Speech Sound Disorders and Language Disorders

Language science

Phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics

Elements of language science

decoding, articulation

Children’s systematic errors are due to limitations in knowledge for _______ and _______.

Omitting or substituting sounds

Limitation of knowledge required for decoding leads to errors of ________________.

Imprecision

Limitation of knowledge required for articulation leads to errors of ________ in sounds.

Productive

Errors in speech are _______, because they are a key part of language development!

Final consonant deletion

Leaving the last sound off of a closed syllable

Velar fronting

moving the place of articulation forward in the mouth

Cluster reduction

Simplifying a given cluster (by replacing it with a sound developed earlier)

Speech sound disorder

Difficulties producing sounds and/or sound sequences that are not developmentally typical

Age appropriate

Speech errors are expected, but not all are ___ _________

Phonological and articulation

Two types of speech sound disorders

Phonological disorder

Difficulty understanding and/or implementing the rules for producing sounds and/or sequences in a language

Articulation disorder

Difficulty using/manipulating articulators for producing speech sounds and/or sequences

Sample speech, assess errors, interpret problem

Steps for diagnosing a speech sound disorder

Developmental language disorder

Occurs when the person’s rate and/or pattern of acquisition of first language is significantly slower/atypical; leads to a limit in ability to meet social, educational, and/or occupational demands

No

Does a developmental language disorder include difficulties with speech sounds/fluency?

Receptive language impairment

Difficulty comprehending or understanding, difficulty perceiving speech sounds or words (following directions, memory, processing, reasoning, problem-solving)

Expressive language impairment

Difficulty expressing ideas, ideas are disjointed (sparse vocabulary, hard to find words, difficulty with verb tenses and grammar)

Risk factors for a developmental language disorder

• developmental delay

• late talker

• hearing loss

• any impact on typical development

Developmental language disorder

NOT caused by sudden events, NO clear onset, NOT language differences (dialects or accents)

Acquired language disorder

Caused by a SUDDEN event, CLEAR onset

(ex: stroke, trauma, neurological diagnosis)

Signs of a late talker

• delayed production of first words

• delayed production of word combos

• LESS THAN 50 word expressive vocab and NO word combos by age 2

50%

What percent of late talkers catch up by age 3-4?

Specific language impairment (SLI)

DISORDER NOT EXPLAINED BY hearing trouble, nonverbal intelligence, emotional behavioral skills, motor involvement

SLI diagnostic criteria

• IQ of at least 85

• expressive language abilities at least 12 months below age level

• receptive abilities at least 6 months below age level

• lowest 10% of age-referenced language skills

Common characteristics of an SLI

• limited vocabulary

• difficulty with morphosyntax (grammar)

• challenges with conversation