Speech-language disorders or impairments, aside from those related to hearing loss, affect one in ten people.  These disorders or impairments impede both understanding and speaking.  They may be related to the physical ability to generate speech.  They may involve problems with coping with the nature of language itself, how language is structured in meaningful sounds, and how to use language to communicate thoughts and feelings.  Early childhood speech-language delay or disorder impacts negatively on the child’s learning progress, socialization, and future prospects unless identified, diagnosed, and treated very early in life.