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What is speech?
What is speech?
Also known as articulation, SPEECH is the way we pronounce sounds in our language. Speech sounds typically develop in a predictable order, stretching all the way from infancy to the elementary school years. As children are learning how to talk for themselves, it is common for them to make mistakes in order to compensate for the sounds they have not learned how to say correctly yet.
Also known as articulation, SPEECH is the way we pronounce sounds in our language. Speech sounds typically develop in a predictable order, stretching all the way from infancy to the elementary school years. As children are learning how to talk for themselves, it is common for them to make mistakes in order to compensate for the sounds they have not learned how to say correctly yet.
This chart indicates the age at which 90% of children can be expected to produce a given speech sound correctly (e.g., 90% of children can say the /p/ sound by 3 years old). If a child is older and continuing to make the same errors, speech therapy is recommended.
This chart indicates the age at which 90% of children can be expected to produce a given speech sound correctly (e.g., 90% of children can say the /p/ sound by 3 years old). If a child is older and continuing to make the same errors, speech therapy is recommended.
SpeechSoundDevelopmentNormsposter-1.pdfA child may have errors in one sound or a whole group of sounds. When a child makes mistakes on only one sound, it is called an articulation disorder. When a child makes mistakes on a group of sounds, it is called a phonological disorder. You can ask a speech-language pathologist if you are not sure which definition best fits your child.
A child may have errors in one sound or a whole group of sounds. When a child makes mistakes on only one sound, it is called an articulation disorder. When a child makes mistakes on a group of sounds, it is called a phonological disorder. You can ask a speech-language pathologist if you are not sure which definition best fits your child.
What causes speech disorders?
What causes speech disorders?
Researchers don't fully understand why all speech sound errors happen, but we know they can occur for a variety of reasons:
Researchers don't fully understand why all speech sound errors happen, but we know they can occur for a variety of reasons:
Deafness/Hearing Loss - When a child cannot hear certain speech sounds, they will omit them or pronounce them incorrectly. Before beginning speech therapy, it is important to have your child's hearing checked to ensure that there are no concerns.
Hereditary - If a parent or grandparent had struggled with speech sound acquisition growing up, it is more likely that the child will as well.
Recurring ear infections - If your child experienced frequent ear infections that diminished their ability to hear for a period of time, this may cause speech delays.
Structural abnormalities - The physical shape of a child's mouth, nose, and throat all affect how they produce speech sounds. Low muscle tone, missing teeth, untreated cleft lip/palate, an enlarged tongue, ankyloglossia (tongue-tie), or enlarged tonsils can cause children to develop speech sound errors. An SLP will typically conduct an OME (oral-motor exam) to check for any abnormalities.
Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) - Apraxia is a motor speech disorder in which the brain has difficulty sending signals to the muscles of the mouth to produce speech sounds correctly. With this disorder, the speech muscles aren't weak, but they don't perform normally because the brain has difficulty directing or coordinating the movements. Apraxia is diagnosed by a neurologist and can be treated with speech therapy.
How do speech disorders get fixed?
How do speech disorders get fixed?
First: early intervention, then: practice, practice, practice! If you suspect your child may have a speech disorder, it is best to contact an SLP as soon as possible for an evaluation. Speech disorders are easier to treat when children are still young since they aren't as "set in their ways." Once a child is stimulable for a sound (they can imitate it correctly), that's when the practicing begins.
First: early intervention, then: practice, practice, practice! If you suspect your child may have a speech disorder, it is best to contact an SLP as soon as possible for an evaluation. Speech disorders are easier to treat when children are still young since they aren't as "set in their ways." Once a child is stimulable for a sound (they can imitate it correctly), that's when the practicing begins.
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