Speech and Language Impairment means “impairments of language, voice, fluency, or articulation that are not due to sensory impairment or developmental delay, but which are present to such a degree that academic achievement is affected and the condition is significantly disabling to the affected person. Determination of speech and language impairment shall include the report of a speech clinician specifying the nature and degree of such an impairment."
Articulation
speech impairments where the child produces speech sounds incorrectly (i.e., difficulty producing certain sounds, such as /w/ for /r/ sounds)
Language
language impairments where the child has problems expressing needs, ideas, or information, and/or in understanding what others say
Difficulty could be in the area of receptive language, or understanding
Difficulty could be in the area of expressive language, or expression of thoughts/ideas
Difficulty could be in the area of pragmatic language, or social communication
Fluency
speech impairments where a child’s flow of speech is disrupted by sounds, syllables, and words that are repeated, prolonged, or avoided and where there may be silent blocks or inappropriate inhalation, exhalation, or phonation patterns
Voice
speech impairments where the child’s voice has an abnormal quality to its pitch, resonance, or loudness.
age 5: unintelligible speech, vowel distortions, /p,b,m,h,n,k,g,t,d,f,y/, blends and lateral distortions
age 6: /l/ and /l/ clusters, /v/
age 6.5: 'sh', 'ch', 'j', prevocalic /r/, and /r/ clusters
age 7.5: 'th'
age 8: /s,z/ and vocalic /r/
**clinical judgement and teacher/parent input may necessitate modification of these guidelines