Pages

Saturday, February 8, 2014

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. 

2 comments:

  1. At what age would you feel comfortable diagnosing a problem in speech, not language? My 2.5 year old has a large vocab and speaks in compound/complex sentences but she is often difficult to understand and I find myself "translating" for her a lot. I notice that she has difficulty with sounds that involve nasal breathing (I don't know if that makes sense) but it's almost as if she has to force air out in an unnatural way to create the desired sound. I'm not sure if I'm just obsessing over it because I'm comparing her to my older daughter who has always been a very clear speaker.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Kristen! Where it is more common for young children to be diagnosed with a language delay/disorder, it is certainly not unheard of to have a child as young as your daughter treated for a speech issue. Many of the sound errors young children make are considered developmental, however, there are cases where these errors are caused by anatomical issues, hearing issues, and/or motor planning difficulties. When the latter is the case, the child will be diagnosed with a speech disorder and treatment given. If you feel that the speech difficulties your daughter is experiencing are impeding on her interactions with others, discouraging her from participating or frustrating her in any way, then it may be worth having her seen by an SLP. Even if the SLP does not recommend therapy, he/she can surely give you some guidance as to what you can specifically do at home to help her. Having an outside, professional opinion can help ease your worries as well! Best of luck! -M.

      Delete