Articulation and Phonology (Pronunciation)
Understanding Articulation and Phonology
- Articulation refers to the physical production of speech sounds. This includes the movement of the tongue, lips, and other articulators to create sounds.
- Phonology involves the patterns and rules of sound use in a language. It includes how sounds are organized and used to convey meaning.
Common Articulation and Phonology Challenges
Children may experience various challenges related to articulation and phonology, such as:
- Substituting one sound for another (e.g., saying "wed" for "red").
- Omitting sounds in words (e.g., saying "nana" for "banana").
- Distorting sounds (e.g., lisping when producing the /s/ sound).
- Difficulty producing specific sounds that are typically acquired by certain ages (e.g., /p/ or /b/ sounds by age 3).
Who May Benefit from Speech Therapy for Articulation and Phonology?
- Children who have difficulty producing speech sounds that should be acquired at an early age.
- Children who continue to produce speech errors past the expected age.
- Children who have difficulty being understood by family, friends, or teachers.
How Speech Therapy Can Help
Our pediatric speech-language pathologists provide comprehensive evaluations to assess whether a child’s speech errors are age-appropriate or if they may benefit from therapy. Based on the evaluation, we create an individualized treatment plan that focuses on:
- Improving speech sound production.
- Enhancing phonological awareness and skills.
- Developing clear and intelligible speech.
What to Expect from Our Therapy Sessions
- Assessment: We begin with a detailed assessment to understand your child’s specific articulation and phonology needs.
- Personalized Plan: A customized therapy plan is developed to address your child’s unique goals.
- Interactive Activities: Our therapy sessions include engaging activities and exercises to make learning enjoyable and effective.
- Progress Monitoring: We continuously monitor your child’s progress and adjust the therapy plan as needed to ensure meaningful improvements.
Our Approach to Articulation and Phonology Therapy
- Evidence-Based Practices: Our therapists use proven techniques and methodologies to help children achieve clear and accurate speech.
- Family Involvement: We involve parents and caregivers in the therapy process to provide support and reinforcement at home.
- Positive and Encouraging Environment: We create a supportive atmosphere where children feel confident and motivated to practice their speech skills
"We had the most wonderful experience with Chicago Speech Therapy! Our speech pathologist, Miss Megan, developed a bond with our son almost immediately. By week two, he would await her arrival by the window in our front door! She quickly discovered all of his favorite things and would bring so many toys of her own that would keep him engaged and wanting to talk! She gave us (parents) tons of strategies to work with on our own in between her weekly visits. Our son made consistent progress under her care and has now been released from speech therapy ~ which actually makes us so sad ~ simply because we miss Miss Megan! She basically became part of our family and will be dearly missed. I couldn’t recommend Miss Megan and Chicago Speech Therapy more!"
"The process w/ CST was smooth, from the intake process, registration, processing insurance to on-going communication. Sarah was the Speech Therapist for our 9-year-old and she established a wonderful rapport with her and gained her trust over the months. I highly recommend CST."
