Articulation disorders refer to difficulties with forming specific speech sounds correctly, leading to errors like substitution, omission, or distortion. This doesn’t necessarily mean someone has a problem with their voice or overall fluency, but rather that they struggle to produce certain sounds clearly, even after the age they should have mastered them. Common errors include replacing sounds (e.g., “wrabbit” for “rabbit”) or omitting sounds (e.g., “bou” for “blue”). Speech therapy is the primary treatment, focusing on exercises to improve sound production, oral motor coordination, and social communication skills.

Types of Articulation Errors:

• Applying Consistent Sound Errors: A child might consistently apply the same error pattern across many words. For example, they might delete all final consonants (saying “ca” instead of “cat”) or simplify consonant clusters (saying “pea” instead of “speak”).
• Difficulties With Complex Sounds: Children might struggle with words that have multiple consonants or sounds they find difficult.

Treatment for Phonological Disorders:

• Substitution: Replacing one sound with another (e.g., “lisp” where the “th” sound is replaced with “s”)
• Omission: Leaving out a sound entirely (e.g., saying “bou” instead of “blue”)
• Distortion: Producing a sound incorrectly (e.g., a mushy “r” sound)

Treatment for Articulation Disorders:

Speech therapy is the primary treatment for articulation disorders. A qualified SLP can assess the child’s specific challenges and develop a personalized therapy plan. This may involve:

• Oral Motor Exercises: To strengthen and improve coordination of the muscles used for speech.
• Listening & Discrimination Activities: Helping the child differentiate between correct and incorrect sounds.
• Practice Producing Target Sounds: Exercises and strategies to help the child master the formation of specific sounds.
• Social Communication Strategies: Encouraging the child to use their improved speech skills in everyday communication settings.