Articulation Therapy for Kids
Articulation therapy looks different for every child. When we say ‘articulation therapy,’ we mean speech therapy for fixing certain sounds. This kind of therapy may include one sound or many. If a child struggles to make sounds, their parents may have many questions.
In this post, we answer some of the most common questions parents have about their child’s speech therapy. We talk about whether your child needs therapy, what age to begin services, why kids struggle to make sounds and more.
We explain what articulation therapy looks like, how long it may take for the sounds to get fixed, and how you can help your child’s speech at home.
Does My Child Need Articulation Therapy?
You may wonder whether your child needs articulation therapy. While a licensed SLP determines whether your child needs services, you can share important information with their therapist. By listening carefully and observing how your child talks with you and others, you learn more about their abilities.
Speech specialists often want to know how your child sounds when they talk with you and with people they don’t usually talk to. We think of this in terms of familiar and unfamiliar listeners. You and other family members may understand your child’s speech much better than friends, relatives and teachers might.
SLPs especially like to know how well people not used to hearing your understand their speech. They compare these estimates to get a better idea of your child’s level of need.
Why Do I Understand My Child’s Speech Better Than Other People?
What Age Can My Child Begin Articulation Therapy?
Your child should begin articulation therapy as soon as they get recommended for it by a licensed speech specialist. Children may begin speech therapy as early as needed. When trying to know what age your child is expected to make speech sounds, a milestones chart can be very useful.
Milestones charts show when children typically develop speech sounds or other skills. These tools give parents a clear idea of when their child should say certain sounds. By looking at one of these charts, you may better learn whether or not speech therapy may be needed.
Sometimes a child may make a sound in words but struggle to use it in sentences. To get a complete idea of whether or not your child needs articulation therapy, reach out to a licensed speech-language pathologist.
What Speech Sounds Are Hard to Make?
While any sound may be hard to make for children, some sounds may be especially challenging. These sounds vary in how children make them but all may be fixed with therapy. Some of the most challenging sounds often include the ones that develop later.
Some challenging sounds may include:
- /r/
- /l/
- ‘th’ (voiced and voiceless)
- ‘dg’
- ‘sh’
For some kids, other speech sounds may be more challenging, such as /s/, /k/ and /g/. However, children may struggle with many other sounds. If your child struggles with making speech sounds expected for them based on their age, speak with a speech specialist to get them help.
What Speech Sounds Are Easier to Make?
Some sounds may be easier for children to make than other sounds. These sounds vary in how children make them but all may be fixed with therapy. Some of the easier sounds develop earliest and include use of the lips and tip of the tongue. For example /b/ and /w/ use only the lips. /d/ uses the tip of the tongue to tap in the front of the mouth at the top.
Some easier sounds may include:
- /b/
- /m/
- /w/
- /p/
- /d/
For some kids, other speech sounds may be easier than others. However, children may struggle with many other sounds, including the ones we share above. By clearly pronouncing sounds at home, you help give your child a model of what correct speech sounds like. You may occasionally point to you lips when speaking to give an extra visual cue.
What Does Articulation Therapy Look Like?
Articulation therapy looks different for every child but includes many of the same principles and best practices. When a speech specialist looks at your child’s speaking abilities, they determine what amount of therapy your child needs. They also know how many times to practice each sound and the way to practice.
Articulation therapy sessions may involve speech practice and breaks with games. The therapy may also include games where the sounds get practiced at the same time. This helps keep kids engaged and makes the session a positive and rewarding experience for them.
SLPs might show your child pictures and help them make the word. They might also play a game and make models of the sounds for your child to repeat. They integrate special supports into this process. The type of support gets based on your child’s specific needs. This process of children saying the sounds with special support gets them to make the sounds better.
Is It Too Late to Begin Articulation Therapy?
How Can I Help My Child Make Speech Sounds?
We shared a post on exactly this topic and talked about how to help your child make speech sounds at home. Some of the best ways include pronouncing your own speech clearly an concisely. Children benefit at home from hearing good speech sound models. This helps them know how to make the sounds.
You may also provide visual support at home by occasionally pointing to your mouth when you speak. When a young child sees your mouth moving, they get important feedback on how to make the sound. Home programs for speech can be powerful tools to improve a child’s ability to make speech sounds outside of the therapy room. Speak with your child’s speech specialist to find out if a home program is right for them.
