Speech relates specifically to the production of sounds and words. This includes:

- Articulation (how sounds are made using the mouth, lips, and tongue)

- Stuttering (flow of speech)

- Apraxia of Speech or Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS - motor planning process)

- Voice Disorders (how we use our vocal folds and breath to make sounds)

Those with speech disorders can be difficult to understand by both familiar and unfamiliar listeners.

Language relates specifically to the ability to understand and use words to share ideas. comprehend and express language. These areas are also known as receptive and expressive language.

Receptive Language (comprehension) includes:

- understanding spoken language, directions, and basic concepts.

- understanding story elements and questions about a story.

- making inferences.

Expressive Language (expression) includes:

- expressing thoughts, wants, and needs in age-appropriate, complete sentences.

- using specific vocabulary words such as adjectives and prepositions.

- telling stories in a sequential manner.

Those with language disorders can have difficulty understanding what words mean or may have difficulty using words in an age-appropriate manner when talking to others. Reading disorders may also impact those with receptive and/or expressive language disorders.

Great question! Yes, in fact, there are several disorders that fall under the umbrella of speech and/or language disorders.

Spoken language disorders can be further broken down into five domains: phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics.

• Phonology: predictable, rule-based errors that affect more than one sound. These can be developmental and typically have specific age ranges when they should be eliminated on their own.

• Morphology is the structure of words such as prefixes and suffixes.

• Syntax is the structure of sentences.

• Semantics is the structure of word meanings.

• Pragmatics is the use of language in social contexts or situations.

Written language disorders pertain to a significant impairment in fluent word reading (i.e., reading decoding and sight word recognition), reading comprehension, written spelling, and/or written expression (Ehri, 2000; Gough & Tunmer, 1986; Kamhi & Catts, 2012; Tunmer & Chapman, 2007, 2012). A word-reading disorder is also known as dyslexia.

• Fluent word reading is reading decoding, and sight word recognition.

• Reading comprehension is the ability to understand what is read.

• Written spelling is the ability to spell correctly.

• Written expression is the ability to cohesively write thoughts and ideas in an organized manner.

• Orthography is the awareness, comprehension, and production of language at the phonemic syllable word sentence and discourse levels.

• Dyslexia is the inability to process words phonologically.

Absolutely! We offer a free, 15-minute consultation call to potential clients. There is no obligation to continue services with us as we understand that not all clinicians are the best fit for all clients. If we aren't the best fit, we are happy to go over the process of finding an SLP in your area.

Although our specialty areas are bilingual language development, stuttering, and CAS, we are also generalists that have worked with students/clients with Selective Mutism, Pragmatic Language Disorders, Alternative Augmentative Communication needs, and Reading Disorders.