Speech Language Pathology

Speech Sound Development

Do you notice your child using a /w/ instead of /r/ in words (ie. “wain” for “rain”) or using a /d/ sound for a /g/ (ie. “do” for “go”)? Your child may be struggling with an articulation or phonological disorder. An articulation disorder occurs when a child has difficulty with the pronunciation of specific speech sounds and may produce substitutions or distortions of said sound. A phonological disorder occurs when there is a pattern to the errors a child is making (i.e., they are making all sounds that should be made at the back of the mouth at the front of the mouth instead).

The cause of speech sound production errors is mainly unknown in the absence of any other physical or cognitive impairment. Speech sound errors can also co-occur with conditions such as hearing impairments, cleft palate, cerebral palsy, Autism Spectrum Disorder, etc.

Children’s speech sound development typically follows an expected pattern. When children do not say sounds by the expected age, their ability to be understood in conversation can be negatively affected. If you are having difficulty understanding your child, an assessment may be warranted. Although some children may “outgrow” their speech sound errors, many will need direct speech therapy to learn how to correctly produce sounds.