Speech

When working on speech skills, we work on how the communication sounds. When errors are made the message can become unintelligible. The goal of speech therapy is to make the message clearer for all communication partners. This includes working on articulation, apraxia, phonological disorders, and voice disorders.

This includes using the articulators...

  • Lips

  • Tongue

  • Teeth

  • Cheeks

  • Hard Palate

  • Soft Palate

Coordination of the breath, vocal folds (voice box), and movement of the articulators has to occur to make accurate sounds, words, and sentences.

Try It:

See if you can feel your the coordination of your articulators when you say the word "sheep"

*Tip: say it in slow motion a few times.

*Notice how the /sh/ is 2 letters, but only makes 1 sound. Do you feel your lips round? Where is your tongue? Is your voice on or off? The next sound /e/ is our vowel-vowels are all "voice on" sounds. Last sound is /p/ where our lips come together to help make the "quiet popping sound."

strategies

  • Practice! Practice word list or talk about any activities that the child brings home.

  • Model! If a child says "I want to doe." We could model accurate production saying "Oh, I want to go to the park too."

  • Use a mirror when practicing.

  • Get down to a child's level so that they can see your face as you speak to them.

  • Minimize background noise while speaking to a child.

  • Gently remind the child that what they are saying is important you want to know what they are saying. Repeat back parts you did understand and try to have them fill in the missing parts.