A speech-language impairment is defined as a communication disorder, such as disfluency (stuttering), impaired articulation, expressive or receptive language impairment, or a voice impairment that adversely affects a child's educational performance.
The focus of school-based speech language pathologists is to facilitate the development of effective and efficient communication skills so that students can participate as fully as possible in educational, social, and vocational interactions. As members of school-based teams, the speech language pathologist participates in the identification, assessment, evaluation, eligibility determination, treatment plan development, and treatment management of those students with disorders in the areas of speech and/or language.