Speech Sound Disorder
- A-B
- C-D
- E-F
- G-H
- I-J
- K-L
- M-N
- O-P
- Q-R
- S-T
- U-V
- W-X
- Y-Z
A communication disorder where children have difficulty producing speech sounds correctly, making their speech hard to understand. It can involve difficulties with articulation (how sounds are physically produced) or phonology (the rules governing how sounds are used in a language). These difficulties can impact a child’s ability to communicate effectively and participate in social, academic, and occupational activities.
Unclear or Hard-to-Understand Speech
Speech is not understandable to unfamiliar listeners past age 3–4
Frequent sound substitutions, omissions, or distortions (e.g., saying “wabbit” for “rabbit”)
Inconsistent errors – the same word may be pronounced differently each time
Trouble with Specific Sounds
Difficulty producing sounds like /r/, /l/, /s/, /th/, /sh/
May leave out ending sounds or mix up similar sounds
Has a limited range of sounds for their age
Impact on Communication
May become frustrated when not understood
Avoids speaking in certain settings
Speech issues may interfere with reading, spelling, or writing