Speech & Language- What’s the difference?

Speech and language are both essential components of communication, but they’re not the same thing. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) evaluate and treat both in speech therapy.

When SLPs refer to speech, we are referring to the actual production of speech as we hear it. This can relate to the way different speech sounds sound (such as R sounding like a W), the way the voice sounds (is it raspy? strained?), or the fluency of speech (stuttering, for example). Speech is the actual sound we hear when someone is talking to us.

Language on the other hand, refers to the content and comprehension of speech. It refers to how language is used (expressive language), how language is understood (receptive language), and how language is used to navigate the world (pragmatic/social language).

While some children may have only a speech disorder (like difficulty pronouncing certain sounds), others may struggle with both speech and language challenges. A comprehensive evaluation will help determine which areas of communication might benefit from intervention.