OAR 581-015-2135: Speech or Language Impairment

(1) Definition of “Speech or Language Impairment”: For early childhood and school age special education, “Speech or Language Impairment” means the impairment of speech articulation, voice, fluency, or the impairment or deviant development of language comprehension and/or expression, or the impairment of the use of a spoken or other symbol system that adversely affects educational performance. The language impairment may be manifested by one or more of the following components of language: morphology, syntax, semantics, phonology, and pragmatics. (2) Comprehensive Evaluation: If a child is suspected of having a speech or language impairment, a comprehensive evaluation for early childhood or school age special education services must be conducted, including the following: (a) Speech-language assessment. A speech and language assessment administered by a speech and language pathologist licensed by a State Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology or the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission, including: (A) When evaluating syntax, morphology, semantics or pragmatics, a representative language sample and comprehensive standardized tests that assess expression and comprehension; (B) When a voice disorder is suspected, a voice assessment scale; and (C) When a fluency disorder is suspected, an observation in at least two settings; (b) Medical. For a child suspected of having a voice disorder, documentation of a medical examination by an otolaryngologist licensed by a State Board of Medical Examiners. For other than a voice disorder, if a medical information is needed, documentation of a medical examination as defined in OAR 581-015-2000 describing relevant medical issues; (c) Hearing evaluation or screening. An evaluation or screening of the child's hearing acuity and, if needed, a measure of middle ear functioning; (d) Other. (A) An evaluation of the child's oral mechanism, if needed; (B) Any additional assessments necessary to determine the impact of the suspected disability: (i) On the child's educational performance for a school-age child; or (ii) On the child's developmental progress for a preschool child; and (C) Any additional evaluations or assessments necessary to identify the child's educational needs. (3) Eligibility Criteria: To be eligible as a child with a specific speech or language impairment for early childhood or school age special education services, the child must meet the following criteria: (a) Voice disorder: (A) The child demonstrates chronic vocal characteristics that deviate in at least one of the areas of pitch, quality, intensity or resonance; (B) The child's voice disorder impairs communication or intelligibility; and (C) The child's voice disorder is rated as moderate to severe on a voice assessment scale. (b) Fluency disorder: (A) The child demonstrates an interruption in the rhythm or rate of speech that is characterized by hesitations, repetitions, or prolongations of sounds, syllables, words or phrases; (B) The child has a fluency disorder that interferes with communication and calls attention to itself across two or more settings; and (C) The child demonstrates moderate to severe vocal dysfluencies or the child evidences associated secondary behaviors, such as struggling or avoidance as measured by a standardized measure. (c) Phonological or articulation disorder: (A) The child's phonology or articulation is rated significantly discrepant as measured by a standardized test; and (B) The disorder is substantiated by a language sample or other evaluation(s). (d) Syntax, morphology, pragmatic or semantic disorder: (A) The child's language in the area of syntax, morphology, semantics or pragmatics is significantly discrepant as measured by standardized test(s) or other evaluation data; and (B) The disorder is substantiated by a language sample or other evaluation(s). (C) For a child to be eligible with a syntax, morphology, pragmatic or semantic disorder, the disorder is not the result of another disability. (4) Eligibility Determination: For a child to be eligible for early childhood or school age special education services as a child with a speech or language impairment, the eligibility team must also determine that: (a) The child has a speech or language impairment as defined in this rule; and (b) By reason thereof, the child requires early intervention (OAR 581-015-2780), early childhood special education (OAR 581-015-2795), or school age special education (OAR 581-015-2120) services.