Speech is the way we use sounds to talk.  Language is how we understand and use words and sentences. Some children have difficulty with both speech and language.  Speech-language pathologists, or SLPs can help. 

Speech has three parts; articulation, fluency, and voice.  Articulation is how speech sounds are made.  Your tongue, lips, teeth, and oral muscles move together to make sounds.  Fluency occurs when your child repeats parts of words multiple times, prolongs sounds over several seconds, or blocks on words. Voice problems happen when your child’s voice doesn’t sound right for his age, or gender.  This is based on a medical diagnosis.

Language includes listening, talking, reading, and writing. Your child uses language to

• Understand what is said, and follow directions

• Use words in the correct order to say what he/she thinks, feels, wants, and needs.

• Write down their thoughts and ideas

• Understand what he/she reads

• Show that he/she knows what words mean and how to use them.

Any questions? Contact Laurie Borick, 833-4100

The following websites may be useful information to help with your child’s speech and language:

• https://leader.pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/leader.APP.21042016.np   apps to teach social perspective

• http://speechymusings.com/2016/11/30/wordless-picture-books/ wordless picture books to enhance articulation (correct when errors are heard), grammar and language expressive production

• https://www.speechandlanguagekids.com/stuttering-therapy-activity-ideas/ help for stuttering

• https://matchthememory.com/irregularverbs

• https://academic.mu.edu/sppa/slong/Phonological%20processes%20in%20CP%20970.pdf identify phonological speech errors

• https://soundsofspeech.uiowa.edu/home correct production of English sounds

• http://freerice.com/#/english-vocabulary/1500 to enhance vocabulary

• https://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/     Typical speech and language development