Speech Therapy For Speech Sound & Articulation Disorders
Articulation is the way we produce speech sounds.
We use our tongue, lips, teeth, jaw and vocal folds to produce speech sounds. Children can experience a range of difficulties that will affect the way they produce their speech sounds.
Most children will make mistakes with their speech sound production at some point in their development. Different sounds are expected to develop at different ages. A speech sound delay exists when a child continues to make mistakes with a particular sound or group of sounds past the age expected.
Speech sound delays involve articulation errors (making the sound) and phonological process errors (sound patterns). A phonological delay will cause patterns of speech sound errors; which can be addressed through speech therapy.
Speech Intelligibility Refers To How Well Words Can Be Understood By An Unfamiliar Listener (Stranger E.G. A Shop Assistant)
What Are The Symptoms Of An Articulation Delay?
- Not sounding clear
- A child’s speech sounds slushy
- Producing /s/ as a /th/ sound
What Are The Symptoms Of An Phonological Delay?
- Not sounding clear
- Leaving off sounds at the beginning, middle or end of words
- Changing the sounds in words, or in a conversation
- Substituting sounds in words
The Causes Of Expressive Language Difficulties Are Often Unknown.
A number of factors may be working together to contribute to your child’s difficulties. Family history is often the most likely indicator, although this may not always be the case. A child may have learnt to a produce a sound incorrectly, or may not have learnt the rules of speech sound production on their own. This may mean the child has a speech sound difficulty, and may not simply outgrow it.
Children who have experienced frequent ear infections with hearing loss are at risk of experiencing a speech sound difficulty. Children who can say a sound when they copy an adult but don’t do it when talking in conversation, are not being lazy. This can often occur and may indicate the child is experiencing a phonological delay.
We believe every child has the right to have access to therapy no matter where they live, so we offer online therapy services as well as services within our clinics in Rosehill, Bella Vista, Oran Park, Penrith & Kingswood, we proudly also offer our services to local Harrington Park, Gregory Hills, Gledswood Hills, Jamisontown, Regentville, Glenmore Park, Werrington Downs, Cranebrook, Emu Plains, Glenbrook, Blaxland, Castle Hill, Baulkham Hills, Glenwood, Kellyville, and Seven Hills, Westmead, Parramatta, North Parramatta, Granville, Auburn, Rydalmere, Oatlands & Dundas residents. Encompassing South West Sydney, Western Sydney, North West Sydney, Blue Mountains & The Hawkesbury.