Articulation Difficulties in Children: Understanding Speech Sound Development | The SaLT Hub

Sometimes children have difficulty producing certain sounds clearly. Very rarely there is a physical reason for this. More often, a child hasn’t yet learned where to put their tongue or lips to make the sound. They know what they want to say, but their mouth isn’t quite ready to make the sound accurately. They might use an easier sound instead (e.g., saying t instead of k), or the sound may come out slightly differently (for example, a “slushy” or lisped s or z) - these errors are known as articulation difficulties in children.

Children with articulation disorders benefit from targeted practice with a Speech and Language Therapist (SaLT) because:

·       They may need help learning where to place their tongue, lips and jaw to make the sound(s).

·       They may need the sound(s) teaching in a different or more structured way—SaLTs have lots of games and approaches to help.

·       Once they can say the sound on its own, some children start using it in words quite quickly. Others need support to build it up from the sound on its own, to words, and then into everyday conversation.

·       Practice can take time, but activities should feel fun and achievable. Keeping things positive helps, especially if your child knows the sound is tricky.

SaLTs with specialist skills in speech can listen carefully to how your child is making sounds and work out what is happening. If there are any signs of an underlying physical difficulty, they will explore this as part of the assessment, together with the information you share as a parent or carer.