Alexis Irazoque, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech is the physical act of making sounds. Language is the words we use and how we use them to understand and communicate ideas. Speech includes articulation (how we make sounds), voice (how we use our vocal folds), and fluency (the rhythm and flow of talking). Language includes vocabulary, grammar, comprehension, and how we use language with others. A child can have difficulty with speech, language, or both. Understanding the difference can help parents recognize what kind of support their child may need.
Key takeaways
Speech is the physical act of producing sounds. Language is the system we use to understand and communicate meaning.
Speech has three main areas: articulation, voice, and fluency. Language has five areas: phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics.
A child can have a speech disorder, such as an articulation disorder or stutter, with typical language skills. Or a child can have a language disorder, such as difficulty learning words, with typical speech.
Speech therapists are trained to evaluate and treat both speech and language concerns.
If your child isn't meeting speech or language milestones, an evaluation can help you understand what support they may need.
Could your child have a speech delay?
Take our screenerSpeech vs. language: A side-by-side comparison
The table below highlights six key differences between speech and language, including what they involve, what challenges can look like, and how they’re evaluated and treated.
Understanding the difference between speech and language
The easiest way to think about the difference is that speech is how we say something, while language is what we understand and communicate.
What is speech?
Speech refers to how we say sounds and words. Speech includes three main areas:
Articulation: How we make speech sounds using our mouth, lips, and tongue
Voice: How we use our vocal folds and breath to make sounds
Fluency: The rhythm and smoothness of how we speak
A child can have problems in one area, such as articulation, while the other two areas are developing typically.
What is language?
Language refers to the words we use and how we use them to share our thoughts, wants, and needs. Language includes:
Understanding what words mean
Knowing how to put words together into sentences
Knowing how to talk with other people in a variety of situations
Language has two directions: receptive language (what a child understands) and expressive language (what a child communicates). For example, a toddler who follows two-step directions but says only a few words may have stronger receptive language skills than expressive language skills.
Speech therapists also look at five areas of language:
Phonology: How sounds are organized in words
Morphology: Word parts, such as plurals and past-tense endings
Syntax: How words are put together in sentences
Semantics: What words and sentences mean
Pragmatics: How we use language to communicate with others
Examples of speech disorders vs. language disorders
It’s common for parents to wonder whether their child’s issue is related to speech or language. The examples below can help show the difference. Keep in mind that some children have both a speech disorder and a language disorder.
Speech disorders: The physical act of talking
Articulation disorder — Difficulty making specific speech sounds. For example, a child may have trouble with sounds like /s/ and /z/ (saying “thun” instead of “sun”). Or they may use /w/ instead of /r/ beyond the expected age (saying “twuck” instead of “truck”).
Phonological disorder — Difficulty using and organizing speech sounds. A child may use patterns such as leaving off the final sound in a word, saying “ca” instead of “cat.”
Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) — A motor-planning disorder that makes it hard for the brain to plan and coordinate the movements needed for speech.
Stuttering (fluency disorder) — Interruptions in the flow of speech, such as repeating sounds or words, stretching out sounds, or getting stuck on a word.
Voice disorder — A change in voice quality, pitch, or loudness, such as ongoing hoarseness or breathiness. Voice changes can have a range of causes.
Language disorders: The system and meaning of communicating
Expressive language disorder — Difficulty using language to communicate, such as learning new words, putting words together into sentences, or telling a story.
Receptive language disorder — Difficulty understanding language, such as understanding words, following directions, or answering questions.
Mixed receptive-expressive language disorder — Difficulty both understanding and using language.
Developmental language disorder (DLD) — A long-term difficulty with understanding or using language that is not caused by another known condition.
Social communication disorder — Difficulty using language in social situations, such as taking turns in conversation, staying on topic, or changing how you communicate based on the situation or listener.
Discover the causes and signs of a language disorder, how language disorders are treated, and speech therapy exercises to try at home.
Understanding speech and language milestones
Every child develops at their own pace. However, there are speech and language milestones that children typically reach within certain age ranges. These milestones can give parents a general idea of what to expect and when it may be helpful to seek support.
“For example, by age 1, a child may put sounds together to say words like ‘mama’ or ‘up.’ By age 3, children typically use a growing range of speech sounds in words, such as /b/, /n/, /t/, /w/, /g/, /f/, and /h/,” explains Abby Barnes, M.S., CCC-SLP, a speech therapist at Expressable.
Another important part of speech development is speech intelligibility, or how much of a child’s speech other people can understand. As children get older, their speech should become easier for others to understand. A commonly used guideline from Hustad et al. (2021) is:
Age 4: At least 50% intelligible to an unfamiliar listener, or someone who doesn’t know the child well
Age 5: At least 75% intelligible to an unfamiliar listener
Age 6: Speech should continue becoming clearer as children develop more mature speech sounds
Age 7 and older: About 90% intelligible to an unfamiliar listener
“These numbers are guidelines, not strict cutoffs,” Barnes reassures parents. Speech clarity can vary depending on the child, the listener, and the situation. “Still, if a 4-year-old is understood less than half the time by people outside the family, it may be a good idea to schedule a speech evaluation, even if their language skills seem to be developing as expected.”
Language development follows its own set of milestones. For example, between 12 and 18 months, children typically respond to their name, follow simple directions, and begin using new words on their own. Around age 2, toddlers use a growing number of words and begin putting two words together into simple phrases, such as “more milk” or “want cookie.”
It's normal to not always understand your 2- or 3-year-old. But unclear speech could be a sign of a speech delay. Here's when speech therapy is needed.
What is a speech delay?
A speech delay is when a child develops speech sounds in the expected order but at a slower rate. A child with a speech delay may have trouble reaching speech milestones or being understood clearly for their age. Learn more about what to do if your child is not meeting speech milestones in our guide to speech delay.
