Learn the difference between articulation and phonological disorders, common signs to watch for, and how pediatric speech therapy helps children improve speech clarity and confidence.
What Are Speech Sound Disorders?
Speech sound disorders are communication challenges that affect how children say words. Two of the most common are articulation disorders and phonological disorders.
- Articulation Disorders happen when a child has difficulty physically producing sounds.
- Phonological disorders occur when a child uses patterns of sound errors that make speech difficult to understand.
Both can impact a child’s ability to be understood at home, in school, and with friends—but with the right speech therapy, children can make excellent progress.
What Is an Articulation Disorder?
An articulation disorder is when a child struggles to produce specific sounds correctly. Common signs include:
- Substituting sounds (saying “wabbit” instead of “rabbit”)
- Omitting sounds (saying “ca” instead of “cat”)
- Distorted or unclear speech
These errors can be caused by difficulty with tongue, lip, or jaw placement, or simply delayed speech sound development.
What Is a Phonological Disorder?
A phonological disorder occurs when a child uses consistent error patterns that simplify speech. Examples include:
- Replacing k and g sounds with t or d (e.g., “tat” for “cat”)
- Dropping consonant blends (e.g., “poon” for “spoon”)
- Using mostly simple sounds, making speech harder to understand
Phonological errors are typical in toddlers, but if they continue beyond age expectations, speech therapy may be needed.
Why Early Speech Therapy Matters
Without support, articulation and phonological disorders can affect:
- Confidence: Children may avoid speaking if they feel misunderstood
- Academics: Clear speech supports early reading, spelling, and writing skills
- Social interaction: Kids with clearer speech can connect more easily with peers
Early, evidence-based speech therapy gives children the tools they need to succeed in school and daily life.
Speech Therapy for Articulation & Phonological Disorders
Our licensed speech-language pathologists (SLPs) provide:
- Comprehensive speech evaluations to identify specific errors and patterns
- Individualized therapy plans targeting your child’s unique needs
- Play-based learning to keep sessions fun and engaging
- Parent training and home practice strategies for faster progress
- Ongoing progress tracking so you can see your child’s improvements
When to Contact a Speech Therapist
You may want to schedule a speech evaluation if your child:
- Is hard to understand compared to same-age peers
- Still struggles with certain sounds past the expected age
- Shows frustration when trying to communicate
- Has difficulties with reading or spelling related to unclear speech
Get Help for Your Child’s Speech
Every child deserves to be understood. Our speech therapists specialize in articulation therapy and phonological disorder treatment to help children speak clearly, build confidence, and thrive.
Contact us today to schedule a speech evaluation and take the first step toward clearer communication.
