A child who has trouble saying sounds clearly and being understood by others may have a speech sound disorder. Most children can say all sounds in English by the time they are 8 years old or entering 2nd grade. Children who can’t say sounds by an expected age may need help. Our Speech-Language Pathologists specialize in helping kids correct speech sound errors and improve their communication skills to find success.

Signs

• Trouble making sounds
• Substituting another sound
• Leaving sounds out
• Adding or changing sounds

Causes

• Developmental disorder, like autism
• Genetic syndrome, like Down syndrome
• Hearing loss, from ear infections or other causes
• Brain damage, like cerebral palsy or a head injury

Treatment

• Learning the correct way to make sounds
• Learning to tell when sounds are right or wrong
• Practicing sounds in different words
• Practicing sounds in longer sentences
• Increasing strength and coordination of muscles used for speech

For more information on speech sound disorders, call our office at (208) 535-1286.