Johnston, IA 50131
515-419-4270
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