Speech or Language Impairment - Defined
A condition when a student has difficulty with the USE and/or UNDERSTANDING of language.
Use:
Speech:
Understanding:
Language:
Pragmatics:
Use:
Speech:
- Difficulty with understanding the student because they are not producing speech sounds accurately.
- Voice sounds hoarse, nasally etc.
- Difficulty with the rhythm of speech (not repetition of whole words)
- Difficulty with sharing ideas, thoughts, feelings,
- Difficulty making new words from base words,
- Difficulty putting words together, putting them in the wrong order
- Difficulty with the social use of language such as: staying on topic, taking turns in conversations, making eye contact, understanding hidden social rules e.g. personal space
Understanding:
Language:
- Difficulty with knowing what words mean
- Difficulty following directions
- Difficulty with understanding others
- Difficulty comprehending stories
Pragmatics:
- Difficulty understanding facial cues
- Difficulty reading social cues
- Difficulty understanding figurative/non-literal language
- Difficulty reacting to social situations appropriately
