Speech Sound Disorders

A speech sound disorder is a speech disorder in which some speech sounds (called phonemes) in a child's (or, sometimes, an adult's) language are either not produced, not produced correctly, or are not used correctly. The term protracted phonological development is sometimes preferred when describing children's speech to emphasize the continuing development while acknowledging the delay. Speech sound disorders may be subdivided into two primary types, articulation disorders (also called phonetic disorders) and phonemic disorders (also called phonological disorders). However, some may have a mixed disorder in which both articulation and phonological problems exist. Though speech sound disorders are associated with childhood, some residual errors may persist into adulthood.

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Whether you’re seeking early childhood intervention, improving speech clarity, reducing stuttering, strengthening expressive or receptive language skills, managing post-stroke or neurological communication challenges, or supporting a loved one with developmental or learning differences, a skilled speech therapist can help build confidence, improve communication, and foster meaningful progress.

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