Speech Delay
A delay in the ability to articulate language sounds.
Articulation
Articulation involves accuracy of placement of the lips, tongue, jaw and airflow for speech sound production. Articulation is the way sounds are formed.
An articulation delay means there is difficulty with the clarity of speech sounds that affects the overall understanding of speech. As children develop, sometimes they naturally have problems producing certain sounds, making their speech difficult to understand and unclear. Although it is normal for children to make mistakes as they learn to speak, consistent articulation difficulties that continue past certain age ranges become a problem that requires assessment and potential treatment; especially when it is increasingly hard for the child to be understood by parents and peers. These are different than sound patterns common to a specific dialect.
Common articulation errors include:
| red | wed | |
| light | wight | |
| glue | galue | |
| play | pway |
Articulation Disorder
An articulation disorder means there are incorrect productions of speech sounds as a result of a difficulty in the discrimination, timing, placement, speed or direction of the lips, tongue, jaw and airflow.
A thorough articulation assessment and tailored treatment goals to meet your child’s needs. If you are concerned that your child may have articulation or clarity difficulties, an assessment by an Onyx practitioner is recommended.
Did you know?
- A 2-year-old child should be approximately 65% intelligible to the general listener.
- A 3-year-old child should be approximately 80% intelligible to the general listener.
- A 4-year-old child should be very intelligible in connected speech. Often described as talking like a “little adult.”
Approximately 50% of preschoolers with articulation disorders also have language disorders. Articulation disorders are the most common type of communication disorder.