In the medical community, the words “speech” and “language” have very different meanings. Speech refers to talking, and the sounds of our spoken language, whereas language refers to all communication whether it be written or oral, communicated by speech or gestures. Consequently, there is a difference between what is referred to as a speech impairment and what is referred to as a language disorder. A speech impairment concerns problems producing the sounds required to make language whereas language disorders are problems in communication of ideas or words.
For more information about the difference between language disorders and speech impairments, see the following article: https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/communication-disorders/difference-between-speech-impairment-and-language-disorder
