Intellectual disability: the SLP’s role in communication, per ASHA
ASHA says that SLPs “do not diagnose intellectual disability (ID) but play a key role in assessing the communication and language skills of individuals with ID.” This page quotes ASHA only.
Quoted from official pages checked November 12, 2026. Confirm current information on those sites. This page is not medical advice and does not describe any patient’s care.
Source read on November 12, 2026: ASHA’s Practice Portal page Intellectual Disability.
ASHA’s Practice Portal pages are written for clinicians. Quotes below stop before ASHA’s in-text research citations.
Scope
ASHA states: “The scope of this page is centralized content about individuals with an intellectual disability (ID) and associated communication difficulties across the life span.”
ASHA describes ID as involving onset in the developmental period and significant limitations in adaptive behavior and in intellectual functioning (paraphrased; the definition carries citations).
Roles ASHA lists for SLPs
- “Assess the need for AAC services and supports.”
- “Determine eligibility for speech and language services.”
- “Refer to other professionals to rule out other conditions, determine etiology, and facilitate access to comprehensive services (e.g., physical therapy, occupational therapy).”
- “Plan for transitions from educational to community support services.”
- “Support individuals with ID in vocational and community settings.”
ASHA also says SLPs may be part of a team making a differential diagnosis between ID and autism spectrum disorder or other conditions (paraphrased).
What this page does not do
It does not repeat ASHA’s prevalence figures, causes, or treatment approaches. It is not medical advice and does not recommend any treatment, medicine, device, or product. Scope of practice is set by state law; check your state board.