SPEECH vs. LANGUAGE: What's the difference?

This if the first in a series of posts I will be writing that will provide you with information about speech and language development.  I hope you find it practical and useful!  If there is any area you have additional questions about or would like more information about, please write a comment at the bottom of the page and I will be sure to include it in future posts!

 

When I tell people I am a Speech-Language Pathologist (a.k.a. speech therapist or SLP), they usually think of me helping children produce their sounds correctly.  It is true that SLPs do work on sound production, but there’s also a lot more.  SLPs work on SPEECH and LANGUAGE… so what’s the difference?

When we talk about “speech,” we are referring to the actual production of sounds – how we use the articulators in our mouth (tongue, teeth, etc.) in coordination with our breath (we need to take in air in order to produce any sound) to make a sound.  The production of any sound is actually a complicated process that requires many systems of our body working together.  In young children, there are certain “mispronunciations”  and sound errors that are considered normal. As a child develops and becomes more aware of his/her own speech and how other’s perceive it, many of these errors disappear and you are left with a child that speaks clearly and is easily understood.  Another area of “speech” is the actual sound of your voice – hoarse, nasal, breathy, etc.  SLPs can address issues that are usually caused by misusing your voice. Another area of SPEECH is fluency.  This refers to the rhythm of your speech and can be affected by hesitations or what is commonly referred to as “stuttering.”  Difficulties in one or more of these SPEECH areas may be considered a SPEECH disorder and require the assistance of a speech-language pathologist.

LANGUAGE includes the ability to understand what others are saying (we call this “receptive language”), as well as the ability to effectively express ideas, thoughts, and feelings to another person (we call this “expressive language”).  Our LANGUAGE skills are dependent on our use and understanding of the “rules” of the language we speak – the words we choose (vocabulary) and how we arrange them (grammar) in order to communicate.  Another aspect of LANGUAGE that has gotten a lot of attention in recent years is pragmatic language, which is made up of the social rules that govern our language – this includes taking turns during conversation, asking appropriate questions, interjecting in an accepted way, etc.  Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, such as what was referred to as Asperger’s Syndrome struggle with their pragmatic language skills.  Difficulties with any of these areas may be considered part of a LANGUAGE disorder.

So, when looking at your child’s SPEECH and LANGUAGE development, note not only what he/she may sound like, but also how he/she is using and understanding LANGUAGE to communicate effectively.