Frequently Asked Questions
What causes speech and language disorders?
Do families have to pay to have their children evaluated for speech and language disorders?
If my child is diagnosed with a speech/language impairment, will I have to pay for special education and related services?
What does a speech and language pathologist do?
Are all speech and language impairments the same?
Speech and language impairments. (2011, January). Retrieved from http://nichcy.org/disability/specific/speechlanguage
- Some causes of speech and language disorders include hearing loss, neurological disorders, brain injury, intellectual disabilities, drug abuse, physical impairments such as cleft lip or palate, and vocal abuse or misuse. Frequently, however, the cause is unknown.
Do families have to pay to have their children evaluated for speech and language disorders?
- No. IDEA requires that children under 21 be given evaluations for speech and language impairments free of charge.
If my child is diagnosed with a speech/language impairment, will I have to pay for special education and related services?
- No. IDEA mandates that speech and language impairment services be provided free of charge in US public schools.
What does a speech and language pathologist do?
- A speech and language pathologist provides a number of services to individuals with speech and language impairments and their families.
- These services include diagnosing the nature of a child’s speech/language difficulties, providing individual therapy for the child, consulting with the child’s teacher about the most effective ways to facilitate the child’s communication in the class setting, and working closely with the family to develop goals and techniques for effective therapy in class and at home.
Are all speech and language impairments the same?
- No. There are many kinds of speech and language disorders that can affect children. Four common areas in which impairment can occur are articulation, fluency, voice, and language. A child may have an impairment in one or many of these areas, and the child's IEP will aim to improve whichever area(s) the child's impairment falls under.
Speech and language impairments. (2011, January). Retrieved from http://nichcy.org/disability/specific/speechlanguage