Speech sound disorders (SSD) include a range of diagnoses including but not limited to: difficulties with sound production (articulation), sound patterns (phonology), deficits in motor planning (apraxia), structural differences (such as cleft lip/palate), weakness (dysarthria), or abnormal movement patterns of the mouth and face.

Language is complex and multi-faceted and involves the ability to understand others and express ourselves.

Some children experience delays in language development, i.e. Late Language Emergence. These children are sometimes called "late talkers." There is strong evidence for early intervention for language delay.

Other children experience disordered language development. Sometimes language disorders are associated with a diagnosis (e.g. autism, Down Syndrome, traumatic brain injury, etc.).

Other times, language disorders are not as causal or are unrelated to a diagnosis. Developmental language disorder (DLD) involves difficulties with acquisition and use of language skills that are not due to a primary diagnosis such as intellectual disability, hearing loss, or other medical condition. These challenges can affect a range of language skills including comprehension (understanding) and expression (production) in areas such as vocabulary, grammar, discourse and can have lifelong social and academic impacts.

Literacy skills include reading and writing. A speech-language pathologist (SLP) has unique and advanced training in providing support in crucial aspects of literacy such as phonological awareness, decoding, vocabulary, comprehension and written expression.