MS, CCC-SLP
Speech Therapy for Children and Adults in Skokie, Evanston, Wilmette, and surrounding Illinois areas and online across Illinois, New York, and New Jersey
224-704-0790
Articulation Therapy for Children in Skokie: Improve Speech Clarity
& surrounding Illinois Neighborhoods
Online & In-Person
Hi, my name is Stephanie, and I'm a speech therapist experienced in working with articulation disorders for children, teenagers, and adults.
If your child is feeling frustrated, embarrassed, or anxious about their speech clarity, I understand, and I'm here to help. My goal is to provide compassionate and effective speech therapy to help children speak more clearly and confidently.
I work with clients to improve articulation and build confidence in their communication skills. Whether your child needs help with specific sounds or speaking more clearly, I am committed to supporting their journey to clearer speech.
If you're ready to help your child improve their speech and confidence, schedule a complimentary consultation with me today. Together, we can make a positive difference in their communication.
My Approach to Speech Therapy for Children with Articulation Disorders
Effective communication is essential for a child’s development and success. Clear speech helps children connect with others, understand their environment, and express their needs and ideas.
However, articulation difficulties (even if it's only one sound) can sometimes become a significant challenge for children, affecting their confidence and social interactions. It’s important to recognize that these speech disorders can be addressed with the proper intervention.
As a speech pathologist, I work closely with children to address their specific needs, ensure they pronounce sounds correctly, and support their academic and social development.
Articulation therapy targets specific sounds the child struggles with, enhancing the child's speech sound production. Additionally, once the sound is accurately produced, continued practice in connected speech is crucial for achieving clarity and accuracy in ongoing speech.
Imagine what it would be like if your child could speak clearly, express themselves confidently, and interact easily with others. With the right guidance and support, your child can overcome these challenges.
If you’re ready to help your child overcome articulation challenges, contact me today to schedule a complimentary consultation. Let’s work together to support your child’s growth and success.
Let's Talk About Articulation Disorders
The development of speech is a complex process that begins in infancy when it’s common for children to mispronounce, add, change, substitute, or omit certain sounds or syllables. By age four, children are expected to produce majority of sounds in their language. However, if they are unable to, it may indicate the presence of a speech-sound disorder (an articulation or phonological disorder).
Parents sometimes assume their child’s speech delay will resolve on its own, but this is not always the case. Failure to seek assistance for a child with a speech-sound disorder can have a significant impact on their speech development. Speech-language pathologists play a crucial role in assessing and addressing these disorders.
Understanding Speech Development: When to Address Articulation Disorders in Children
What Sets Articulation and Phonological Disorders Apart in Speech Therapy?
Articulation and phonological disorders are both speech-sound disorders. Many people wonder what the difference is between an articulation disorder and a phonological disorder.
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What is an Articulation Disorder?
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.
What is a Phonological Disorder?
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."
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.
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There's no clear cause behind this disorder, but it can be the result of one or several factors including:
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Cleft palate or other orofacial differences
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Dental issues (e.g., an overbite or underbite)
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Developmental delays
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Hearing loss
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Low muscle tone
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Neurological problems
It's crucial to be attentive to your child's speech and seek an evaluation from a Speech-Language Pathologist.
What Might Cause a Speech-Sound Disorder?
Other Common Articulation Questions
Are speech and language disorders the same?
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.
What are the signs my child has an articulation disorder?
Some signs of an articulation disorder include articulation problems such as struggling to produce certain sounds correctly.
Should I worry if I don't understand my toddler?
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.
Can an articulation disorder affect my child's ability to read and write?
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.
How can a speech-language pathologist help with articulation disorders?
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.
How long does speech therapy for articulation disorders usually take?
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.
Personalized Speech Therapy for Your Child's Articulation Disorder
At Speak with Stephanie, I begin by assessing your child’s speech production, or articulation, through observation and testing to identify the specific issues. Based on this assessment, I create a personalized therapy plan with clear goals and engaging activities tailored to your child’s needs.
During therapy sessions, we focus on practicing the target sounds your child struggles with through fun games and stories, using repetition and positive reinforcement to encourage progress. I also involve parents by providing simple exercises and tips for practice at home, ensuring continuous improvement. With a collaborative approach, we can help your child develop clear and confident speech, making communication easier.
Articulation therapy is designed to address a range of challenges, including:
Speech Therapy for Children with Articulation Disorders Near Skokie, Illinois
At my Skokie, Illinois speech therapy practice, I offer in-home speech therapy for children with articulation disorders who live near Skokie, Wilmette, Evanston, Morton Grove, Highland Park, and West Rogers Park.
Online Speech Therapy for Children with Articulation Disorders Throughout Illinois, New York, and New Jersey
I offer online speech therapy services for children with articulation disorders throughout Illinois, New York, and New Jersey.
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Seeing your child struggle with an articulation disorder can feel like an endless challenge. You've tried everything, but the progress seems slow. Start hearing your child speak clearly and confidently with our expert guidance and support.
Begin Speech Therapy for your Child with an Articulation Disorders in Illinois, New York, or New Jersey
PHONE CONSULTATION
First, you’ll speak to the owner of Speak with Stephanie. She will answer your questions, and we will discuss your concerns.
SCHEDULE an articulation EVALUATION
Book an articulation evaluation. The evaluation may take several sessions to allow for a more through understanding of your needs and abilities. After the evaluation, we will build a custom speech therapy program specific to your needs.
SPEECH THERAPY FOR Articulation
We'll partner together to achieve your goals through 30, 45, or 60 minute sessions!
It's common for children to be unable to produce every sound in their language from birth. Typically, children acquire specific sounds at certain ages. To determine if your child is acquiring speech sounds within the appropriate timeframe, refer to the below chart.
When Should Your Child Master Speech Sounds?
2-3
years old
3-4
years old
4-5
years old
p, b, d, m, n, h, w
t, k, g, ng, f, y
v, s, z, sh, ch, j, l
5-6
years old
th (voiced), zh, r
6-7
years old
th (voiceless)
What are Phonological Disorders?
Phonological patterns/processes are a common occurrence in children, where complex words are simplified in a predictable manner. While most children eventually outgrow these patterns, some may not, indicating a potential phonological disorder. Atypical phonological patterns are not observed in typically developing children, and are often indicative of a phonological disorder.
Examples of atypical phonological patterns:
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Migration: a sound moves position in a word (e.g., "oaps" for soap)
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Initial consonant deletion: a sound in the initial position is consistently deleted (e.g., "at" for cat)
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Vowel alteration: one vowel is changed to another vowel (e.g., "but" for boat)
Speech Therapy for Children with Phonological Disorders Near Skokie, Illinois
At my speech practice in Skokie, Illinois, I offer in-home speech therapy for children with phonological disorders who live near Skokie, Wilmette, Evanston, Highland Park, Morton Grove and West Rogers Park.
Online Speech Therapy for Children with Phonological Disorders Throughout Illinois, New York, and New Jersey
I offer online speech therapy services for children with phonological disorders throughout Illinois, New York, and New Jersey.
Additional Speech Therapy Services for Children Near Skokie, Illinois at Speak with Stephanie
Articulation therapy is just one of the many services we provide for children who have difficulties with certain sounds. We also offer specialized speech therapy for those dealing with language disorders and challenges with stuttering. Our comprehensive approach ensures that we address a wide range of speech and language issues, allowing us to tailor our services to meet each child's unique needs. Whether your child is having difficulty with pronunciation, clarity, or language comprehension, we are here to help. At Speak with Stephanie, we are dedicated to supporting your child's communication skills and helping them reach their full potential in a nurturing and effective environment.