Is your little one not pronouncing words correctly? Let's talk about Articulation Disorder!

Does your little one not pronounce certain letters and words clearly when he speaks? Do you sometimes find it difficult to understand what he says? Although such things are normal in childhood, if this condition continues even after a certain age, you need to do some research about it. Today we are going to talk about such a condition, that is, difficulty in pronouncing sounds correctly while speaking, or in medical terms, (Articulation Disorder) .

What is Articulation Disorder?

Simply put, by the age of 4 or 5, young children usually learn to pronounce almost all sounds clearly. Think of it this way: they pronounce words like 'mama', 'dada', and 'ball' very beautifully. But some children, even after that, that is, when they are close to going to school, have difficulty pronouncing words clearly. When that happens, we call it a 'speech sound disorder'. One type of this 'speech sound disorder' is what we call 'articulation disorder'. This is when the child has difficulty producing certain speech sounds .

Now, look, `(Articulation)` is the process we use to produce sounds, syllables, and words. Just like the engine of a car, our mouth, tongue, lips, teeth, and palate all have to work together to speak. A child with `(Articulation Disorder)` may not be able to say some sounds correctly, or they may pronounce those sounds incorrectly. Think about it, some children say the letter 's' like 'th' ('shoes' instead of 'thapattu'), or say 'ya' instead of 'ra' ('karek' instead of 'kayake'). Because of this, it can be difficult for others to understand what the child is saying. Not only that, this can also affect the child's social relationships, learning, and especially schoolwork.

This condition is sometimes called ``Functional Speech Disorder'' or ``Articulation Delay.'' That is, there is a problem or delay in the functioning of speech.

What is the difference between this (Articulation Disorder) and (Phonological Disorder)?

Although `(Articulation Disorder)` and `(Phonological Disorder)` seem to be very similar, these two are actually different. Therefore, it is easy to confuse the two. But it is very important to understand the difference between these two. Because, the treatment methods for both are different.

Now, the problem with children with Articulation Disorder is the motor functions required to produce certain speech sounds.The difficulty. That is, they cannot properly coordinate their lips, tongue, teeth, palate, and even the air coming from their lungs to produce certain sounds. They may distort sounds or substitute other sounds for sounds that they cannot say. For example, in the English word 'think', they cannot produce the 'th' sound (like '' in Sinhala) and always use the 'f' sound (like '' in Sinhala). Then 'think' sounds like 'fink'.

However, in `(Phonological Disorder)`, something else happens. Here, the child may be able to produce individual sounds correctly. That is, if you ask him to say the letter 'the' alone, he will say it correctly. However, in `(Phonological Disorder)`, he cannot put those sounds together correctly and say them in words. For example, even though your child can say the sound 'the' alone, if he tries to say the word 'door', he may say it like 'gora'. Or, he may not say a letter at the end of a word.

The important thing is that your child can have both of these disorders at the same time. That's why it's important to have a specialist diagnose the exact condition.

Who is more likely to develop this (Articulation Disorder)?

This condition, called ``Articulation Disorder,'' is usually seen in childhood . If not treated properly, it can persist into adulthood. However, if an adult develops a new speech sound disorder, the cause must be something else (for example, a traumatic brain injury or a stroke).

Although the exact cause is not known, this `(Articulation Disorder)` is more common in boys than girls. Also, if the mother had any complications during pregnancy or childbirth, the child is more likely to have a speech sound disorder. If someone in the family has had this condition before, that is, if there is a family history, the child is also more likely to have this condition.

How common are Speech Sound Disorders?

Speech sound disorders are actually quite common . Statistics show that this condition affects between 8% and 9% of children. That means that 8 or 9 out of every 100 children may have this problem.

What are the causes of Articulation Disorder?

In fact, the exact cause of `(Articulation Disorder)` has not yet been found . This is the question that many parents have. "Why did this happen to only our child?" they wonder. But this does not mean that there is something wrong with your child's brain, nervous system, lips, tongue, teeth, jaw, lungs, or auditory system (hearing ability). That is, the child may be healthy in all other respects .

However, there are other types of speech disorders. They can have causes. For example, organic, developmental, or acquired disorders. These are caused by other conditions. Think of structural abnormalities in the mouth (such as a cleft palate) or hearing impairment. However, there is no clear cause for Articulation Disorder.

What are the symptoms of an Articulation Disorder? How do you recognize it?

A child with `(Articulation Disorder)` may have a little difficulty understanding what they are saying. They mainly display one or more of four types of errors. Let's see what they are:

• Addition: Adding sounds or syllables that do not belong to words. For example, the English word 'play' is pronounced like 'puh-lay'. In Sinhala, 'bole' is pronounced like 'bo-hole' with an extra sound.
• Distortion: Changing the way a sound is said. This can sometimes be like a 'lisp' (e.g. 'sa' sounds like 'tha', 'sini' sounds like 'theeni').
• Omission: Some sounds are completely removed from speech. For example, when saying 'school', the 'sc' sound is removed and it is pronounced like 'ool'. In Sinhala, 'school' is pronounced like 'kole'.
• Substitution: Always replacing one sound with another. For example, using the sound 's' instead of the sound 'th', or using the sound 'wa' instead of 'ra' ('ratta' is like 'vata').

