Speech or Language Impairment

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) officially defines speech and language impairments as “a communication disorder such as stuttering, impaired articulation, a language impairment, or a voice impairment that adversely affects a child’s educational performance.” Each point within this definition represents a speech and language subcategory.

  • A communication disorder such as stuttering provides an example of a fluency disorder; other fluency issues include unusual word repetition and hesitant speech.
  • Impaired articulation indicates impairments in which a child experiences challenges in pronouncing specific sounds.
  • A language impairment can entail difficulty comprehending words properly, expressing oneself and listening to others.
  • A voice impairment involves difficulty voicing words; for instance, throat issues may cause an abnormally soft voice.

 

Speech-language Pathology Services

Ohio Administrative Code 3301-51-01 (B) (54) (b) (xix) defines “Speech-language pathology services” to include:

(a) Identification of children with speech or language impairments;

(b) Diagnosis and appraisal of specific speech or language impairments;

(c) Referral for medical or other professional attention necessary for the habilitation of speech or language impairments;

(d) Provision of speech and language services for the habilitation or prevention of communicative impairments; and

(e) Counseling and guidance of parents, children, and teachers regarding speech and language impairments.

 

Last Modified: 3/30/2015 2:34:05 PM