Communication Disorders Have Been Considered

¶ … communication disorders have been considered less severe than other types of disabilities. Under what types of conditions would a communication disorder not be handicapping at all? Under what types of conditions would a communication disorder result in severe limitations for the individual?

The idea that communication disorders are not 'serious' and are limited to a sibilant's or a stutter has been belied by the explosion of autism in the United States, where an inability to speak is often one of the primary characteristics of the disorder. Being unable to relate to others can profoundly limit the child's education, and cause concurrent academic and psychological afflictions such as conduct disorders and depression. Even children with moderate-to-severe speech defects may be teased, experience social anxiety, and not reach their full academic or social potential without assistance. Minor speech defects may not pose a difficulty, and in some instances, speaking non-standard English may be the 'norm' of a particular community, rather than regarded as socially abnormal.

Should all children in the United States be expected to speak Standard American English regardless of their cultural, social, or geographic background? Explain your answer.

There is no single, standard pronunciation or dialect that trumps all others in America. In contrast to England, even American news announcers may speak in slightly different regional accents -- in a slight Midwestern twang or New York-accented English, in most instances. However, there is no question that there are many English dialects which are extremely difficult to penetrate for an outsider, and can limit the child's opportunities in life. The purpose of education is to expand, rather than limit the growth potential of a child. However, that does not mean that the child has to entirely abandon his or her cultural, social, or geographic 'way of being' in the world. Language is contextual -- just as a teacher does not use as formal a tone with his or her family as he or she does with a class, a child can use slang and other localized forms of speech with his or her peers, but needs to know how to use Standard American English to function in an academic environment.

What are the advantages of obtaining language samples from a child in a conversational rather than a structured or directed context? Why should children's language be assessed during their interactions with parents, other adults, and peers?