Simply correcting your child’s speech will likely not fix the sound or help them make it any better. If your child struggles to make sounds past the expected age, they need expert support.
What Speech Challenges Does My Child Have?
This important question may get several answers, depending on your child’s needs. Speech challenges may vary greatly. They might include difficulty in pronouncing sounds, moving between sounds and programming their speech (verbal apraxia), and mumbled speech and unclear speech (potentially dysarthria).
Children may have many other challenges with their speech. They might delete sounds in certain places in words, such as in making “Jum” for “Jump.” They might switch sounds, such as in saying “Goggy” for “Doggy.” Some sounds might also sound ’rounded’ such as when a child says “Wobot” for “Robot.”
Only a speech specialist can diagnose and treat these difficulties. However, by listening carefully to your child, you can give their SLP useful information that helps with the evaluation and treatment.
Is School Articulation Therapy Enough?
This critical question is not addressed often. Many children who need speech therapy services get those services in the schools. However, schools may provide fewer sessions than clinically needed for progress to be made. For instance, researchers have found that many children need a minimum of two sessions per week to make progress.
Sometimes fewer sessions may be acceptable. For example, if the child has few goals and the therapy is high intensity. However, many children struggle in several areas and may need more than one session per week to see progress.
Not all schools but many give their SLPs very high caseloads. This means your child may be one of 60 or more students the therapist sees. While extreme, this number is unfortunately common. When this happens, a child may not get the full attention they need.
How Can I Tell If My Child Needs More Services?
By advocating strongly for your child you can help get them more services. Speak with your child’s school SLP and the IEP team. Share your concerns with team but know that as the parent, you provide critical input and help shape what the IEP plan looks like.
If your child gets speech therapy in school but continues to struggle, consider getting them a private speech-language pathologist. Additional speech therapy can only help. It is critical to be an advocate for your child and make sure they get the support they need, when they need it.
Why Do Kids Struggle with Making Sounds?
Kids may struggle to make speech sounds for different reasons. For many children, the cause is genetic. Speech sound difficulties may be passed down from one family member to another. Genetics are the cause for other communication challenges as well. In many cases the cause remains unknown, but experts relate these difficulties to neurological differences.
For kids with verbal apraxia, the cause relates to processing and sequencing speech sounds. For these children, they may make individual sounds perfectly well, but struggle to transition between the sounds. Many children may simply be delayed in their speech without any neurological injury or significant difference. Often, a child’s struggle to make speech sounds relates to a different disorder (with neurological impact). For example, many children who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience difficulty making sounds.
Children with Down syndrome, Fragile-X syndrome and children with learning disabilities or language challenges may also have trouble making speech sounds. It is important to share any significant medical history with your child’s speech specialist, as this helps them when evaluating and diagnosing your child.
Should I Ask My Child’s Speech Specialist Questions about Therapy?
Yes! You may feel hesitant to ask your child’s speech specialist questions. However, SLPs not only have a wealth of knowledge to share with you, they enjoy doing so! Often times, a child with complex needs requires extra support at home. Speech specialists give you the tools you need to help your child at home.
They also share how your child is progressing, what supports help them and where to practice new skills. Always feel welcome to ask your child’s therapist questions, especially about how they did in therapy.
For children with language challenges or other needs, speech therapists may provide valuable resources to support development at home. They might also give you tips for how to support their skills when out in the community. Your input and support is integral to your child’s success in articulation therapy!
How Long Will It Take to Fix My Child’s Speech?
Parents ask this question often. However, this question cannot be answered ethically by any speech therapist. Unfortunately there is no way to know exactly how long your child may need speech therapy. Some communication challenges may be easier to treat than other, but no estimate can be given.
- Age of the child
- Neurological development
- Behavioral challenges and self-regulation
- Environment and interactions
- Level of need and other disorders present
Get Started with Online Articulation Therapy Today
If your child struggles to communicate, get them effective online speech therapy services and give them the support they need today. At Verbalyze, we offer effective, child-centered services.
We focus on progress and use best practices to get results. You are welcome to reach out to us to schedule your free consultation. We answer any questions you may have and provide suggestions on what steps to take next. We provide services to all PA residents at this time.
