GASPRO International Journal of Eminent Scholars

ABSTRACT

The study sought to assess the speech impairment and language problems to children. Individuals with specific learning disability can face unique challenges that are often pervasive throughout the lifespan. Speech is defective when it deviates so far from the speech of other people that it calls attention to the speaker, interferes with normal communication, or causes embarrassment to the impaired individual. Children learn language skills by following this hierarchical development. Each successive skill is built upon a firm foundation of preceding abilities. The study revealed that speech impairment is characterized by difficulty in articulation of words. Each successive skill is built upon a firm foundation of preceding abilities. It is usually expected, for example, that a child will acquire adequate listening skills prior to developing the expressive skills of speaking. The study concluded that speech impaired children often feel isolated and different from their peers, and teachers are expected to exhibit positive and encouraging attitude towards theses children in order to motivate them to speak and associate more. It was therefore recommended that government should adopt a multidisciplinary approach that positions speech disorders as both a health and educational responsibility, recognizing the educational implications of speech disorders and the need for additional school-based learning support including the provision of speech services as part of a holistic development program.

KEYWORDS: speech impairment, language problems, children, learning disabled