Identification of speech disorders.

This article focuses on the early identification and referral of children who may have speech disorders. A distinction is made between speech and language, i.e., speech is the spoken vehicle by which we communicate our thoughts, as expressed symbolically through language. The evaluation of speech should be performed systematically by the assessment of four basic components of speech: phonation, resonance, articulation, and prosody. Suggestions regarding management and referral are presented.