It is important to remember that all children develop differently. These differences do not always translate into a speech disorder. Many children require additional time to develop and acquire appropriate speech and language skills.

1. Language is different from speech. Language is a code made up of a group of rules that include:

· What words mean

· How to make new words (friend, friendly, unfriendly)

· How to combine words together to make sentences

· What words to use in different situations

When a person cannot understand the language code, then there is a receptive language problem.

When a person does not know enough language rules to share thoughts, ideas and feelings, then there is an expressive problem.

2. Speech is the actual production of sounds to form words. It involves a series of complex mouth motor movements and brain function to correctly produce sounds. Children who omit, substitute or incorrectly produce speech sounds are said to have a speech problem. The terms articulation or phonological difficulties are also used. In addition, children who stutter or whose voices sound rough, hoarse or nasal all have speech problems.

3. Language and speech problems can occur together or by themselves. The problem may be from mild to severe. If your child requires speech therapy, please remember that therapy takes time and practice. When these things are in place, many children are able to learn to appropriately produce speech sounds and to acquire language skills.