What Are Articulation Disorders?

by | Sep 18, 2025 | Speech Sounds, Speech Therapy for Children

Articulation disorders are speech difficulties that make it hard for children to pronounce sounds correctly. Common examples include:

  • Saying “wabbit” instead of “rabbit”

  • Having a lisp when producing the “s” sound

  • Replacing or omitting sounds altogether

These difficulties can affect communication, confidence, and social interactions, especially as children enter school.

How Speech Therapists Support Children with Articulation Disorders

1. Speech Assessment

A speech therapist (speech pathologist) begins with an assessment, listening carefully to your child’s speech to identify which sounds are challenging and in what contexts.

2. Auditory Discrimination Training

Therapists help children learn to hear the difference between correct and incorrect sounds. This builds awareness and lays the foundation for clearer speech.

3. Sound Production Practice

Children are guided through specific techniques to produce sounds correctly, such as:

  • Visual cues (watching the therapist’s mouth movements)

  • Tactile feedback (using a tongue depressor or guiding lips/tongue placement)

  • Repetitive exercises to practice sounds in words, sentences, and conversations

4. Building Confidence Through Practice

As children practice, they not only improve speech clarity but also gain confidence in social and academic settings.

Why Early Speech Therapy Matters

Early intervention is key. The sooner articulation issues are addressed, the easier it is for children to develop clear, confident speech before challenges impact their learning, friendships, and self-esteem.

When to Seek Help from a Speech Therapist

If your child:

  • Struggles to pronounce certain sounds consistently

  • Has speech that is difficult for others to understand

  • Shows frustration when trying to communicate

…it may be time to consult a speech therapist. With the right support, most children make significant progress and eventually master correct pronunciation.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Articulation Disorders

Q1: What is an articulation disorder in speech?

An articulation disorder is a type of speech sound disorder where a child has difficulty pronouncing certain sounds correctly. For example, they may substitute one sound for another (“wabbit” instead of “rabbit”), distort sounds (a lisp on the “s”), or leave sounds out of words. These errors can make speech unclear, affect communication at school and home, and reduce a child’s confidence. Speech therapists diagnose articulation disorders and create therapy plans to help children achieve clear, confident speech.

Q2: How do speech therapists help with articulation?

Speech therapists (also called speech pathologists) use structured techniques to improve a child’s pronunciation and speech clarity. Therapy often includes:

  • Assessment: Identifying which sounds are challenging.

  • Auditory discrimination: Teaching the child to hear the difference between correct and incorrect sounds.

  • Sound production practice: Using visual cues (watching the therapist’s mouth), tactile feedback (feeling tongue/lip placement), and repetition exercises.

  • Confidence building: Practicing sounds in words, sentences, and conversations so the child feels comfortable using them in everyday life.

With regular sessions and home practice, most children make excellent progress.

Q3: At what age should my child see a speech therapist?

It’s normal for young children to make some sound errors as they learn to talk. However, if your child is 4 years or older and still struggles with certain sounds, or if their speech is difficult for others to understand, it’s a good idea to seek an evaluation by a speech therapist. Early intervention is best, because the earlier a child receives help, the easier it is to correct errors and prevent frustration in social or school settings.

Q4: Can children outgrow articulation disorders?

Some mild sound errors may improve as children get older, but many articulation disorders do not resolve on their own. Without support, a child may continue to mispronounce sounds into school years, which can affect literacy, confidence, and social interaction. Speech therapy gives children the structured practice and professional support they need to overcome articulation difficulties. Most children make significant improvements with therapy.

Q5: What causes articulation problems in kids?

Articulation problems can have several causes, including:

  • Developmental differences (taking longer to learn certain sounds)

  • Hearing loss or ear infections that affect how sounds are heard and learned

  • Oral structures (tongue, teeth, or palate differences)

  • Neurological or motor planning issues that affect coordination of speech muscles

  • Habitual errors where incorrect pronunciation has become routine