Below are common reasons that your child may be difficult to understand:

Young children make mistakes as they learn to speak.  When these mistakes persist beyond a certain age, they can impact a child socially (when they are not understood by peers), academically (as they learn to read), and behaviorally (as a result of frustration).

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Articulation Disorder

What it is:

An articulation disorder refers to when a child cannot say a sound past the age that we expect it to be mastered. 

What it looks like:

• Sounds or syllables may be left out of words or just not sound "right."
•  Sounds or syllables may be substituted with other sounds.
•   Speech may sound like that of a younger child.

What we do:

We teach the correct production of the sound using a combination of drills, games, and activities.  We will also systematically program the target sounds across environments.

For more information about Articulation Disorder, visit:
Caroline Bowen's Speech and Language

Phonological Disorder

What it is:

A phonological disorder involves errors in sound patterns and the use  of immature speech patterns past the age which we expect it to be mastered.

What it looks like:

• Sounds or syllables may be left out of words.
•  Sounds or syllables may be substituted with other sounds.
•   Speech may sound like that of a younger child.
  

What we do:

We teach the correct sound patterns using a combination of drills, games, and activities.  Remediating a phonological disorder is critical in a child's ability to understand both spoken and written language.

For more information about Phonological Disorder, visit: Caroline Bowen Speech and Language 

Apraxia of Speech

What it is:

Apraxia of Speech is a motor speech disorder in which the individual has trouble saying what he or she wants to say.  This difficulty is not due to weakness or paralysis, but rather difficulty getting the message from the brain to the correct muscles of the mouth. 

What it looks like:

• Unable to imitate sounds or words
• Struggles to shape their mouth in the correct posture (groping)
• Says sounds or words sometimes, but not consistently
• Has a limited range of sounds that he or she can say 

What we do:

We provide physical cues in or around the mouth to help the child speak.  Development of speech sounds are immediately embedded into language contexts to help the child become a talker.  

For more information about Apraxia of Speech, visit: 
American Speech-Language and Hearing Association