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Speech and Language Disability Percentage Calculation 

by | Last updated Jul 6, 2025

Author: <a href="https://baslpcourse.com/author/aslpvikash/" target="_self">Vikash Kumar</a> (Audiologist and Speech Language Pathlogist)

Author: Vikash Kumar (Audiologist and Speech Language Pathlogist)

Founder of baslpcourse.com, aslpweb.com, & otospeak.com. If you have any problem related to Speech, Hearing, and Vertigo, and want to consult, Click here.
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speech-and-language-disability-percentage-calculation

Speech and Language Disability Percentage Calculation: Thus, “speech and language disability” shall mean a permanent disability arising from one or more of the components of speech and language due to organic or neurological causes such as primary and secondary aphasia or underwent laryngectomy.

The Speech and Language disability percentage for different severity rating is decided on the basis of Speech Intelligibility Affected (SIA) score, Overall Voice Clarity Affected (OVCA) score, and Western Aphasia Battery (WAB).

To obtain an accurate speech and language disability percentage, it is important to consult with the relevant authorities or healthcare professionals like Speech and Language Pathologist or Speech Therapist. They will guide the assessment process and the specific factors considered when determining the speech and language disability percentage to obtain a speech and language disability certificate.

Speech and Language Disability Certificate

A speech and language disability certificate is a document that certifies the status of an individual about his or her speech and language disability. Disability percentage in disability certificate is an important element because it measures the extent of disability in the applicant. Example uses of speech and language disability percentage calculation for a disability certificate.

Types of Speech and Language Disability Certificate 

There are two types of certificate issue in speech and language disability: 

  1. Speech Disability Certificate 
  2. Language Disability Certificate 

Speech Disability Certificate 

For speech disability certificate, there should be such conditions or diseases that affect speech intelligibility and voice quality. Conditions affecting Speech Components for which Speech Disability certificate can be issued: 

  1. Laryngectomy (assessment for disability after completion of treatment)
  2. Glossectomy (assessment for disability after completion of treatment)
  3. Bilateral vocal cord paralysis (assessment for disability 9-12 months post-onset)
  4. Maxillofacial anomalies (assessment for disability after completion of medical-surgical treatment, use/fitting of
    prosthetic devices and one year of regular documented speech therapy intervention by an RCI Registered Speech
    Language Pathologists.)
  5. Dysarthria (assessment for disability after completion of one year of regular documented speech therapy
    intervention by RCI Registered Speech Language Pathologists.)
  6. Apraxia of Speech (assessment for disability after completion of one year of regular documented speech therapy
    intervention by RCI Registered Speech Language Pathologists.)

Language Disability Certificate 

For a Language disability certificate, only one condition or disorder should be affected by Language components. Conditions affecting Language Components for which a Language Disability certificate can be issued 

  1. Aphasia 

Speech and Language Disability Percentage Calculation 

Speech Language Pathologist or Speech Therapist does the speech and language disability calculations. Speech Disability Certificates and Language Disability Certificates are issued separately that’s why the percentage calculation of both is also done separately. 

  1. Speech Disability Percentage Calculation 
  2. Language Disability Percentage Calculation 

Speech Disability Percentage Calculation 

Speech Disability Percentage Calculation is done in three parts: 

  1. Speech Intelligibility Test 
  2. Voice Test 
  3. Speech Disability Certificate Percentage Calculation 

Speech Intelligibility Test for Speech Disability Percentage Speech Disability

Standardized Tests used for measuring Percentage of Speech Intelligibility Affects (SIA) 

  • Perceptual Speech intelligibility rating scale (AYJNISHD, 2003)

It is recommended to assess a person’s verbal output using either the Perceptual Speech Intelligibility Rating Scale (AYJNISHD, 2003) or the Perceptual Rating Scale (SRMC, Chennai), with the percentage of Speech Intelligibility Affected (SIA) to be measured based on score as stated below: 

ScoreDescription of Speech SamplePercentage of Speech Intelligibility Affects (SIA)
1Normal0 – 15
2Can understand without difficulty; however, feel speech is normal16 – 30
3Can understand with little effort, occasionally need to ask for repetition31 – 39
4Can be understood with concentration and effort, especially by a sympathetic listener; requires a minimum of two or three repetitions.40 – 55
5Can understand with difficulty and concentration by family, but not others56 – 75
6Can understand with effort if the content is known76 – 89
7Cannot understand at all even when content is known90 – 100

 

Voice Test for Speech Disability Percentage Speech Disability

Standardized Tests used for measuring Percentage of Overall Voice Clarity Affected (OVCA)

  • Consensus Auditory Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V)
  • Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI)

The Consensus Auditory Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V) or Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI) can be employed to assess the percentage of Overall Voice Clarity Affected (OVCA), encompassing factors such as roughness, breathiness, strain, pitch, and loudness. The average score should be assigned with consideration for the weighted impact on the overall voice clarity percentage.

