What Teachers Should Know Speech refers to the way sounds and words are formed, and language refers to the broader system of receiving and expressing information. Students with speech impairments may have difficulty with: articulation, the production of speech sounds fluency, the rhythm and flow of speech voice, the quality of pitch, resonance, or loudness Students with language impairments may have difficulty understanding and being understood through communication — verbal, nonverbal, and written. Students with speech and language impairments may: need accommodations in seating or use assistive devices in class have difficulty understanding or following directions have difficulty reading, writing, or speaking aloud in class feel self-conscious or anxious about talking miss class time to attend speech-language therapy What Teachers Can Do Students with speech and language impairments may benefit from individualized education programs (IEPs) or 504 education plans. If your student is being treated for a speech or language problem, part of the treatment may include seeing a speech-language pathologist (SLP) during the school day. Therapy may be one or more times a week, depending on the severity of the condition. Students with speech and language impairments can feel stressed and anxious, which can make it even harder to talk and express themselves. The student may speak slowly in class and should be given plenty of time to express his or her thoughts. Interrupting or completing a sentence for the student is not helpful and might cause embarrassment. You can support your student by: giving additional time to complete assignments or make up work substituting written papers or projects for oral presentations, or allowing the student to demonstrate learning one-on-one with you reviewing the IEP or 504, if the student has one, and working with the SLP to facilitate communication and learning in the classroom Back to Articles Related Articles Speech Problems Do you know someone who stutters or has another speech disorder? Find out how speech disorders are treated, how you can help a friend or classmate cope, and lots more. Read More Going to a Speech Therapist You might visit a speech therapist if you're having trouble speaking or understanding others. Find out more in this article for kids. Read More Stuttering and Speech Problems Do you or does someone you know ever have a hard time getting words out? Get the whole story on stuttering and other speech problems in this article for kids. Read More Delayed Speech or Language Development Knowing what's "normal" and what's not in speech and language development can help you figure out if you should be concerned or if your child is right on schedule. Read More Stuttering Many young kids go through a stage when they stutter. Stuttering usually goes away on its own but in some cases lasts longer. Read More Speech-Language Therapy Working with a certified speech-language pathologist can help a child with speech or language difficulties. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.