Speech Therapy vs Language Delay: What’s the Difference?

Speech Versus Language: What's the difference?

When parents are told their child might benefit from speech therapy, a common response is:“But they’re talking fine—do they really need speech therapy?”

That question reveals a common misunderstanding: speech and language are not the same thing. While they’re closely connected, they refer to different aspects of communication. And when a child experiences difficulty in one or both areas, the support they need may differ.

In this article, we’ll break down the difference between speech and language, explain the types of delays children can experience, and help you understand how speech therapy supports both.

🔍 The Key Difference: Speech vs Language

🗣️ What Is Speech?

Speech refers to the physical production of sounds using the mouth, tongue, lips, and vocal cords. It’s how we say words.

Speech involves:

• Articulation: How speech sounds are formed (e.g., making a clear "s" or "r" sound)

• Voice: How we use our vocal cords and breath to produce sound

• Fluency: The flow of speech (e.g., smooth vs stuttering)

Children with speech difficulties may:

• Be hard to understand

• Mispronounce sounds

• Substitute or omit sounds

• Speak with a nasal, hoarse, or unusual voice

• Stutter or struggle to get words out fluently

🧠 What Is Language?

Language refers to the system we use to understand and express ideas. It includes both receptive language (understanding what others say) and expressive language (what we say to others).

Language involves:

• Vocabulary (knowing words)

• Grammar (how words are put together)

• Comprehension (understanding what is said or read)

• Storytelling and conversation skills

Children with language delays may:

• Use fewer words than expected for their age

• Struggle to put words into sentences

• Have trouble following instructions

• Mix up word order or grammar

• Struggle to express needs, ideas, or feelings

🎯 What Is a Speech Delay?

A speech delay occurs when a child is developing speech sounds more slowly than their peers. They may:

• Speak fewer sounds or words than expected

• Be difficult to understand, especially by unfamiliar people

• Continue making sound errors past the age they should resolve

For example, saying “wabbit” instead of “rabbit” is normal at age 3, but not by age 6. Children with speech delays may also become frustrated when others don’t understand them.

🧩 What Is a Language Delay?

A language delay means a child is not understanding or using words and sentences at the expected age. This can affect how they:

• Follow directions

• Ask questions

• Describe things

• Tell stories

• Engage in conversations

A child with a language delay might speak clearly but only use one or two-word phrases well past the age where peers are speaking in full sentences.

🔄 Can a Child Have Both?

Yes! Many children experience both speech and language delays. For example, a 3-year-old might:

• Speak with unclear sounds (speech delay)

• Only use two-word phrases and struggle to express ideas (language delay)

These combined challenges often impact social interaction, emotional regulation, and later academic skills like reading and writing.

🧠 What Causes Speech or Language Delays?

Speech and language delays can result from many factors, including:

• Hearing loss (even temporary, from ear infections)

• Developmental language disorder (DLD) – a common neurodevelopmental condition

• Autism spectrum disorder

• Global developmental delay or intellectual disability

• Genetic conditions (e.g., Down syndrome)

• Neurological differences (e.g., cerebral palsy, apraxia)

• Environmental factors (e.g., limited exposure to language)

Sometimes, there’s no clear cause—but that doesn’t mean support isn’t helpful.

🩺 How Is It Diagnosed?

A speech pathologist (also called a speech therapist) is the qualified professional who assesses and supports children with speech or language concerns.

They will typically:

• Talk with you about your child’s developmental history

• Observe your child’s play and interaction

• Use standardised assessments or informal tools

• Listen to how your child produces speech sounds

• Evaluate understanding, vocabulary, sentence use, and conversation skills

After assessment, they’ll identify if your child has:

• A speech delay

• A language delay

• Both

• Or something else (e.g., speech sound disorder, developmental language disorder, fluency disorder)

👩‍⚕️ How Can Speech Therapy Help?

Despite the name, speech therapy supports both speech and language skills. Therapy sessions are typically fun, play-based, and tailored to your child’s specific goals.

For speech delays, therapy may focus on:

• Practising specific sounds

• Teaching correct placement of tongue, lips, jaw

• Using visual cues or games to encourage clearer speech

• Improving fluency and voice use

For language delays, therapy may focus on:

• Building vocabulary

• Expanding sentence length and grammar

• Understanding questions, concepts, and directions

• Developing storytelling and conversation skills

• Using visuals, AAC (augmentative communication) or signs, if needed

Therapists also give parents tools to support communication at home and may collaborate with educators or other professionals (e.g. occupational therapists or psychologists).

🧒 What If My Child Seems Fine But Isn’t Talking Yet?

Some children are considered late talkers—they understand language well but are slow to start speaking. While many catch up, some may have underlying delays that won’t resolve without support.

Red flags to look for:

• No words by 18 months

• Not combining two words by age 2

• Not following simple instructions

• Frustration or tantrums due to difficulty communicating

• Loss of previously learned words or skills

If you’re unsure, a speech pathology assessment provides clarity and peace of mind. Early support makes a big difference.

🎓 Long-Term Impact of Untreated Delays

Without early support, speech and language delays can affect:

• School readiness and academic achievement

• Social skills and friendships

• Emotional wellbeing and behaviour

• Self-esteem and confidence

That’s why speech pathologists recommend addressing concerns as soon as they arise—even before school starts.

📞 Final Thoughts

Understanding the difference between speech and language is the first step in supporting your child’s communication development. Whether your child needs help with speech sounds, understanding language, expressing themselves, or all of the above—speech therapy is the go-to support.

Remember, you don’t need a referral to see a speech pathologist in Australia. Trust your instincts. If something feels off, reach out—it’s never too early to start.

Need Support?

At The Speech & Therapy Clinic, we offer speech therapy for children of all ages from our clinic in Footscray, VIC as well as home and school visits in the area. Our experienced speech pathologists can assess your child and tailor support to their needs—whether it’s speech, language, or both.

📞 Contact us today to book an initial consultation. Let’s support your child’s voice, together.