Section 296-20-460. Categories of permanent speech impairments.

(1) No objective findings of significant speech impairment are present. Subjective complaints may be present or absent.

(2) Can produce speech of sufficient audibility, intelligibility and functional efficiency for most everyday needs, although this may require effort and occasionally exceed capacity; listeners may occasionally ask for repetition and it may be difficult to produce some elements of speech, and there may be slow speaking and hesitation.

(3) Can produce speech of sufficient audibility, intelligibility and functional efficiency for many everyday needs, is usually heard under average conditions but may have difficulty in automobiles, busses, trains, or enclosed areas; can give name, address, and be understood by a stranger, but may have numerous inaccuracies and have difficulty articulating; speech may be interrupted, hesitant or slow.

(4) Can produce speech of sufficient audibility, intelligibility and functional efficiency for some everyday needs such as close conversation, conversation with family and friends, but has considerable difficulty in noisy places; voice tires rapidly and tends to become inaudible in a few seconds, strangers may find patient difficult to understand; patient may be asked to repeat often, and often can only sustain consecutive speech for brief periods.

(5) Can produce speech of sufficient audibility, intelligibility and functional efficiency for few everyday needs; can barely be heard by a close listener or over the telephone; may be able to whisper audibly but has no voice; can produce some speech elements; may have approximation of a few words such as names of family members which are, however, unintelligible out of context; cannot maintain uninterrupted speech flow, speech is labored, and its rate is impractically slow.

(6) Is unable to produce speech of sufficient audibility, intelligibility and functional efficiency for any everyday needs.

[Order 74-32, § 296-20-460, filed 6/21/74, effective 10/1/74.]

Order 74-32, § 296-20-460, filed 6/21/74, effective 10/1/74.