Parent question
Speech or language: what’s the difference?
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The short answer
Speech is the physical act of talking: making sounds with the lips, tongue and voice. Language is the system of words and rules we use to understand and share ideas. A child can know exactly what they want to say (strong language) and still be hard to understand because of how they make sounds (a speech difficulty), or the other way round.
Speech difficulties
A speech disorder means trouble producing sounds correctly, or difficulties like stuttering. The most common kind in children is a speech sound disorder: saying “wabbit” for rabbit, “thun” for sun, or leaving sounds out.
Articulation vs phonological: two kinds of sound difficulty
- Articulation difficulties are about the movement: the child hasn’t yet learned to place their tongue or lips to make a particular sound, like R or S.
- Phonological difficulties are about patterns: the child can make a sound but follows a rule that changes it, like dropping the last sound of every word (“ca” for cat).
Speech therapists say the two often overlap and can be hard to tell apart, and many people use “speech sound disorder” for both. An SLP works out which is happening, because it changes how therapy is done.
Language difficulties
A language disorder means trouble understanding what others say, or putting thoughts into words: a small vocabulary, short or jumbled sentences, or difficulty following directions. About 40% of children with speech sound disorders also have some language difficulty, so an SLP will usually check both.
What about “speech delay”?
People use “speech delay” loosely for a child who is behind on talking. It isn’t a formal diagnosis. If someone mentions it, it’s worth asking whether they mean speech sounds, language, or both, since the next steps differ.
Questions parents ask
Can a child have a speech problem but normal language?
Yes. Many children understand and use language well but have trouble making certain sounds. The reverse also happens.
Who treats speech and language difficulties?
A speech-language pathologist (SLP), also called a speech therapist. SLPs assess and treat both.
Is a lisp a speech or language difficulty?
A lisp is a speech difficulty: it’s about how the S and Z sounds are made. Read the S sound guide.