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Speech, Language, and Hearing

Before children learn to read, they learn the sounds of their language by listening and speaking. These skills provide the foundation for later literacy. A child with hearing impairment or articulation problems has trouble processing or expressing language, and is likely to have difficulty learning to read and write. In fact, speech problems are often the first sign of a learning disability.

This section contains 12 articles.

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Second Language Acquisition

By: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (2008)

Anyone at any age can learn a second language after a first language is already established, but it takes a lot of practice. Second language acquisition often happens when a child who speaks a language other than English goes to school for the first time. This American Speech-Language-Hearing Association brief looks at the best way to teach a second language and how speech professionals can help.

Musical Training Helps Language Processing, Studies Show

By: Lisa Trei (2005)

In what will be music to the ears of arts advocates, researchers for the first time have shown that mastering a musical instrument improves the way the human brain processes parts of spoken language.

Activities to Encourage Speech and Language Development

By: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (2005)

The following parents tips from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association offer ideas for encouraging speech and language development among children from birth to six years old.

Effects of Hearing Loss on Development

By: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (2005)

It is well recognized that hearing is critical to speech and language development, communication, and learning. Children with listening difficulties due to hearing loss or auditory processing problems continue to be an underidentified and underserved population.

How Does Your Child Hear and Talk?

By: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (2005)

Every child is unique and has an individual rate of development. This chart represents, on average, the age by which most children will accomplish skills in hearing, understanding, and talking.

Helping Children With Communication Disorders in the Schools

By: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (2005)

The following are frequently asked questions on how to help children with communication disorders, particularly in regards to speaking, listening, reading, and writing.

What's 'Normal,' What's Not: Acquiring English as a Second Language

By: Celeste Roseberry-McKibbin and Alejandro Brice (2005)

How can you tell when a student has a language-learning disability and when he or she is merely in the normal process of acquiring a second language?

Speech Sounds: Assessment Tip

By: Southwest Educational Development Laboratory (2004)

Hearing the difference between similar sounding words such as grow and glow is easy for most children, but not for all children.

Speech Sounds: Watch & Learn

By: Reading Rockets (2004)

The following are four short video clips that offer you the chance to watch and learn effective speech sound activities. The video clips are from Reading Rockets' PBS television series Launching Young Readers.

Speech Sounds: Suggested Activities

By: Reading Rockets (2004)

Children must understand how speech sounds work to be ready for instruction in reading and writing. There are many activities that you can do with your students to help them increase their knowledge of speech sounds and their relationship to letters.

Young Children's Oral Language Development

By: Celia Genishi (1998)

The development of oral language is one of the child's most natural – and impressive – accomplishments.