What Is A Speech Impairment
There are many types of speech impairment.
Stuttering or stammering is a communication difficulty which may involve repeating sounds, syllables or words, prolonging sounds, blocking or hesitating, and avoiding or substituting words. There may be other secondary behaviours associated with stuttering such as excessive muscle tension in the face, neck, back or stomach. Distortion of the face can occur with grimacing, frowning, etc.
Other speech impairments include apraxia of speech which is a motor speech disorder. It is caused by damage to the parts of the brain related to speaking and means the person has difficulty forming words and may say a different word or sound to the one they wanted to. Other, sometimes linked disorders include dysarthria and aphasia .
Speech impairment can also be linked to other disabilities such as muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, Huntingdon’s Disease and traumatic brain injury.
Speech impairments are not an indication of intelligence or confusion. The person knows what they want to say but has difficulty verbalising.
Treatment For Language Or Speech Disorders And Delays
Children with language problems often need extra help and special instruction. Speech-language pathologists can work directly with children and their parents, caregivers, and teachers.
Having a language or speech delay or disorder can qualify a child for early interventionexternal icon and special education services . Schools can do their own testing for language or speech disorders to see if a child needs intervention. An evaluation by a healthcare professional is needed if there are other concerns about the childs hearing, behavior, or emotions. Parents, healthcare providers, and the school can work together to find the right referrals and treatment.
What every parent should know
Children with specific learning disabilities, including language or speech disorders, are eligible for special education services or accommodations at school under the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act external icon and Section 504external icon, an anti-discrimination law.
The role of healthcare providers
Healthcare providers can play an important part in collaborating with schools to help a child with speech or language disorders and delay or other disabilities get the special services they need. The American Academy of Pediatrics has created a report that describes the roles that healthcare providers can have in helping children with disabilitiesexternal icon, including language or speech disorders.
Speech Disorders And Disability
Certain speech disorders are considered disabling by the SSA and may qualify you for either SSD or Supplemental Security Income benefits based;on the severity of the condition.
For evaluation purposes, the ability to produce speech includes the use of any mechanical or electronic device that improves voice or articulation. Impairments of speech may also be evaluated under the body system for the underlying disorder, such as neurological disorders.
Each potential case is evaluated on an individual basis, but the main point that must be proven to the SSA is that your speech impairment is severe enough to prevent you from doing any gainful activity.
When someone is unable to produce speech sounds correctly or fluently, or has problems with his or her voice, that person has a speech disorder. There are three types of speech disorders with varying symptoms:
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Qualifying For Disability Benefits With A Speech Disorder
If your speech impairment is so severe that it affects your ability to function and maintain a job, you may be able to receive Social Security Disability benefits. You can qualify for Social Security Disability benefits by doing one of two things.
Meet a listing. To “meet a listing,” you must show that your impairment meets all of the requirements of a disability listing in the Social Security “Blue Book,” which is a list that describes impairments that are predetermined to be disabling.
Be unable to perform any job. To show an inability to perform any job, you must show that your impairment limits you so much that you’re unable to perform any job safely due to your impairment. If you have recently lost your ability to speak effectively and you can’t do your prior work, Social Security will look at your age, education level, and work experience to see if you can adjust to other types of work.
Characteristics Of Speech Or Language Impairments
The characteristics of speech or language impairments will vary depending upon the type of impairment involved. There may also be a combination of several problems.
When a child has an articulation disorder, he or she has difficulty making certain sounds. These sounds may be left off, added, changed, or distorted, which makes it hard for people to understand the child.
Leaving out or changing certain sounds is common when young children are learning to talk, of course. A good example of this is saying wabbit for rabbit. The incorrect articulation isnt necessarily a cause for concern unless it continues past the age where children are expected to produce such sounds correctly.
Fluency refers to the flow of speech. A fluency disorder means that something is disrupting the rhythmic and forward flow of speechusually, a stutter. As a result, the childs speech contains an abnormal number of repetitions, hesitations, prolongations, or disturbances. Tension may also be seen in the face, neck, shoulders, or fists.
Voice is the sound thats produced when air from the lungs pushes through the voice box in the throat , making the vocal folds within vibrate. From there, the sound generated travels up through the spaces of the throat, nose, and mouth, and emerges as our voice.
Some characteristics of language disorders include:
- improper use of words and their meanings,
- inability to express ideas,
- reduced vocabulary, and
- inability to follow directions.
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Tips For Teachers And Parents
NICHCY;recognizes early intervention as a helpful tool;for children with speech and language impairments, and working;with;a speech-language pathologist during the preschool years;can be a game changer.;Addressing issues, such as stuttering and articulation impairments, early;can;lessen potential communication difficulties later in a childs educational career.
