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Understanding Articulation and What Therapy Looks Like: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers 

As parents and caregivers, one of the most important things we can do for our children’s development is to help them communicate clearly and confidently. One key area of communication development is articulation—the ability to pronounce speech sounds correctly. But what does articulation therapy look like, and how can it support your child? Let’s take a closer look. 

What is Articulation? 

Articulation refers to the process by which sounds are formed when your tongue, jaw, teeth, lips and palate alter the air stream coming from the vocal cords. When children have trouble with articulation, they may mispronounce sounds in ways that make their speech harder to understand. For example, a child might substitute one sound for another (like saying "wabbit" instead of "rabbit"), omit sounds from words (such as saying "ca’" for "cat"), or distort sounds (like producing an unclear “sh” sound). 

While it’s common for younger children to mispronounce sounds as part of normal speech development, persistent issues can affect a child’s communication skills, academics, and social interactions. If difficulties continue beyond the typical age range for speech sound development, speech therapy may be needed. 

Why Is Articulation Important? 

Clear articulation is essential not only for effective communication but also for a child’s confidence, academic success, and social development. When a child struggles to pronounce certain sounds, it can lead to frustration and a lack of confidence in expressing themselves. Effective articulation helps children share their thoughts, needs, and ideas, fostering positive social interactions and building self-esteem. 

What Does Therapy for Articulation Look Like? 

If your child is struggling with articulation, a speech-language pathologist (SLP) can help. Therapy is personalized to meet your child’s unique needs and is designed to be an engaging, step-by-step process that builds skills gradually. 

1. Assessment 

The first step is a thorough assessment, during which the SLP listens to your child’s speech, reviews their developmental history, and identifies the specific sounds they are having difficulty with. This helps the therapist develop an individualized treatment plan that targets your child’s specific needs and goals. 

2. Sound Production Practice

In therapy, your child will practice producing sounds correctly. This typically starts with one sound at a time, focusing on the sound in isolation (e.g., saying the /h/ or /r/ sound). The SLP uses various techniques to teach your child how to position their tongue, lips, and other parts of their mouth to produce sounds accurately. 

3. Repetition and Consistency 

Just like any new skill, improving articulation requires practice. Your child will be given exercises and activities to practice both in therapy sessions and at home. Consistent practice helps solidify new skills and make them more automatic over time. Parents and caregivers play an essential role in this process by providing additional practice opportunities. 

4. Generalization and Maintenance 

As your child’s articulation improves, the next step is to practice in more natural settings. The goal is for your child to use their improved articulation in everyday conversations. This may involve practicing with family members, friends, or teachers, in order to reinforce the new speech patterns in various contexts. 

5. Collaboration with Families and Teachers 

Successful articulation therapy requires collaboration between the SLP, parents, and teachers. The SLP will work closely with you to provide strategies for practicing at home and reinforce techniques across different environments. This teamwork supports steady progress and helps your child gain confidence in their speech. 

A Positive Outlook: Progress Is Achievable! 

While it can be challenging when your child struggles with articulation, it’s important to remember that with the right support, progress is not only possible but very achievable. Articulation therapy can help children overcome speech difficulties and develop clearer, more effective communication. With patience, consistency, and the guidance of an SLP, your child can make great strides in expressing themselves effectively and confidently.

Anna Verloo, M.S., CCC-SLP

Author

Anna Verloo is a speech-language pathologist at Parkwood Clinic.

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