School-Age Speech & Language Red Flags and Their Impact on Academic Success

Strong communication skills help kids shine—in the classroom, with friends, and in everyday life. Sometimes, challenges with speech or language aren’t obvious, but they can still make learning and connecting with others harder. Spotting the signs early means your child can get the help they need to feel confident and succeed.

*Persistent Articulation Errors

-Can affect spelling, reading, and writing due to poor phonological awareness and sound-letter correspondence.

*Behavior or Academic Concerns Tied to Communication Issues

-Frustration with communication can manifest as inattention, withdrawal, or acting out—misinterpreted as behavioral challenges rather than speech-language deficits.

*Difficulty Answering Questions

-Interferes with participation, assessment performance, and checking for understanding across subjects.

*Difficulty Following Directions

-Leads to missed instructions, incomplete tasks, and poor classroom independence.

*Limited Vocabulary & Difficulty Expressing Thoughts

-Impacts reading comprehension, written expression, and ability to explain reasoning in subjects like math and science.

*Frequent Grammatical Errors & Incomplete Sentences

-Affects writing quality, reading fluency, and oral communication—skills essential for testing and classroom discussion.

*Struggles with Storytelling & Explaining Ideas

-Limits success in narrative writing, reading comprehension, and conveying understanding of learned material.

*Unintelligible Speech

-Limits classroom participation, peer interactions, and oral presentations; may lead to social isolation or decreased confidence.

*Poor Social Communication

-Affects group work, classroom behavior, peer relationships, and the ability to ask for help when needed.

*Stuttering

-May cause avoidance of speaking in class, reduced participation, and increased anxiety around communication tasks.

Speech and language challenges don’t have to hold your child back. With the right support, children can make amazing progress in school and beyond. If you’ve noticed any of these red flags, a speech and language evaluation can give you clarity and a plan to help your child grow and thrive!

Call/text us at 208-466-1077 for more information!