Articulation
By definition, articulation is the act of vocal expression. In other words how we enunciate or the manner in which we produce a speech sound.
Although articulation may seem simple and is not be something that we do on a conscious level, in actuality it is a complex process where we use the structures and muscles in our mouths to make specialized movements that produce specific sounds or a combination of sounds.
What you need to know about Articulation:
Structures we use to articulate, also known as articulators include: lips, teeth, tongue, roof of the mouth, jaw, and lungs.
We speak when we exhale. So that you may further understand, let’s do a little exercise: Put your hand in front of your mouth, but not touching your lips and make the “b” sound. You can feel a little burst of air hit your fingers. Now, say the word “bee,” once again pay close attention to the thump of air on your fingers. This is why when we speak for long periods of time we need to catch our breath!
We also use our vocal folds (i.e., vocal cords) to voice when articulating. Put your hand on your throat (i.e. voice box/larynx) and produce the sounds “p” and “b.” Note the vibration in your throat during the production of “b.”
Troubles with Articulation:
It is normal for typically developing children to have trouble articulating certain sounds. All sounds begin to take form slowly as children practice producing them. The most common sounds that are misarticulated at a later age are “s,” “l,” “th,” and “r.” Although these sounds typically develop later in childhood, some children produce them at an earlier age causing parents to worry if their child is not using these same sounds when compared to their peers.
The “r” sound is one of the most difficult sounds to produce, along with the “th” sound, both of which are typically last to develop.
A common error younger children make when articulating words that have “r” sound in them is substituting the “r” for another sound as in the case of the word “rabbit.” The child will most likely say “wabbit.” Just like Elmer Fudd from the Looney Tunes! “Sssh, be vewy, vewy quiet, I am hunting fow wabbits!”
In addition to difficulty with later developing sounds, children usually have trouble pronouncing what is called a cluster, that is, when two consonant sounds are next to each other in a word. Like in the of the word, “star,” the child will most likely say “tar” because it is easier for him/her to say “tar” than “star.”
These errors usually go away with time. As the child matures, so does the strength of his/her articulators as well as increased practice of the sound in question.
Unfortunately, sometimes these misarticulated sounds do persist and then you have what is called an Articulation Disorder.
Articulation Disorder? What is that?
As previously described, an Articulation Disorder is characterized by a persistent misarticulation of sound in the child’s language.
The following are characteristics of articulation disorders.
Here are some occurrences of articulation errors to listen for:
• Omissions: leaving certain sounds out of words.
o Ex: “booo” instead of “blue”
• Substitutions: replacing one sound for another.
o Ex: using “w” for “r” like in the case of rabbit and wabbit.
• Distortions: the child tries to produce a sound, but fails and ends up making a completely different sound.
o Trying to pronounce “w” and a whistle or blowing sound comes out.
• Additions: adding a sound to a word.
o Ex: “bloat” for “boat”
• Deletion: taking a sound out of a word, making it easier to pronounce.
o Ex: “tar” for “star”
It is important to note that it is normal for children to have these minor, and short-lived errors, but if the problem persists, seek out the help of a professional.
What Causes an Articulation Disorder?
Although there are some specifically known medical causes that co-occur with articulation disorders, some causes are also unknown.
Some disorders such as Downs Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy will automatically co-occur with Articulation disorders due to the nature of muscular difficulty in these medical diagnoses.
When investigating your child’s difficulty, do not forget to check his/her ears!
Hearing is an extremely important aspect of communication. We speak how we hear. Articulation is purely an imitation of sounds heard. If the child has a hearing issue, an articulation disorder may likely result due to the child hearing a distorted version of sounds from the environment. Frequent ear infections in the middle ear (also referred to as Otitis Media) may affect the child’s hearing. So if your child is experiencing frequent ear infections, make sure you get a full hearing evaluation.
How do we Detect Articulation Disorders?
Children with an articulation disorder are not always easy to detect because although in some the problem may be very apparent, in others the problem may be very mild and go unheard.
Please use additional tools on our website MySpeechTherapyCenter.com, to help you become familiar with developmental norms for speech development.
The following is a link to our Communication Wellness Quiz. This tool helps parents identify red flags in their children’s communication development.
http://www.myspeechtherapycenter.com/?page_id=401
How to Prevent Articulation Problems:
Although the following are not remedies for articulation disorders, they are good tips for enhancing your child’s articulation development, and avoiding problems in the future.
• At the age of one, take the child’s pacifier/bottle away, preventing the child from sucking on his/her thumb as well. The constant pushing of the thumb against the roof of the mouth may cause the roof of the mouth not to develop properly, therefore causing the child to have difficulties pronouncing several sounds.
• Have your child look in the mirror as he/she talks. Also, let them look at you when you talk. This shows the child the proper way the mouth moves when articulating.
• This one may cause a little controversy, but it will definitely be fun for your child! Allow your child to chew gum or foods like jellybeans, and other chewy candy in order to exercise of the muscles of the face and jaw.
• Drinking fluids through a straw is another good tip, because this too exercises the muscles of the face and jaw.
• Practice with your child tricky sounds. If you notice your child is having trouble pronouncing certain sounds, have them imitate you saying it.
GOOD IDEA: Make practicing sounds a fun game! Maybe create flashcards with a letter on one side, and ask the child to produce the sound. Every time the child says it correctly, give them a jellybean or even a starburst. Now you are using two tips in one! As the child’s speech sounds improve, you can make it more difficult by adding words to the flashcards.
If you have any questions on this subject, feel free to leave comments with questions or concerns.
Stay tuned next week for more information on Articulation Disorders as well as Phonology, which refers to the complex system of rules in our brain that dictate the way we use these sounds in running speech. We hope that enjoyed this information!
