Quick Guide to Speech Sound Disorder

A speech sound disorder is a communication disorder specific to difficulties with the actual production of speech, commonly known as articulation of enunciation. These challenges can be related to how a child perceives or represents the sounds that make up words. Other times, they are related to underlying neurological or physical differences, structural or sensory deviations, or challenges with planning or coordinating the movements needed to speak.

Commonly observed speech sound difficulties are lisps or difficulty producing the “r” sound. Children with speech sound impairments may be difficult to understand, especially to unfamiliar listeners.

Some speech sound disorders can be a result from an underlying motor/neurological, structural or sensory cause while others are idiopathic. Articulation and phonological disorders are referred to as speech sound disorders.

Speech sound disorders are different from language disorders. Speech sound disorders involve difficulties with the production of sounds while language disorders involve problems using and understanding language.

It’s normal for children to use simple language or produce unclear sounds when they are very young. By around the age of three, most kids speak more clearly, and many of the errors may correct themselves If a child’s speech does not develop as expected, they might have a speech sound disorder.  

Specific signs that a child may have speech sound disorder include: 

• Trouble moving the jaw, tongue and lips 
• Struggling to make specific speech sounds 
• Not speaking as well as other children their age 
• Not speaking clearly enough for others to understand  
• Suddenly changing pitch or volume while talking 
• Hoarse, raspy or nasal voice 
• Running out of air while speaking 
• Lisping or stuttering 
• Having a challenging time chewing, blowing their nose, or otherwise using muscles in their face 

Speech sound disorder usually starts in early childhood, but it can also show up later. 

A speech and language pathologist can use standardized tests to figure out whether a child has speech sound disorder. Kids are usually diagnosed when their speech sound errors are no longer age appropriate. 

Speech sound disorder is usually treated with speech therapy. In sessions, kids will:

• Learn how to correctly make sounds
• Learn how to tell when they’re making the wrong sound and fix it
• Practice and correct words they have trouble pronouncing
• Practice sounds in longer sentences
• Learn how to be comfortable with speaking

Speech sound disorders can lead to other challenges. A child with a speech sound disorder may feel uncomfortable or embarrassed talking to other people in some settings. This can have an impact on their participation in school and also in social settings.

• Request a special education evaluation from their school
• Take them to a speech-language pathologist
• Get your child voice lessons, which can provide techniques for breathing and pronunciation
• Read bedtime stories out loud together
• Repeat words and emphasize the correct speech sounds when they say it incorrectly

• Have them sit close to the front of the class, so they can hear you clearly
• Provide extra time to complete assignments
• Allow the student to substitute a written for an oral presentation
• When the student is speaking, wait patiently for them to finish