If you or someone in your family is suspected of having a speech and/or language impairment, it is best to schedule an evaluation to determine if there is a deviation from typical development and if intervention would be beneficial.
A communication impairment may include any of the following:
Articulation-difficult speech clarity, slurring, imprecise speech, speech sound errors.
Language Expression-difficulty organizing and composing sentences using appropriate grammar forms, word order, using appropriate vocabulary, and conveying messages for a variety of uses (e.g. to request, comment, label, answer questions, retell events, etc.).
Language Comprehension-difficulty understanding the language of others including following directions and answering questions appropriately.
Pragmatic Language- difficulty using social language in appropriate ways by perceiving social cues, using language to greet and engage in conversation appropriately with others, take turns, selecting a topic, changing topic and maintaining a conversation.
Speech Fluency (Stuttering)-difficulty using smooth patterns of speech. May be characterized by repetitions (of sounds, syllables, words or phrases), prolongations (maintaining a sound for an extended period) or silent blocks (stoppage of speech at inappropriate places). Some bodily movements may also accompany the moment of stuttering.
Voice-difficulty with the quality of the voice (hoarseness, too loud, too quiet, too high or low of a pitch, inadequate inflection, etc.) Voice therapy may also be helpful to make a voice sound more feminine or more masculine.
A communication impairment may include any of the following:
Articulation-difficult speech clarity, slurring, imprecise speech, speech sound errors.
Language Expression-difficulty organizing and composing sentences using appropriate grammar forms, word order, using appropriate vocabulary, and conveying messages for a variety of uses (e.g. to request, comment, label, answer questions, retell events, etc.).
Language Comprehension-difficulty understanding the language of others including following directions and answering questions appropriately.
Pragmatic Language- difficulty using social language in appropriate ways by perceiving social cues, using language to greet and engage in conversation appropriately with others, take turns, selecting a topic, changing topic and maintaining a conversation.
Speech Fluency (Stuttering)-difficulty using smooth patterns of speech. May be characterized by repetitions (of sounds, syllables, words or phrases), prolongations (maintaining a sound for an extended period) or silent blocks (stoppage of speech at inappropriate places). Some bodily movements may also accompany the moment of stuttering.
Voice-difficulty with the quality of the voice (hoarseness, too loud, too quiet, too high or low of a pitch, inadequate inflection, etc.) Voice therapy may also be helpful to make a voice sound more feminine or more masculine.