What is the Goldman Fristoe Test?
The Goldman Fristoe test of articulation is a tool which can help examine a child’s ability to pronounce different speech sounds in order to diagnose different disorders which can inhibit a child’s articulation. It is the most popular articulation test and provides a systematic measure of consonant sound articulation.
When your child takes this test, s/he can expect various tasks such as naming pictures, having to correct the articulation of mispronounced sounds and to produce certain sounds in sentences. The results of this test will then be compared to other individual scores at national and gender-specific levels. This test will be administered with the help of a registered Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) who will also be able to help you understand the results.
Who Should Use It?
Consider requesting this test if your child is having difficulty pronouncing consonants, or is exhibiting symptoms of an articulation disorder, and you want to know more about the nature of your child’s articulation problem.
If you are unsure of whether or not your child has speech symptoms that relate to articulation disorders, the list below can help.
- Babble doesn’t include consonant sounds by the age of 8-9 months
- Speech is mostly unrecognizable at the age of 3
- Continuation to leave consonants out of words at the age of 3
- Even at 4 years old, speech is still difficult to comprehend
- Still not producing many sounds by the age of 6
- Distorting, substituting or omitting sounds after 7 years of age
- Worried about his speech, no matter what the age
Essentially, if your child’s speech is difficult to understand, especially to an unfamiliar adult, then he or she should probably be tested for an articulation disorder.
Children over the age of two and under the age of 22 are eligible to take the Goldman Fristoe Articulation test. This test is only used for children who are having difficulty pronouncing consonants (b,c,d, etc) and will not help determine articulation problems if your child is having problems with vowels.
When Should I Use It?
Ideally, as soon as possible. If you begin to suspect that your child has articulation problems it is best to seek professional help quickly. Speech therapy works best when administered early and this will also help your child avoid other side effects related to self-esteem and confidence. The Goldman Fristoe Articulation test is a first step in understanding your child’s articulation problem and getting him or her the assistance needed. If your child is over two years of age, he or she is eligible to take this test.