What is a language delay?
Language skills develop in a typical order, with certain skills emerging at different ages. A language delay is when a child develops these skills in the expected order but at a slower rate.
A language delay can affect receptive language (understanding what others say), expressive language (using words and sentences), or both. Signs may include:
A 2-year-old who has fewer than 50 words or is not yet putting two words together
A preschooler who has trouble following two-step directions, like “Take off your shoes and bring your backpack to the kitchen.”
A school-age child who struggles to answer open-ended questions or retell a story in order.
Learn the causes and symptoms of a language delay, the milestones your toddler should be reaching, and how to help your child if they’re delayed.
How can you tell if it's a speech delay or a language delay?
Speech and language delays can look different, although some children have both.
“A child with a speech delay may know what they want to say and use words and phrases to communicate, but their speech may be hard to understand because they have trouble making certain sounds,” Barnes says.
A child with a language delay may have more difficulty understanding or using words and sentences. “They may use fewer words than expected for their age, or they may have trouble putting words together, following directions, answering questions, or expressing their thoughts,” Barnes says.
As a general guide, think about whether the main challenge is how your child says something or how they understand and use language. However, it can be hard to tell the difference on your own. A speech therapist can evaluate your child's communication skills and determine whether they need support with speech, language, or both.
What should I do if I think my child has a delay?
If you’re concerned about your child’s speech or language development, you don’t have to wait and see if they catch up on their own. Talk with your child’s pediatrician, or contact a speech therapist for an evaluation.
Speech therapy is individualized to each child. Your therapist should teach you strategies you can use at home with your child during everyday routines and conversations. Caregiver involvement is an important part of supporting your child’s communication development. Below are some simple strategies you start trying today.
Concerned about your child's speech?
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Find a speech therapist11 tips to help your child's speech and language at home
Children learn to communicate through everyday interactions with the people around them. Simple moments like playing, eating, getting dressed, and reading together are all chances to build speech and language skills. Try these techniques during activities you already do together.
1 Start talking with your baby from the beginning
Even newborns benefit from hearing your voice. Talk, sing, and respond to your baby throughout the day.
2 Respond to your baby's coos and babbles
When your baby makes a sound, respond as if you're having a conversation. This teaches them that communication is a back-and-forth interaction.
Learn how and when to start playing with your baby, and what kinds of interactive play can help your baby's growth and development.
3 Play simple games together
Games like peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake are fun ways to practice taking turns and communicating.
4 Talk about what you're doing
Narrate everyday activities using simple language. For instance, as you prepare a snack, you can say, “I'm putting your yogurt in the bowl.”
5 Read books together
You don't have to read every word on the page. If your child loses interest in the story, talk about the pictures, point out what you see, or let your child turn the pages.
Quick demo: How to read a book to your child like a speech therapist
Watch here6 Sing songs and nursery rhymes
Songs give children chances to hear new words, practice sounds, and join in with familiar phrases.
7 Expand on what your child says
Build on your child's words without asking them to repeat you. If they say, “Bluey,” you might say, “Yes! Bluey is here!”
8 Talk about what your child sees, does, and feels
Put words to everyday experiences. You might say, “You're hungry,” “The train is fast,” or “You look excited!”
Learn how to use language modeling, a common technique used by speech therapists to help teach toddlers to talk.
9 Give your child time to respond
After you say something or ask a question, pause and give your child time to respond. Try not to fill the silence right away.
10 Offer choices
Give your child chances to communicate by offering two choices. For example, ask, “Do you want milk or water?” Then wait for their response, whether it’s pointing or trying to say the word.
11 Model language instead of correcting mistakes
If your child makes a grammar mistake, repeat their idea using the correct form. If they say, “He run fast,” you can respond, “Yes, he runs fast!”
Have concerns about your child's speech or language?
You don't have to figure it out alone. Take our free online speech and language screener to learn more about your child's communication skills, or schedule an evaluation with a licensed speech therapist for personalized support.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Speech is the physical act of making sounds. It includes articulation (how we make speech sounds), voice (the pitch, loudness, and quality of our voice), and fluency (the rhythm and flow of speech). Language is the system we use to understand and express meaning through words, sentences, and other forms of communication. A child may have difficulty with speech, language, or both. A speech-language pathologist can evaluate your child's communication skills and determine what support they may need.
Yes. A child can have typical speech skills while having difficulty with language. For example, a 2-year-old may say words clearly but use fewer words than expected for their age or have trouble putting two words together. The reverse can also happen: a child may have a hard time making certain speech sounds while their vocabulary and understanding are developing as expected. A speech therapist can evaluate both speech and language to determine where your child may need support.
Speech-language pathologists are trained to evaluate and treat both speech and language. Therapy is based on a child's individual needs. Speech therapy may focus on areas such as speech sounds, voice, or fluency, while language therapy may target vocabulary, sentences, understanding, or social communication. When a child has both speech and language needs, a speech therapist can address both areas as part of their treatment plan. Caregivers may also learn strategies to support their child's communication during everyday activities at home.
How Expressable Can Help
Concerned your child isn't reaching age-expected milestones? Looking for communication support from a professional? Expressable is a national online speech and occupational therapy practice serving children and adults. We treat all major areas of communication, feeding, and developmental skills, offer flexible hours including evenings and weekends, and accept most major health insurance plans. We’re proud to have earned more than 4,500 5-star reviews from our clients (4.83/5 average).
Our therapy model is centered on parent and caregiver involvement. Research proves that empowering caregivers to participate in their loved one’s therapy leads to better outcomes. That’s why we combine live, 1-on-1 speech and occupational therapy with personalized education and home practice activities for faster progress.
