Does your child have multiple speech sound errors? This may be a phonological processing disorder.
Children learn how to speak by using patterns of sound errors (phonological processes) to simplify speech as they learn to talk. These predictable errors are expected to be eliminated by age 5 or earlier. Some examples include the following: reduplication ("mom" is produced as "momma"), final consonant deletion ("bat" becomes "ba" because the /t/ is dropped). Maybe the /g/ becomes a /d/ like saying "dod" instead of "dog" which is referred to as fronting or assimilation. One of the phonological processes Londa often sees is cluster reduction or dropping a consonant in a blend ("stop" becomes "top"). These errors are all typical for children but until a certain age. However, some children need skilled instruction to eliminate the phonological process to produce words correctly.
There are a few phonological processes that are never considered part of the typical development of speech. When these are observed, it usually indicates a more severe speech disorder. The three non developmental phonological processes are:
1. Backing occurs when velar consonants /k/ and/or /g/ are used in place of sounds produced in the front of the mouth, such as /t/ and /d/.
2. Initial Consonant Deletion occurs when the initial consonant of a word is omitted (ex. "at" for "cat").
3. Glottal Stop Substitution occurs when a consonant is substituted with a sound produced in the back of the throat called a glottal stop (the sharp, middle sound in “uh-oh”). An example would be “bu-ie” /bʌʔi/ for “bunny” /bʌni/.
Londa helps clients use their current sound inventory, phonological system and patterns of sounds to be more intelligible. The specific type of therapy used (ex. cycles, minimal pairs, multiple oppositions) is based on the severity and characteristics of the disorder. Click here to learn more about phonological processes and the expected age of elimination.
There are a few phonological processes that are never considered part of the typical development of speech. When these are observed, it usually indicates a more severe speech disorder. The three non developmental phonological processes are:
1. Backing occurs when velar consonants /k/ and/or /g/ are used in place of sounds produced in the front of the mouth, such as /t/ and /d/.
2. Initial Consonant Deletion occurs when the initial consonant of a word is omitted (ex. "at" for "cat").
3. Glottal Stop Substitution occurs when a consonant is substituted with a sound produced in the back of the throat called a glottal stop (the sharp, middle sound in “uh-oh”). An example would be “bu-ie” /bʌʔi/ for “bunny” /bʌni/.
Londa helps clients use their current sound inventory, phonological system and patterns of sounds to be more intelligible. The specific type of therapy used (ex. cycles, minimal pairs, multiple oppositions) is based on the severity and characteristics of the disorder. Click here to learn more about phonological processes and the expected age of elimination.