Articulation Therapy for Children in Skokie

An articulation disorder affects an individual's ability to produce certain sounds, resulting in difficulty communicating effectively. This can make it challenging for a listener to comprehend words, phrases, and sentences. A common example is a lisp or challenges producing the /r/ sound. Speech therapy focuses on practicing the target sound at different stages, such as syllables and words, to improve articulation.

A phonological disorder is a speech-sound disorder where an individual, usually a child, struggles to comprehend the sound system and speech rules of our language. It's more intricate than an articulation disorder because the child may be able to produce sounds in some words but not in others. For instance, a child can say all sounds except for those in the final position of a word, resulting in saying "ca" instead of "cat."

Articulation and phonological disorders are both speech-sound disorders. If you're looking for a quick answer, an articulation disorder occurs when an individual has challenges forming speech sounds properly (not being able to produce the /p/ sound), while a phonological disorder occurs when an individual can produce the sounds correctly, but not in every position of the word. For a more detailed response, check out: the difference between an articulation and phonological disorder.

Less common speech-sound disorders include apraxia and dysarthria. Apraxia, also known as Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), is a condition where an individual struggles with planning and executing oral movements. Dysarthria, on the other hand, occurs when an individual's speech sounds distorted or slurred due to neuromuscular weakness, paralysis, or uncoordinated muscles required for speech production.

There's no clear cause behind this disorder, but it can be the result of one or several factors including:

• Cleft palate or other orofacial differences

• Dental issues (e.g., an overbite or underbite)

• Developmental delays

• Hearing loss

• Low muscle tone

• Neurological problems

It's crucial to be attentive to your child's speech and seek an evaluation from a Speech-Language Pathologist.

Speech disorders typically involve difficulty with the actual production of speech, including articulation disorders, voice disorders, and fluency disorders. On the other hand, language disorders involve challenges in language skills, whether in understanding, producing, or both. A speech-language pathologist (SLP) can treat both speech and language disorders.

Some signs of an articulation disorder include articulation problems such as struggling to produce certain sounds correctly.

It's common for parents to worry if they don’t understand their toddler, but it’s important to remember that children develop speech at different rates. It’s normal for toddlers to sometimes struggle with saying words correctly. However, if your child has significant difficulty being understood or shows very poor articulation skills compared to same-aged peers, it may be worth considering a speech evaluation. Early diagnosis often shortens the length of articulation therapy, and addressing potential speech or language concerns early on can be beneficial, especially since older children may face more challenges if issues are left unaddressed.

An articulation disorder can impact your child's ability to read and write. When a child struggles with correct pronunciation of certain sounds, it can make it difficult for them to recognize and produce those sounds in words, which is essential for reading and spelling. By addressing speech errors early on through the articulation therapy process, your child can practice and learn to produce sounds more accurately, supporting their overall language development and literacy skills.

A speech-language pathologist can help treat this speech disorder by teaching your child how to say sounds correctly. They will work with your child to practice making the right sounds, starting with simple exercises and gradually moving to more complex words and sentence level practice. This helps improve your child’s speech, making it easier for others to understand them and addressing the speech disorder effectively.

The length of speech-language therapy for articulation disorders can vary depending on several factors, including the severity of the speech sound disorder, the child's age, and how consistently they practice the sounds correctly. Typically, speech-language pathologists begin with the sound level, then syllable level, before moving onto the word, phrase, and sentence levels. Regular articulation therapy sessions and consistent practice both during and outside of therapy can help a child practice and improve their ability to pronounce the target sounds correctly. While some children may see significant improvement within a few months, others might need a year or more to achieve their goals.