Articulation
(Speech Sounds)

Articulation, which can be defined as "the formation of clear and distinct sounds in speech," is one of the most common areas within the scope of practice for a speech-language pathologist. Typically, when I tell people I am a speech therapist, the first response is, "so you help people say sounds correctly?" and yes, that is one of the main areas within my practice.

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Most of us have heard a child produce specific sounds incorrectly, for example, replacing a "w" for a "r" which would make "rabbit" sound like "wabbit." When a child is young, these substitutions for sounds can be cute and endearing. However, if the child does not start to correct these sounds on their own by a certain age, then they might have an articulation disorder that needs to be addressed by a speech-language pathologist. 

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So how do you know whether or not to seek speech services for your child? The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) has a chart of developmental norms, linked here, which show the list of speech sounds children should have acquired between ages 2 to 8. Your pediatrician or primary care physician can also provide a referral if they have concerns regarding your child's speech skills. If your child is not producing the sounds appropriate for their age, then a speech sound assessment will be given to further determine if speech therapy services are warranted.