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SLP — Speech

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According to the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA), speech is defined as the oral form of language. Speech can be divided into the following general categories:

Articulation refers to the production of speech sounds. Articulation disorders result in reduced intelligibility, which significantly interferes with communication and/or can attract adverse attention to the student. The reduced intelligibility must be deemed to adversely affect the student’s educational performance as related to Arizona Academic Standards. Significant interference occurs when the student’s production of speech sounds, or phonological processes, on a developmental scale of articulation competency is below that expected for his or her chronological age. The identification of articulation deviations must not be in conflict with the student’s racial, ethnic, and or cultural background.

Symptoms of Articulation Disorders:

Omitted Sounds: poon for spoon
Substituted Sounds: tat for cat
Distorted sounds: wun for run
Poor intelligibility

Possible Causes of Articulation Disorders:

History of ear infections
Cleft Palate
Cerebral Palsy, dysarthria
Cognitive delays
Developmental Apraxia
Developmental Articulation Disorders

Fluency refers to the natural flow of speech. Fluency disorders are characterized by disruptions in the normal flow of verbal expression that occurs frequently, or are markedly noticeable and are not readily controllable by the student. These disruptions occur to such a degree that the child and/or listener’s reactions to the manner of speech impedes communication.

Symptoms of Fluency Disorders:

Repetition of individual sounds or whole words
Prolongation of initial speech sounds
Frequent hesitations in speech
Halting speech

Voice refers to the quality of the voice in terms of resonance, pitch, and volume. A voice disorder is present when the voice is characterized by inappropriate vocal quality, pitch or loudness, or inappropriate use of the vocal mechanism.

Symptoms of Voice Disorders

Hoarse, raspy, breathy, or harsh voice
Vocal pitch that is too high or too low
Volume that is too loud or too soft
Hypernasal or hyponasal voice quality

Possible Causes of Voice Disorders

Vocal Nodules
Cleft Palate
Trauma
Vocal Abuse

Augmentative and Alternative Communication:

“Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) refers to ways (other than speech) that are used to send a message from one person to another” (ASHA).

AAC may include gestures, sign language, written communication, pictures symbols or electronic devices that speak.