Hard To Understand Your Child When They Talk? It May Be Speech Articulation Difficulties

Speech articulation disorders – or difficulty articulating and saying certain sounds in speech – is a common childhood speech condition. Speech therapy is an effective way to help individuals with articulation disorders.

Speech articulation disorders are normal in children

It’s normal for young children to incorrectly pronounce words or sounds. However, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, “most children can say almost all speech sounds correctly by 4 years old.” 

If speech issues continue as a child ages, they may need speech therapy assistance. If a child asks to go on a bike “wide” instead of “ride,” or leaves sounds off a word (“coo” instead of “school”) or adds sounds to a word (“puhlay” instead of “play”), they may be dealing with an articulation disorder.

Speech therapy can help children with articulation disorders

Speech articulation disorders can be caused by a variety of factors. Factors may include physical issues in the mouth and throat, neurological issues, or even by environmental influences. 

A child with an articulation disorder may have difficulty producing certain sounds correctly. They may also have difficulty stringing together words in a meaningful way.

Speech articulation disorders can also affect adults

While speech articulation disorders are most commonly associated with children, adults can also have speech-sound disorders. For some adults, the issues may have started in childhood, while others may have speech problems after a stroke or traumatic brain injury. 

Speech therapists use a variety of techniques to help people learn to control their speech and understand how to produce sounds correctly. 

For example, they may use audio recordings to demonstrate and practice the correct pronunciation of words and sounds. They may also use visual aids, such as pictures or diagrams, to help the person understand how to move their mouth and tongue to produce the correct sound. 

In addition, speech therapy can also help to improve communication skills. 

Speech therapists will work with the person to develop strategies for expressing themselves more effectively and for conversing with others. This can include understanding how to use different tones of voice and how to choose the right words in order to communicate effectively.

Speech therapy can also improve self-confidence & self-esteem

At Comprehensive Rehab, speech therapy also can help to improve self-confidence and self-esteem. People with articulation disorders can often feel embarrassed and overwhelmed by their speech. This can lead to avoiding social situations or not participating in activities they would otherwise enjoy. 

Through speech therapy, they can learn to be more confident in their speech, as well as strategies to help them cope with the challenges they may face.

For more information about speech therapy services offered at Comprehensive Rehab, contact us at (877) 530-6356.