Correct Answer: speech or language impairment the individuals with disabilities education act (idea) provides specific definitions for various types of disabilities that might affect children's educational performance, ensuring they receive appropriate educational support tailored to their needs. among these defined conditions is "speech or language impairment."
"speech or language impairment" under idea includes several communication disorders: stuttering, impaired articulation, language impairment, and voice impairment. these disorders are characterized by difficulties in the way an individual produces sounds to form words (articulation), the fluency of speech, the use of spoken language to communicate (language impairment), or problems with voice quality, such as hoarseness or a harsh voice.
the key aspect of this definition is not just the presence of these conditions but also their impact on a child’s educational performance. this means that for a speech or language impairment to fall under idea, it must adversely affect the child’s ability to succeed academically. this could manifest as difficulties in reading, writing, speaking, or understanding academic content, which are essential for learning across all subjects.
this is distinct from other categories defined by idea, such as:
- "deafness," which specifically refers to a severe hearing impairment that is so profound that it impacts the processing of linguistic information through hearing, with or without amplification, and adversely affects educational performance.
- "specific learning disability," which involves disorders in understanding or using spoken or written language, and may manifest in difficulties with listening, thinking, speaking, reading, writing, spelling, or doing mathematical calculations.
- "other health impairment," which covers conditions that are chronic or acute health problems such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, and others that adversely affect a child’s educational performance.
therefore, when considering the statement provided in the question, the correct identification of the disability category according to idea is "speech or language impairment." this classification underscores the importance of tailored educational interventions that address specific communication challenges to help affected children achieve their full academic potential.
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