ScorePercentage of Overall voice clarity affected (OVCA)
10 – 15
216 – 30
331 – 39
440 – 55
556 – 75
676 – 89
790 – 100

 

Formula for Speech Disability Certificate Percentage Calculation

It is probable that the formula is to establish the percentage of speech disability and represents the upper range of the two factors as a percentage of SIA (Speech Intelligibility Assessment) and a percentage of OVCA (Oral Verbal Communication Assessment).

Percentage of speech Disability = [(2 x Upper range of percentage of SIA) + Upper range of percentage of OVCA] ÷ 3

It is carried out by means of standardized tests, which evaluate Speech Intelligibility Affected (SIA) and Overall Voice Clarity Affected (OVCA) percentages. Two recommended scales assessing SIA are Perceptual Speech Intelligibility Rating Scale (AYJNISHD, 2003) and Perceptual rating scale (SRMC, Chennai). For OVCA, recommended measures include Consensus Auditory Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V) and Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI, see also cali_calc).

The Percentage of Speech Disability is proposed to be calculated based on the following formula: [(2 x Upper range of percentage of SIA) + Upper range of percentage of OVCA] ÷ 3 This is the weighted contribution of SIA and OVCA to the overall voice clarity percentage. This assessment will quantify perceived disability based on perceptual and voice intelligibility judgments.

Language Disability Percentage Calculation

The sole criterion for calculating the percentage of language disability is Aphasia. To assess the disability percentage for aphasia, the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) is employed. In Indian languages, the administration of the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) is recommended six months after the onset of a stroke, and the Aphasia Quotient (AQ) is then calculated following standard procedures by a Speech-Language Pathologist.

Procedure of Language Disability Percentage Calculation

From the reference chart, the Language Disability percentage will be derived. Just use the tens digit and unit digit from the WAB score, and find their intersection point. For example, if AQ is 56, you need to locate the point where row 5 (tens digit column) intersects with row 6 (unit digit row) and that is 40, which means you are 40% impaired in regards to Language Disability.

Number in Tens Place in WAB ScoreNumber in Unit Place in WAB Score
0123456789
010098.997.896.895.794.693.692.591.490.4
189.388.287.286.185.084.082.981.880.879.7
278.677.676.575.474.473.372.271.270.169.0
368.066.965.864.863.762.661.660.559.458.4
457.356.255.254.153.052.050.949.848.847.7
546.645.644.543.442.441.340.039.238.137.1
636.034.933.932.831.730.729.628.527.526.4
725.324.323.222.121.12018.917.916.815.7
814.713.612.511.510.409.308.307.206.105.1
94.02.92.90.800.000.000.000.000.000.0

 

Medical Authority for Speech and Language Disability Certificate

Chief Medical Officer (also known as Chief Medical Officer), Civil Surgeon, or any other equivalent authority as determined by the State Government, shall be the head of the medical board of office bearer for certification of hearing disability, speech and language disability.

The certification medical authority will consist of:

(i) Medical Superintendent, Chief Medical Officer, Civil Surgeon, or equivalent authority
(ii) ENT Specialist
(iii) One specialist (audiologist/speech-language pathologist) appointed by the Medical Superintendent, Chief Medical Officer, Civil Surgeon, or equivalent authority as specified by the State Government.

FAQs about Speech and Language Disability Percentage Calculation

1. What is a Speech and Language Disability Percentage, and how is it calculated?

Disability percentage pertaining to speech and language is the degree to which an individual relinquishes speech and language skills, due to health conditions such as laryngectomy or aphasia. This test trains with standardized tests recommended by professionals and is calculated based on Speech Intelligibility Affected (SIA) and Overall Voice Clarity Affected (OVCA).

2. How is the Speech Disability Certificate different from the Language Disability Certificate?

The Speech Disability Certificate covers speech intelligibility and voice quality disorders in case of laryngectomy or dysarthria. However, the Language Disability Certificate is provided for the defects affecting language components, mainly aphasia.

3. Who determines the Speech and Language Disability Percentage, and why is it important?

Speech and Language Pathologists (SLP’s) or Speech Therapist, if you may, rate the disability percentage. It is essential for acquiring a speech and language disability certificate, which is the general proof of a person being disabled.

4. What tests are used for calculating Speech Disability Percentage, and what do they measure?

It was assessed by using tests such as Perceptual Speech Intelligibility Rating Scale, Voice Clarity Tests (CAPE-V, DSI). They evaluate Speech Intelligibility Affected (SIA) And Overall Voice Clarity Affected (OVCA) to calculate Speech Disability Percentage.

5. How is the Language Disability Percentage calculated, and what factors are considered?

The Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) · AphasiaConditions · Language Disability Percentage This process requires referring to a chart until you find the point where the WAB score intersects and Voice Determination Disability Percentage.

References:

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Speech and Language Disability Percentage Calculation

1 Comment

  1. S.Sindhoori

    Really very usefull thank u so mam

    Reply

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Mr. Vikash Kumar (Audiologist and Speech Language Pathologist)

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