If your child is experiencing emotional distress due to this ``Articulation Disorder,'' he may also exhibit certain behavioral patterns. Consider these:

• They are reluctant to read books out loud or talk to others.
• Staying quiet, or acting overly shy .
• When talking, you get frustrated , maybe even angry.
• Some words are completely stopped .
• Problems arise with self-confidence and self-esteem .

How do you know for sure if you have an Articulation Disorder? (Diagnosis)

If you think your child has a speech disorder, your family doctor or pediatrician will first do a physical exam . They will also do a hearing test . These tests are used to rule out other conditions, especially hearing loss. Because if you can't hear properly, you can't say words properly.

If it is determined that the speech disorder is not due to a medical cause, your doctor will refer you to a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP).An SLP is a person who specializes in speech, language, and communication problems. More precisely, they are like a doctor who specializes in speaking.

When you meet with an SLP, they will evaluate your child in a variety of ways:

• The child is asked to say certain sounds and specific words.
• While playing with the child, talking to him, and assessing his speech during normal conversation.
• Standardized Diagnostic Testing is conducted. These are specially designed tests.
• The child's medical history, such as premature birth and previous ear infections, is considered.
• Discusses whether anyone in the family has had speech disorders.
• The structure of the mouth, such as the teeth and palate, is checked for any problems that could be affecting this condition.
• The child's accent and dialect are taken into account.
• Observe the movements of the child's mouth, tongue, and lips while speaking.

Using these observations and diagnostic tests, an SLP can determine whether a person has an Articulation Disorder, a Phonological Disorder, or another speech disorder.

They can also classify the severity of this `(Articulation Disorder)` , from ``mild`` to ``severe``. There are several ways to measure this severity:

• How much of the child's speech can the SLP understand?
• A number scale, for example from 1 to 10.
• Percentage of consonants pronounced correctly.

How do you treat an Articulation Disorder?

To treat an Articulation Disorder, your child's SLP may recommend speech therapy . This is the most common and effective treatment. Your child will work with the SLP on their speech in regular meetings (once or twice a week). They will also be given exercises and activities to do at home. Your support as a parent is very important here.

During Speech Therapy, the child's SLP helps the child by using various activities and exercises. These are done in a playful way, in a way that the child enjoys:

• Identify what sounds he can't say.
• Correct the way you produce that sound (the way you position your mouth, tongue, and lips).
• Relearn the techniques that control the motor parts of speech (for example, how to move the tongue properly, how to manipulate the lips properly).
• Strengthen the muscles involved in speech.
• Practice making sounds and saying words at home.

Can Articulation Disorder be prevented?

There are actually no specific ways to prevent Articulation Disorder. Because as we said before, no specific cause has been found for this. However,Early treatment can prevent a speech disorder from getting worse or affecting learning and social interactions. Therefore, if you notice any changes or slurring in your child's speech, it's best to get it checked out.

What will the future be like for a child with Articulation Disorder?

This is one of the biggest fears many parents have. They think things like, "Will our child never be able to speak properly?" "Will they be left out at school?"

But the truth is, if diagnosed early and treatment begins properly (Speech Therapy), speech problems can be prevented from getting worse and the impact on learning and social relationships can be reduced.

A child with an Articulation Disorder can learn to communicate clearly . Many children begin to speak quite well with treatment. However, in more severe cases, long-term speech therapy may be needed. It takes some time, but it works.

When should I see a doctor?

If you have any concerns about your child's speech or communication skills, don't keep them to yourself. Talk to your family doctor or pediatrician. Be especially careful if your child does any of the following:

• If you are showing any behavioral problems related to speaking (e.g., being afraid to speak, not talking to others).
• Even after 4 or 5 years, some sounds are not pronounced correctly, and words are not clear.
• If you stop saying certain sounds or words that you used to say well.

Simply put, a child with an Articulation Disorder has difficulty producing certain speech sounds. If your child is 4 or 5 years old and still can't pronounce certain sounds properly, or if you or others are having trouble understanding what he or she is saying, be sure to talk to your pediatrician or family doctor. They can determine if there is a medical problem or if a referral to a speech and language pathologist (SLP) is needed for speech therapy.

The most important things you need to remember from this story (Take-Home Message)

Okay, so here are some of the main things you need to remember from what we've talked about:

• Articulation Disorder is a condition in which young children cannot pronounce certain speech sounds correctly. It is not a disease, but something that can be corrected with training and treatment .
• If your child is still not speaking clearly by the age of 4-5, it is very important to seek medical advice . The earlier the diagnosis, the easier it is to treat successfully.
• Articulation Disorder and Phonological Disorder are two different things. So what exactly is the problem?It is important to be diagnosed by a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP).
• Starting treatment early, i.e., speech therapy, can go a long way in helping your child learn to speak clearly. It can also reduce the impact on their schoolwork, playing with friends, and self-confidence.
• Although the exact cause of this condition has not been found, there are very effective treatments . So don't worry. Your child can be helped.

The most important thing is that you are not alone. Doctors and speech and language pathologists (SLPs) are there to help you and your child. So talk to them about any questions, fears, or concerns you may have. Your child's beautiful smile and clear speech are just as important to us!

` Speech Disorders, Articulation Disorder, Children's Speech, Pronunciation, Speech Therapy, SLP, Child Health