Articulation

What is articulation ?

Articulation is the process by which sounds ,  syllables and words are formes when your tongue , jaw , teeth , lips and palate alter the air stream coming from the vocal folds.

What is an articulation problem ?

 A person has an articulation problem when he/she produces sounds , syllables or words incorrectly so that listeners do not understand what is being said or pay more attention to the way the words sound than to what they mean.

What causes an articulation problem ?

Articulation problems may result from physical handicaps , such as cerebral palsy , cleft palate or hearing loss , or may be related to other problems in the mouth , such as dental problems. However , most articulation problems occur in the absence of any obvious physical disability. The cause of these so-called articulation problems may be faulty learning or speech sounds

Can ear problems during infancy have any effect on late sound development ?

Children learn their speech sounds by listening toi the speech around them. This learining begins very early inlife. If children have frequent ar problems during this important listening period , they may fail to learn some speech  sounds.

Will a child outgrow a functional articulationproblem. ?

A child’s overall speech pattern will usually become more understandasble as he or she matures. However some children will need direct training to eliminate all articulation errors. The exact speech pattern of the individual child will determine the answer to this question.

Do all children learn all sounds at once ?

Sounds are learned in an orderly sequence. Some sounds such as “p” , “m” and “b”  are learned as early as 3 years of age . Other sounds like “s’” , “r” and “l” as often not mastered until the early school years.
Children should make all the sounds of English by 8 years of age. Many children learn these sounds much earlier.

How can I help a child pronounce words correctly ?

By setting a good example. Don’t interrupt or constantly correct the child. Don’t let anyone tease or mock (including friends or relatives). Instead present a good model. Use the misarticulated word correctly  with emphasis