“Children may say some sounds the wrong way as they learn to talk. They learn some sounds earlier, like p, m, or w. Other sounds take longer to learn, like z, v, or th. Most children can say almost all speech sounds correctly by 4 years old. A child who does not say sounds by the expected ages may have a speech sound disorder. You may hear the terms “articulation disorder” and “phonological disorder” to describe speech sound disorders like this” (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, n.d.).
“Adults can also have speech sound disorders. Some adults have problems that started when they were children. Others may have speech problems after a stroke or traumatic brain injury” (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, n.d.).
Treatment
“SLPs can help you or your child say sounds correctly and clearly. Treatment may include the following:
- Learning the correct way to make sounds
- Learning to tell when sounds are right or wrong
- Practicing sounds in different words
- Practicing sounds in longer sentences”
(American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, n.d.)
Additional Resources
ASHA: Speech Sound Disorders-Articulation and Phonology
ASHA: Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Reference
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.). Speech Sound Disorders. Retrieved December 6, 2021, from https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/speech-sound-disorders/