Articulation (Pronunciation)

Articulation refers to the way we pronounce speech sounds. As children develop spoken language, it is expected they will make speech errors, such as producing the letter /r/ as a /w/ as in saying “wed” for the color “red.” This is a typical part of the language acquisition process. However, these speech errors should resolve by certain points in development. When children continue to demonstrate these speech errors past the expected age, it may be beneficial to consult a speech-language pathologist to see whether speech therapy may be helpful.

Who May Benefit from Speech Therapy for Articulation:

• Children who may have difficulty producing speech sounds that should be acquired at an early age, such as the /p/ or /b/ sounds that are typically acquired by age 3.
• Children who may continue to produce speech errors past the expected age.
• Children who have difficulty being understood by family, friends, or teachers.

Pediatric speech-language pathologists can offer a comprehensive evaluation to assess whether a child’s speech errors are age-appropriate or whether he or she may benefit from speech therapy to improve articulation.

If you suspect that your child has speech or language problems, CLICK HERE for a free consultation