Speech Impairment

By Susan Skime
What is a speech impairment?

A speech impairment is a
communications disorder, such
as stuttering, impaired
articulation, or a language
impairment that adversely
affects a students educational
performance.
Characteristics of speech impairment.
• Noticeably behind other students
in speech or language skills
development.
• Trouble forming sounds.
• Difficulty with pitch, volume, or
quality of the voice.
• May display stuttering and
interruption in the flow of speech.
• Omits or substitutes
• May have trouble getting others
to understand.
• Trouble with the voice sounds.
• Repeats speech
• Speaking volume.
• Breathy, harsh, husky, or a
monotone voice.
• Sounds nasally and whinny.
• Frequently prolongs and repeats
sounds, words or phrases.
• Has unintelligible speech or
indistinct speech.
Bullying, lack of self-esteem, depression, not being taken
seriously, are just a few of the complications someone with a
speech impairment have to deal with.
Students who have a
speech impairment, deal
with stigmas daily.

Cripple When in reality, student’s who have a

disability or disorder, just want to be
accepted as equal. They except to be treated
as other student’s who have no challenge
set before them. Talked to the same as
others.
Who might this speech
impairment affect and why?
They are many reasons for speech
impairments.
• Cleft\pallet or other
problems with the pallet.
• Damaged nerves that
supply the muscles of the
vocal cords.
• A birth defect.
• Acid from the stomach
(Gerd).
• Cancer of the throat.
Treatments and Therapies
• Surgery.
• Speech Therapy.
• Augmentative and alternative
communication.
• Occupational Therapy.
• Sensory Integration Therapy.
• Physical Therapy.
• Early Intervention Birth-3 years.
• Music Therapy.
https://www.washington.edu/doit/what-speech-impairment

http://www.parentcenterhub.org/speechlanguage/

https://www.speechsproutstherapy.com/2015/04/try-this-
word-finding-demonstration.html