Speech/Language Development

Speech and language development are key to a child’s overall educational and social growth.  A delay in this area could signal future difficulties with learning, and should be identified and addressed as early as possible.  On this page, you will find expert reports on the relationship between speech-language development and learning disabilities, early recognition advice, and important resources for further information.

You may also want to take a look at the Reading and Literacy page to get in-depth resources on aiding struggling readers and promoting effective reading development.

Introduction and Background Information
Additional Resources on the Web 

Introduction and Background Information:

Fact Sheets: Auditory Processing Disorders By Age Group and In Detail These documents offer an overview of warning signs, helpful strategies for different age groups, and a breakdown of the different types of auditory disorders, which can affect speech and language development.

Emergent Literacy: Early Reading and Writing Development  In this Parent Center brief, Dr. Diane Paul & Dr. Froma Roth from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), explain the importance of the early literacy development stage, describe warning signs for difficulty, and offer parents useful tips on aiding their child’s speech-language development.

LD Talk: Speech/Language and Literacy Development: Keys to Success for Struggling Learners In this May 23, 2006 LD Chat, featured experts Dr. Diane Paul and Dr. Froma Roth focus on the relationship between early speech-language development and learning disabilities, plus the importance of early recognition of speech-language delay and the important role of speech-language pathologists in helping young children become successful readers. Click here for a full list of archived transcripts.

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Additional Resources on the Web:

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) the professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 123,000 members and affiliates who are audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists.

Fact Sheet on Speech & Language Impairments
(National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities - NICHCY)

For Parents: Activities to Encourage Speech and Language Development
(American Speech-Language-Hearing Association)

Top 10 Things You Should Know about Children with Specific Language Impairment
(Merrill Advanced Studies Center, the University of Kansas)

Speech & Language In Depth
(LDOnline)

A Brief Overview of Language and Approaches to it's Assessment: One Professional's Perspective (Apraxia-Kids)

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