Speechdevelopmental disordersmay indicate challenges with motor speech.
Here, a child experiences difficulty moving the muscles necessary for speech production.
This child may also face reduced coordination when attempting to speak.
Halfpoint Images / Getty Images
Speech sound disorders are recognized where speech patterns do not correspond with the movements/gestures made when speaking.
This article will examine the distinguishing features of this disorder.
It will also review factors responsible for speech challenges, and the different ways they can manifest.
Lastly, well cover different treatment methods that make managing this disorder possible.
Symptoms of Speech Sound Disorder
A speech sound disorder may manifest in different ways.
This usually depends on the factors responsible for the challenge, or how extreme it is.
There are different patterns of error that may signal a speech sound disorder.
These include:
Its important to note that children develop at different rates.
This can reflect in the ease and ability to produce sounds.
This determination may be made in line with the requirements of theDSM-5 diagnostic criteria.
However, several risk factors may increase the odds of developing a speech challenge.
By seven or eight, harder sounds should be properly pronounced.
Stuttering is the most common form of disfluency.
This child may include extra words or sounds when communicatingthey may also make words longer by stressing syllables.
This disorder may cause tension while speaking.
Other times, head jerking or blinking may be observed with disfluency.
Children with this disorder often feel frustrated when speaking, it may also cause embarrassment during interactions.
This usually signals an articulation disorder, where sounds like r, l, or s may be changed.
In these cases, a childs communication may be understood by only close family members.
Here, mistakes may be made when producing sounds.
Other times, sounds like consonants may be omitted when speaking.
Other indicators include voice breaks, a change in pitch, or an excessively loud or soft voice.
Apraxia
Childhoodapraxiaof speech takes place if a child lacks the proper motor skills for sound production.
To avoid further strain to the child, its important to avoid showing excessive concern.
For professional assistance, a speech-language pathologist can assist with improving a childs communication.
These pathologists will typically use oral motor exercises to enhance speech.
Parents and children with speech sound disorders may also joinsupport groupsfor information and assistance with the condition.
A Word From Verywell
It can be frustrating to witness the challenges in communication.
Published 2015 Feb 4. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00064
Penn Medicine.Speech and Language Disorders-Symptoms and Causes.
PsychDB.Speech Sound Disorder (Phonological Disorder).
2007;28(6):438-447. doi:10.1097/DBP.0b013e31811ff8ca
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.Speech Sound Disorders: Articulation and Phonology.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.Speech Sound Disorders.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Articulation Disorder.
National Institute of Health.Phonological Disorder.
Lee AS, Gibbon FE.Non-speech oral motor treatment for children with developmental speech sound disorders.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.
2015;2015(3):CD009383.
Published 2015 Mar 25. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009383.pub2
