The words speech and language are often used interchangeably, but speech-language pathologists use them to describe different parts of communication.
Speech is how words sound
Speech involves the production of sounds. A child with a speech sound difficulty may know exactly what they want to say but pronounce sounds differently, omit sounds, or be difficult to understand.
Language is how we understand and express ideas
Language includes understanding words and sentences, learning vocabulary, combining words, using grammar, telling stories, and communicating ideas.
A child can have one, both, or neither
Some children have clear speech but difficulty formulating sentences. Others use age-appropriate language but are hard to understand. Some children have difficulties in both areas.
This information is educational and does not replace an individualized evaluation by a qualified professional.