Speech sound disorder

What is speech sound disorder?

Speech sound disorder is a speech defect that inhibits the pronunciation of certain distinct sounds. 

When might children show signs of speech sound disorder?

Normally, after five years of age, children can pronounce all the phonemes well and without any difficulty, though in some children the development can take a little longer. If you have concerns about your child not being able to produce certain speech sounds correctly, you can have a consultation with a speech and language therapist who will be able to provide a thorough assessment.

What are the causes of speech sound disorder?

The main causes of speech sound disorder are unknown. In most cases, children have speech sound disorder with no known origin, whereas in other cases, the cause may be clear, with many different possibilities.

What is the treatment for speech sound disorder?

Depending on the cause, a speech and language therapist will propose therapy or treatment tailored to the child.