Speech Disorders
Source: Pearson Allyn Bacon Prentice Hall
Topics: Middle Years (5-9), Preteen Years (9-13), Teen Years (13-19), Speech and Language Issues, Special Education Testing
A speech disorder refers to a difficulty in articulation, such as the way words are pronounced; the fluency of speech, including rate and rhythm; and the pitch, volume, and quality of the voice.
Assessment questions arise when a parent or teacher has difficulty in understanding a student's speech. A speech and language pathologist (SLP) usually conducts the assessment. In fact, the speech and language pathologist is the primary practitioner to plan assessment in this area.
Students who have difficulty producing the correct sounds of speech generally have problems in one or more of four areas of speech production.
Respiration: To produce sounds, an individual must be able to control the inhaling and exhaling of breath. This must occur while forcing air through the larynx.
Phonation: An individual must contract specific muscles to allow the vocal folds of the larynx to be drawn together. Forcing air through the larynx causes the air to vibrate and produce sound.
Resonation: The vibrating air passes through the throat, mouth, and sometimes the nasal cavities, shaping the quality of the sound.
Articulation: The position of the tongue, lips, teeth, and mouth form the specific sounds of speech that an individual produces.
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© 2007, Merrill, an imprint of Pearson Education Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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