Its worth mentioning;that;speech and language impairments requiring long-term attention generally remain manageable. A schools speech-language pathologist should work with both teachers and parents to discuss a childs needs and how to best meet them.
Bullying is an issue for some children with speech and language impairments; for instance, peers might mock a;stutter or a lisp. Bullying often becomes more than a social issue;as it can;distract the student who is the;target from his or her classwork. Taking class time to teach about bullying can help prevent to prevent this.
Mental Health Disabilities And Addictions
Although mental health disability is a form of non-evident disability, it raises particular issues that merit independent consideration. Section 10 of the;Code;expressly includes mental health disabilities. The courts have confirmed that addictions to drugs or alcohol are protected by the;Code.;People with mental health disabilities and addictions face a high degree of stigmatization and significant barriers. Stigmatization can foster a climate that exacerbates stress, and may trigger or worsen the persons condition. It may also mean that someone who has a problem and needs help may not seek it, for fear of being labelled.
The distinct and serious issues faced by people with mental health disabilities and addictions prompted the OHRC to hold a province-wide consultation specifically on discrimination based on mental health. In 2012, the OHRC published its findings in a consultation report entitled;Minds That Matter.;The OHRC relied on these findings, as well as on developments in the law, international trends and social science research to inform its;Policy on preventing discrimination based on mental health disabilities and addictions;, which was released in 2014.
The OHRCs;Mental Health Policy;provides user-friendly guidance to organizations on how to define, assess, handle and resolve human rights issues related to mental health and addiction disabilities. It also addresses:
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Applying For Social Security Disability Benefits For A Child With Apraxia
If your child has apraxia of speech; either as a primary condition or associated with another condition; then he or she may be eligible to receive disability benefits through the Social Security Administrations Supplemental Security Income program and/or Social Security Disability Insurance program.
A few things to remember:
- A diagnosis does not automatically make your child eligible.
- The impact of the diagnosis or disability on your childs ability to function in a number of life areas will be considered.
- Only children who are found to be severely affected by their disability, as per guidelines of the SSA, are eligible.
- Your child and family will need to meet financial requirements.
Basic Eligibility for Benefits
A child under the age of 18 typically qualifies for Supplemental Security Income rather than Social Security Disability Insurance . This is because the SSDI program requires past employment and a specific amount of taxes paid into the system. However, if a childs parent currently receives SSDI, the disabled child may be eligible for dependent benefits under that parents name. If you feel that your child may qualify for dependent benefits under a parent or guardian, contact the representative who handles the eligible parents claim.
SSI, on the other hand, pays benefits to elderly or disabled individuals who have access to very limited income. There are no work-related requirements for SSI. ;SSI provides both cash and health insurance benefits.
Eligibility For Ssi For Children With A Speech Or A Language Disorder
The impairment codes for childhood speech and language disorders used for the SSA’s disability evaluation are speech and language impairment and loss of voice . These codes are included in Part B of the Listing of Impairments, which contains additional medical criteria that apply only to the evaluation of impairments in children under age 18. As noted earlier, the criteria in the Listings are incorporated into the SSA’s multistep evaluation process. From this point forward, when the committee refers to children with speech and language disorders within the SSI program, it is referring to children with one of these two primary impairments.
Relationship Between Receipt of Speech-Language Therapy and IDEA Services Documented in the Case Files Reviewed.
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Can I Qualify For Social Security Disability Or Ssi Due To My Speech Impairment
Disability rules regarding speech impairment are complex
Am I likely to get my disability claim approved based on my speech impairment?
What process does SSA use to determine if my speech impairment qualifies for disability benefits?
Step 1: Non-Medical CriteriaStep 2: Severe ImpairmentStep 3: Medical ListingsStep 4: Past WorkStep 5: Other Work
Wondering If You Qualify?
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What Are Speech Disorders
There are many speech disorders that can affect Canadians. Some people suffer from stuttering, lisps, and voice disorders. Some conditions are so severe that a person wont speak at all. These are significant restrictions for people as it limits their ability to express and communicate with their loved ones.
With the variety of speech disorders that have been identified by medical professionals, the causes of the ailment vary from case to case. Most people are diagnosed with a speech disorder at birth or during infancy, while others can develop the condition later in life as a result of environmental factors or capricious factors like drug abuse, brain injuries, or physical impairments .
Common speech problems and disorders include:
- Stuttering
- Voice disorders
Many of these speech disorders can be treated through speech therapy, though others require medical attention by a doctor versed in phoniatrics the study and treatment of organs involved in speech production. Other treatments include correcting organic conditions, and psychotherapy. Kids suffering from a speech disorder may need a special education program in school or require a speech-language pathologist to support their growth.
