Speech sound disorders (SSD) include articulation disorders, in which a child has trouble physically producing a sound or sounds, and phonological disorders (also known as phonological process disorders), in which the child produces set patterns of sound errors.

By age five, most of a child’s speech should be understood, and by about age eight, children should be able to say all sounds correctly. There are established ages for every sound that state when most children should say that sound correctly. Mistakes are expected before that age as the child learns the sounds. But if a child still cannot correctly produce the sound(s) after that age, a speech sound disorder may be present.

Symptoms of Articulation and Phonological Disorders

Speech sound disorders may be mild and affect production of only one or two sounds, or there may be so many errors that speech is not understandable. There are several different types of errors in SSD: substitutions, deletions, additions, and distortions.

Examples of articulation errors include substituting one sound for another (e.g., saying wed for red), or leaving out sounds (e.g., nana instead of banana). Another type of articulation disorder is distortion of the “s” sound, also known as a lisp.

Treatment of Articulation Disorders

Speech Therapy: The primary treatment method, involving:

1. 1. • Articulation Therapy: Focused exercises to improve the correct production of sounds.
      • Phonological Therapy: Targeting patterns of sound errors, particularly in children.

Parental Involvement: Encouraging practice and reinforcement of correct speech sounds at home.

Assistive Devices: In cases of severe articulation disorders, tools like augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices may be used.

Medical or Surgical Intervention: For disorders caused by structural abnormalities, medical treatment may be necessary.

Ongoing Monitoring and Adjustment: Regular reassessments to ensure progress and adjust therapy strategies as needed.

Articulation disorders can significantly impact an individual’s communication abilities and quality of life. However, with appropriate and timely intervention, many individuals can achieve substantial improvements in their speech clarity and overall communication skills.