Speech Sound Disorders (SSD) occur when a child has difficulty producing speech sounds correctly or consistently beyond the expected age, making their speech hard to understand.
Some children may have articulation difficulties affecting specific sounds like /r/ or /s/, while others may have phonological challenges where they struggle with sound rules and patterns.
Children with SSD may substitute sounds, omit sounds, distort certain letters, or struggle with sound patterns. This may involve substituting sounds (saying “tat” for “cat”), omitting sounds (“ca” for “cat”), distorting sounds, or simplifying sound patterns.
There are different types of speech sound disorders:
1.Articulation Disorder – Difficulty producing specific sounds correctly due to placement or movement of the tongue, lips, or jaw.
2.Phonological Disorder– Patterns of sound errors (like leaving off ending sounds in many words).
3.Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) – A motor speech disorder where the brain has difficulty planning speech movements.
4.Dysarthria – Weakness in speech muscles affecting clarity.
These challenges can affect communication, confidence, social interaction, and academic readiness if not addressed early. Causes of SSD may include developmental delays, hearing issues, structural differences, or motor planning difficulties, though sometimes the exact cause is unknown. Early identification and intervention by a speech-language pathologist play a crucial role in improving clarity and overall communication skills.
Therapy sessions focus on teaching correct sound production through modeling, visual and tactile cues, repetition, and structured play-based activities. Children learn how to place their tongue, lips, and jaw properly to produce specific sounds.
Gradually, they practice these sounds in syllables, words, sentences, and everyday conversation. Consistent home practice and parent involvement further strengthen progress.
With structured therapy, consistent practice, and family involvement, children with speech sound disorders can make significant progress and develop strong, confident speech.
