General Prevalence 

Between 2.3% and 24.6% of school-aged children are estimated to have speech delays or speech sound disorders. Different studies have produced different prevalence numbers, we can say, this is pretty common!

Impact on Literacy & Learning

Speech sound errors can make learning to read and write more challenging for some children. Children with a history of SSD are estimated to have a 2.5 times higher risk of developing reading disorders. Difficulties in accurately producing sounds may translate into challenges with phonemic awareness—the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds in words. For example, a child who cannot distinguish between /w/ and /r/ might write “wabbit” instead of “rabbit.” These errors can impact spelling, decoding skills, and overall literacy development. We encourage parents who are observing this in their children to address the sound errors in speech therapy.

Wait and See?

Some speech sound errors are developmentally appropriate depending on your child's age and the specific sounds involved. Our team understands that it can be difficult to determine whether your child’s errors are typical for their age or require attention. That’s why we offer free consultations to help guide your decision. If your child’s speech patterns align with typical developmental milestones, we won’t recommend an assessment or therapy. Our goal is to provide clarity and support, ensuring you feel confident about the next steps for your child.

What are speech sound disorders?

Speech sound disorders (SSDs) is an umbrella term that encompasses difficulties with perceiving, producing, or representing speech sounds. These challenges can involve motor production, phonological representation, or the rules governing sound combinations in a language (phonotactics). SSD with no known underlying cause are divided into two categories:

1. Articulation Disorders: These involve difficulty physically producing specific sounds, such as a lisp or trouble pronouncing /r/. These errors typically involve the motor production of individual sounds and can result in substitutions, distortions, or omissions. For example, a child may substitute /w/ for /r/, saying "wabbit" instead of "rabbit."

2. Phonological Disorders:  These relate to difficulty understanding or applying the rules for sound patterns in a language. The issue lies in the internal linguistic representation of words, where the brain may incorrectly code certain sound patterns. For instance, a child might simplify a word by replacing /k/ with /t/, saying "tootie" for "cookie." 

We also support organic speech sound disorders in which children have a motor or neurological disorder (e.g., childhood apraxia of speech or dysarthria), structural abnormalities (e.g., cleft palate), or sensory/perceptual impairments (e.g., hearing loss), we may approach therapy slightly differently.

While many children naturally make speech sound errors as they learn to talk, errors that persist beyond expected developmental milestones may indicate a disorder. Early identification and intervention are essential to support clear, confident communication.

What is happening with your child's speech?

Are you trying to figure out what is happening with your child's speech? Check out the chart here for a description of when we expect each speech sound to be developed. You may also observe your child and see if you notice one of these patterns emerge:

• Omissions/Deletions: Certain sounds are left out of a word (e.g., "ha" for "hat" or "bu" for "bus").
• Substitutions: One sound is replaced with another, often changing the word's meaning or clarity (e.g., "tar" for "car" or "dat" for "that").
• Additions: Extra sounds are included within words (e.g., "blumberry" for "blueberry" or "catuh" for "cat").
• Distortions: A sound is produced in an unusual or altered way (e.g., a "sh" sound pronounced with a whistle-like quality).
• Syllable-Level Errors: Entire syllables are left out or simplified (e.g., "nana" for "banana" or "puter" for "computer").

These patterns can vary widely among children and can significantly impact speech clarity and overall communication.

Speech Sound Disorder Treatment Approaches

Treatment begins with a thorough diagnosis to determine whether your child is presenting with an articulation disorder, a phonological disorder, or a combination of both. Understanding the underlying issue is key to designing an effective therapy plan. Contact us to schedule an assessment with a speech-language pathologist and take the first step toward helping your child communicate clearly.

Articulation Therapy
Articulation therapy focuses on helping your child produce specific sounds correctly by adjusting their articulators (e.g., tongue, lips, jaw). Therapy follows a structured hierarchy, beginning with isolated sound practice, and then progressing to using the sound in words across various positions (e.g., "r" at the start, middle, or end of a word). From there, we work on phrases, sentences, reading, and ultimately, conversation. This step-by-step approach ensures your child can apply their new skills in real-life communication.

Phonological Therapy
For children with phonological disorders, therapy addresses the patterns of sound errors. We tailor speech therapy to your child’s specific needs, using evidence-based techniques. Some sample techniques include:

• Cycles Approach: Focusing on different sound patterns over set time periods.
• Minimal Pairs Therapy: Highlighting key sound contrasts (e.g., "key" vs. "tea") to build awareness that how we produce sounds changes meaning.
• Complexity Approach: Targeting more challenging sounds first to encourage broad improvement. 

Your child’s therapist will carefully assess which method or combination of techniques will best support their progress.

Our therapy plans are individualized to ensure your child develops clear, confident speech and reaches their full communication potential

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes speech sound disorders?

For the most part, we don't know why some children struggle with articulation and others don't! Hearing loss does often impact articulation, so we always encourage families to seek out a hearing test before starting speech therapy. Even a mild hearing loss can impact speech articulation.

Can my child outgrow this without therapy?

Maybe! Some children improve naturally, but many benefit significantly from professional support. We are happy to guide you on your decision to wait and see, reach out at any time.