Language and Speech Impairments

Speech impairment may influence speech in a general way, or only certain aspects of it, such as fluency or voice volume. Language impairment may be associated with a more general intellectual impairment. A different group are foreign visitors who have limited or no knowledge of the local language; these people may be assisted by features added for language impaired persons.

Speech difficulties will hinder use of the telephone network in speech mode. People with very weak voices will require 'send' amplification. Stammering problems may be influenced by the speaker's own voice being heard through the telephone earpiece (sidetone).

People with significant problems with voice communication may opt for text-based communication. In many cases the problem may be linked with deafness, and the textphone will be the chosen facility. Others may have synthetic speech communicators, and will need to interface these with their telephone terminals.
Further information