Speech and language impairment are basic categories that might be drawn in issues of communication involve hearing, speech, language, and fluency.
A speech impairment is characterized by difficulty in articulation of words. Examples include stuttering or problems producing particular sounds. Articulation refers to the sounds, syllables, and phonology produced by the individual. An example may include substituting one sound for another or leaving out sounds. Voice, however, may refer to the characteristics of the sounds produced—specifically, the pitch, quality, and intensity of the sound. Often, fluency will also be considered a category under speech, encompassing the characteristics of rhythm, rate, and emphasis of the sound produced.[1]
A language impairment is a specific deficiency in understanding and sharing thoughts and ideas, i.e. a disorder that involves the processing of linguistic information. Problems that may be experienced can involve the form of language, including grammar, morphology, syntax; and the functional aspects of language, including semantics and pragmatics.[1]
An individual can have one or both types of impairment. These impairments/disorders are identified by a speech and language pathologist performing a direct observation of the child, using interviews and questionnaires completed by parents/teachers and an assessment of their learning ability.