Speech vs Language: Are they different?
This is a conversation I frequently have with parents when trying to explain what is going on for their kiddos. Are we dealing with a speech difficulty? Or is it language? Could it be both?
Let’s start by breaking down the difference between speech and language:
Speech
Speech has to do with the actual mechanics of how we say individual sounds or words.
This includes:
Articulation- how we make the sounds needed for talking by using our mouth, lips and tongue. A child who is having difficulty with speech sounds might have trouble saying a particular sound. For example, a child might say “wike” instead of “like” or “tar” instead of “star”. Or maybe the sounds just come out sounding a little bit slushy. Some errors are developmental, meaning that they’re “normal” in children of certain ages, while others might be less typical
Voice- how we use the vocal folds in our voice boxes to make sounds. Difficulty with volume, pitch (ie. how high or low) or hoarseness are all examples of ways that our voice can affect our speech.
Fluency- how smooth our talking is. We all sometimes repeat sounds and words while talking, but when this happens a lot, it may be considered stuttering
Language
Language has to do with how we use words to express our ideas and to understand the ideas of others. Often this is through verbal speech, but language includes the use of sign language, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and other non-verbal ways of communicating.
This includes:
Understanding what words mean and how to use them (e.g. understanding that a round object that can be thrown is called a “ball” AND being able to find and call to mind the word “ball” when referring to this object).
How we put words together into phrases and sentences (i.e. being able to connect ideas in the expected order so that they’re easy for others to understand)
How we use our language to communicate with others in social situations
Can you have difficulties with both speech and language?
The short answer is YES! Some kiddos may be struggling with elements of both speech and language at the same time, while others might have difficulties in only one of these two areas. The good news? Speech-Language Pathologists treat both speech AND language delays and disorders and are experts in teasing apart what’s making communication hard for a child.
If you think your child might be struggling with aspects of speech or language, don’t hesitate to reach out for an assessment.
