Speech Articulation:

Articulation is the way sounds are pronounced when spoken.

Articulation errors can include: Sound Substitution- Ex. The child says “Wabbit” instead of “Rabbit.”  Sound Omission- Ex. The child says “Pay” instead of “Play.”  Sound Distortion- Ex. The child can say the word “Soup” but the “S” sounds slushy.

There are several reasons for articulation errors.  Some causes may include poor listening skills often due to middle ear infections, dental problems, a general delay in maturation, or specific physical problems that affect the student’s ability to move his or her lips and/or tongue efficiently.

Speech-Language Pathologists are the professionals who evaluate articulation skills and implement therapy programs.  Whether or not an SLP recommends speech therapy will depend on many factors including:  the age of the child, the types of errors, and the severity of the problem.