What are the signs that my child may have a communication problem?

• He/she began talking later than expected
• Cannot seem to express his/her thoughts and ideas
• Has difficulties understanding others and following directions
• Doesn’t pick up on social cues
• Is performing below expectations in the classroom
• Is having difficulty learning to read

What types of speech and language disorders affect school-age children?

• Speech sound disorders – difficulty pronouncing sounds
• Language disorders – difficulty understanding what is heard as well as expressing themselves with words
• Cognitive-communication disorders – difficulty with thinking skills including perception, memory, awareness, reasoning, and judgment
• Stuttering (fluency) disorders – interruption of the flow of speech including hesitations, repetitions, and/or prolongations of sounds or words
• Voice disorders – differences in the quality of voice that may include hoarseness, nasality, or volume

Do speech-language disorders affect learning?

Speech and language skills are crucial for academic success and learning.  Language is the basis of communication.  Reading, writing, gesturing, listening, and speaking are all forms of language.  A student must be able to communicate with peers and adults in the educational setting in order to succeed in school.

How may a speech-language disorder affect school performance?

Children with communication disorders often do not perform at grade level.  They may struggle with reading, have difficulty understanding and expressing language, misunderstand social cues, and have difficulty with tests.

How do parents and school personnel work together to insure that children get the speech-language support they need?

Parents and teachers should talk to their Speech Language Pathologist about any student who shows signs of a speech-language disorder.  Screening, assessment, and treatment of communication problems may involve collaboration with:

• Parents
• Speech Language Pathologists (SLP)
• Audiologists
• Psychologists, Social Workers, and/or Guidance Counselors
• Classroom Teachers
• Special Education Teachers
• Health Care Professionals (Physicians, Nurses, Dentists)

SLPs work with diagnostic and educational evaluation teams to provide comprehensive language and speech assessments for students.  Services to students with speech-language disorders may be provided in individual or small group sessions, in classrooms when teaming with teachers, or in a consultative model with teachers and parents.  SLPs develop speech-language goals for students that focus academic outcomes and functional performance.

American Speech-Language Hearing Association