Speech Impaired Children in the Classroom

This is week four of our Understanding Special Needs series and today we will be discussing speech and language impairments in students.

Let’s start with the statistics. . .

• Communication disorders affect one of every ten people in the United States
• From 2000 to 2001 more than one million students were categorized as having a speech or language impairment.
• Speech and Language Impairments can be related to other disabilities such as mental retardation, autism, or cerebral palsy.

What exactly is considered to be a speech and language impairment?

These disorders refer to problems with communication in related areas such as oral motor function. Some causes of speech and language impairments include hearing loss, neurological disorders, brain injury, mental retardation, drug abuse, physical impairments like cleft lip or palate, and vocal abuse.

How can YOU, as a teacher help children with speech and language impairments?

Teachers can notice if a child is behind their peers in speech and language skills, sometimes the student has a greater understanding than they can express. Students will stutters are way more noticeable than other students to have a speech and language impairment. You may notice that a child has a hard time articulating their words or have difficulties with pitch, volume, or quality of voice.

Some children may not have a speech problem, but simply a language disorder where they use words and their meanings improperly.

If students are getting frustrated when they are trying to communicate with you and you don’t understand, be patient and try approaching it from a different angle. Have them draw a pictures or point to something they need or want. After giving the object to the student, say what the object is and have them repeat it. The sounds from your mouth help them hear the word and then practice it for themselves.

Often times mis-communication can be called “baby talk,” but communication disorders can isolate individuals from their social and educational surroundings. Offer children with speech or language impairments an opportunity to use technology and engage in shared thought. Communication skills are at the heart of the education experience and the use of language becomes more complex. As the brain develops, it is easier to learn language and communication skills before the age of 5.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license.