Definition: the production of speech sounds to form words.
An articulation disorder results in difficulty producing specific sounds, such as:
- Substituting one sound for another (wabbit for rabbit)
- Omitting sounds (winnow for window)
- Distorting sounds (“s” comes out side of mouth)
- Difficulty with muscle movement for speech production (weakness)
- Difficulty with motor planning of muscle movements (groping)
When to see a speech pathologist
- Parent cannot understand at least 75 percent of what a 3-year-old says
- Child is frustrated when others do not understand
- Child does not use early sounds or has not achieved speech/language milestones.
Development of individual speech sounds
| Age | Sounds |
| 3 | m, n, ing, h, w, j, g, p, t, k, b, d, g, tw, kw |
| 3½ | v, s, z, sh, r, ch, l, sp, st, sk, sm, sn, sw, skw, pl, bl, gl, fl, br, tr, dr, kr, fr |
| 4½ | th, as in the and thin |
See Speech Milestones for more information.
Ways to help prevent speech disorders
- Participate in screening programs offered at clinics or schools.
- Have your child’s hearing evaulated by an audiologist.
- Talk and play with your child regularly.
- Take care of your child’s dental and oral health.
- Read with your child daily.
- Seek immediate pediatric care for ear infections.