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3525.1343 SPEECH OR LANGUAGE IMPAIRMENTS.

Subpart 1.

Fluency disorder; definition and criteria.

"Fluency disorder" means the intrusion or repetition of sounds, syllables, and words; prolongations of sounds; avoidance of words; silent blocks; or inappropriate inhalation, exhalation, or phonation patterns. These patterns may also be accompanied by facial and body movements associated with the effort to speak. Fluency patterns that are attributed only to dialectical, cultural, or ethnic differences or to the influence of a foreign language must not be identified as a disorder.

A pupil has a fluency disorder and is eligible for speech or language special education when:

A.

the pattern interferes with communication as determined by an educational speech language pathologist and either another adult or the pupil; and

B.

dysfluent behaviors occur during at least five percent of the words spoken on two or more speech samples.

Subp. 2.

Voice disorder; definition and criteria.

"Voice disorder" means the absence of voice or presence of abnormal quality, pitch, resonance, loudness, or duration. Voice patterns that can be attributed only to dialectical, cultural, or ethnic differences or to the influence of a foreign language must not be identified as a disorder.

A pupil has a voice disorder and is eligible for speech or language special education when:

A.

the pattern interferes with communication as determined by an educational speech language pathologist and either another adult or the pupil; and

B.

achievement of a moderate to severe vocal severity rating is demonstrated on a voice evaluation profile administered on two separate occasions, two weeks apart, at different times of the day.

Subp. 3.

Articulation disorder; definition and criteria.

A.

"Articulation disorder" means the absence of or incorrect production of speech sounds or phonological processes that are developmentally appropriate. For the purposes of this subpart, phonological process means a regularly occurring simplification or deviation in an individual's speech as compared to the adult standard, usually one that simplifies the adult phonological pattern. Articulation patterns that are attributed only to dialectical, cultural, or ethnic differences or to the influence of a foreign language must not be identified as a disorder.

B.

A pupil has an articulation disorder and is eligible for speech or language special education when the pupil meets the criteria in subitem (1) and either subitem (2) or (3):

(1)

the pattern interferes with communication as determined by an educational speech language pathologist and either another adult or the pupil; and

(2)

test performance falls 2.0 standard deviations below the mean on a technically adequate, norm-referenced articulation test; or

(3)

a pupil is nine years of age or older and a sound is consistently in error as documented by two three-minute conversational speech samples.

Subp. 4.

Language disorder; definition and criteria.

A.

"Language disorder" means a breakdown in communication as characterized by problems in expressing needs, ideas, or information that may be accompanied by problems in understanding. Language patterns that are attributed only to dialectical, cultural, or ethnic differences or to the influence of a foreign language must not be identified as a disorder.

B.

A pupil has a language disorder and is eligible for speech or language special education services when:

(1)

the pattern interferes with communication as determined by an educational speech language pathologist and either another adult or the child;

(2)

an analysis of a language sample or documented observation of communicative interaction indicates the pupil's language behavior falls below or is different from what would be expected given consideration to chronological age, developmental level, or cognitive level; and

(3)

the pupil scores 2.0 standard deviations below the mean on at least two technically adequate, norm-referenced language tests if available; or

(4)

if technically adequate, norm-referenced language tests are not available to provide evidence of a deficit of 2.0 standard deviations below the mean in the area of language, two documented measurement procedures indicate a substantial difference from what would be expected given consideration to chronological age, developmental level, or cognitive level. The documented procedures may include additional language samples, criterion-referenced instruments, observations in natural environments, and parent reports.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 14.389; 120.17; L 1999 c 123 s 19,20

History:

16 SR 1543; 17 SR 3361; L 1998 c 397 art 11 s 3; 24 SR 1799; 26 SR 657

Published Electronically:

October 12, 2007

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes