In the final part of our series based on the informative ‘What Is Speech Therapy’ website (http://whatisspeechtherapy.com/), we will be discussing the differences between speech and language. We will also be thinking about the different types of speech and language difficulties that can affect children and adults.

Speech

According to the What Is Speech Therapy website, “a speech disorder can be classified by a person having problems producing a speech sound correctly or fluently, or having problems with his or her voice”. Speech is the verbal means of communicating, or a person’s ‘output’.

A child or adult may present with speech difficulties around:

• Articulation: this refers to how speech sounds are made, and whether an individual can articulate each sound correctly. For example, children must learn how to make the “r” sound to say the word ‘read’. Adults may find that their articulation is less accurate following brain injury, stroke or a progressive neurological condition, often due to muscle weakness.
• Voice: refers to the use of the vocal folds and breathing to produce sound (the voice can be abused or misused). Children with cleft lip/palate often have voice difficulties around nasality. Adults may find their voices are weaker than normal after stroke, brain injury or progressive neurological conditions, or affected significantly by head and neck cancer.
• Fluency: refers to the rhythm of speech (hesitations, stammering, etc). Both children and adults can be affected by stammering. Severe verbal dyspraxia can also lead to non-fluency in conversation, as can expressive language difficulties.

Language

According to the What Is Speech Therapy website, “when a person is struggling to understand others (receptive language), or sharing thoughts, ideas and feelings completely (expressive language), then he or she has a language disorder. Language is made up of socially shared rules that include the following”:

• What words mean: (e.g. ‘star’ can refer to the star in the sky or a celebrity). Adults may find that they have difficulty accessing this store of information after stroke or brain injury.
• Applying grammar rules correctly – how to make new words (sick, sickly, sickness) and how to put words together: (Amanda like eat fruit vs Amanda likes to eat fruit).
• What word combinations are best in what situations: (Would you mind moving your foot please? Vs Get off my foot now!)

It is possible for individuals to have a speech difficulty, a language difficulty, or problems in both areas. Speech and language therapists also work with eating and drinking difficulties, as the muscles used for speech are the same as those used for swallowing.

If you think that your child, a relative or friend may have a speech or language difficulty, Integrated Treatment Services can be of help. Contact us here: https://integratedtreatmentservices.co.uk/contact-us/enquiry

Sarah Bennington, November 2011

Written on behalf of Integrated Treatment Services. Integrated Treatment Services is a private Speech and Language Therapy service based in Leicestershire and the East Midlands. It specialises in providing highly-skilled Speech and Language Therapists, but also associates with other therapeutic professionals, including Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Psychologists and Arts Therapists.