Speaking and listening
English K–6
Support Materials for Students with Special Education Needs
6
Speech production
Speech production refers to how students physically make sounds to speak. Learning to speak
is a developmental skill with some sounds acquired earlier than others. Being able to speak
clearly is important for effective communication (ie being understood by others).
Students may experience difficulties with speech for a variety of reasons, such as:
• inability to hear and discriminate between sounds (auditory discrimination)
• inability to imitate sounds
• difficulty organising, planning and sequencing sounds for speech
• difficulty producing more complex movements required for specific sounds (eg s, r, l, and th)
• physical issues (eg differences in the oral structures or weakness of the muscles used for
speech, such as cleft palate).
Interaction skills
In addition to comprehension and oral language skills, effective communication involves the
application of interaction skills that reflect the social conventions of the communication group.
Students who have core difficulties interacting with others can be assisted to develop
acceptable interaction skills through explicit instruction and regular opportunities to interact
with peers who may or may not have social skills difficulties.
Interaction skills include:
• commencing an interaction
• maintaining an interaction
• completing an interaction.
Commencing an interaction
involves:
• knowing how and when to start an interaction
• using appropriate nonverbal behaviours
• recognising appropriate topics to introduce
• indicating availability and/or interest to continue the interaction.
INTRODUCTION