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Causes Of Speech Impairments
Some speech impairments appear in adulthood, including those caused by stroke, traumatic brain injury, or brain tumors, or those caused by laryngectomy and glossectomy to treat cancer caused by smoking or chewing tobacco. Others problems can be present since childhood, including cleft-palate-caused hyernasality and cerebral-palsy-caused dysarthria. Any of these problems can make it difficult to produce useful speech.
Special Education Eligibility: When Is A Speech
Has your childs school teacher recently called to let you know that your son or daughter may need special education? Is this due to the fact that they think the child is having a hard time following in class? Well, isnt this what so many kids in the country face at the moment?
A lot of teachers believe that the moment a child isnt following in class, whether due to their comprehension of the language or shyness, they are having a disability. This isnt always the case.
With proper direction, monitoring, and coaching, we have seen kids who were already getting ready to be moved actually pick up and even do better than the ones who have been the teachers all-time favorite.
The United States has stated the criteria or, permit me to say, requirements for getting special education. If your child hasnt met these criteria, nobody should tell you that they should be dragged out of their normal life into special schools.
What is Speech-Language Impairment?
This is a discourse that may have had a lot of people mistaken. Parents, guardians, and teachers alike all have their own personal perception of what they think speech-language impairment is. Here were going to try to explain it for everyone to understand.
Speech-language impairment has to do with a disability on the part of the child as regards speaking or hearing.
When is speech-language impairment also a disability?
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Speech Or Language Impairment
Speech or language impairment means a communication disorder, such as stuttering, impaired articulation, a language impairment, or a voice impairment, that adversely affects a child’s educational performance.
In Montana:;Students ages 6-21 with a speech or language impairment;made;up 2.22% of the total student population in 2011.
Nationally:;Speech and language impairments are considered a high-incidence disability. Approximately 20% of children receiving special education services are receiving services for speech and language disorders. This estimate does not include children who receive services for speech and language disorders that are secondary to other conditions such as deafness. More than one-half of all 3, 4, and 5;year old children;with a disability receive speech and language services.
In The United States Of America
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 2004, the federal government has defined a speech or language impairment as “a communication disorder such as stuttering, impaired articulation, a language impairment, or a voice impairment, which adversely affects a child’s learning”. In order to qualify in the educational system as having a speech or language impairment, the child’s speech must be either unintelligible much of the time or he/she must have been professionally diagnosed as having either a speech impairment or language delay which requires intervention. Additionally, IDEA 2004 contains an exclusionary clause that stipulates that a speech or language impairment may not be either cultural, ethnic, bilingual, or dialectical differences in language, temporary disorders , or delayed abilities in producing the most difficult linguistic sounds in a child’s age range.
For children with language disorders, professionals often relate the treatment plans to classroom content, such as classroom textbooks or presentation assignments. The professional teaches various strategies to the child, and the child works to apply them effectively in the classroom. For success in the educational environment, it is imperative that the SLP or other speech-language professional have a strong, positive rapport with the teacher.
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Speech And Language Assessment
What follows are a list of frequently used measures of speech and language skills, and the age-ranges for which they are appropriate.
- Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals Preschool
- Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals
- MacArthur Communicative Development Inventories
- The Rossetti Infant-Toddler Language Scale
- Preschool Language Scale
- Expressive One-word Picture Vocabulary Test
- Bankson-Bernthal Phonological Process Survey Test
- Goldman-Fristoe Test of Articulation 2
- Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test
Diagnosing Adult Speech Impairment
If you experience a sudden onset of impaired speech, seek medical attention right away. It might be a sign of a potentially life-threatening condition, such as a stroke.
If you develop impaired speech more gradually, make an appointment with your doctor. It may be a sign of an underlying health condition.
Unless your speech impairment is caused by using your voice too much or a viral infection, it probably wont resolve on its own and may worsen. Its important to get a diagnosis and begin treatment as soon as possible.
To diagnose your condition, your doctor will likely start by requesting a complete medical history and evaluating your symptoms.
Your doctor will also likely ask you a series of questions to hear you talk and assess your speech. This can help them determine your level of comprehension and speaking ability. It can also help them learn if the condition is affecting your vocal cords, your brain, or both.
Depending on your medical history and symptoms, your doctor may order one or more tests, such as:
Your doctor may refer you to a speech-language pathologist who can teach you how to:
- conduct exercises to strengthen your vocals cords
- increase vocal control
- improve articulation, or vocal expression
- expressive and receptive communication
In some cases, they may also recommend assistive communication devices. For example, they may advise you to use an electronic device to translate typed messages into verbal communication.
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