Articulation Therapy

Articulation is the process of producing a sound, syllable, or word. This is achieved by using the lips, tongue, teeth, and jaw to control the flow of air. Whereas the need for Articulation Therapy arises when a child faces difficulty in making sounds.

Generally, a speech therapist will first give an Articulation Test to see that the child is facing trouble in which sounds and the error arise in which part of the word (beginning, middle, or end). Once this is evaluated, they will see whether those errors are common for kids of that age or not. They will then suggest therapy if required.

Always make sure that the therapist thinks your child is competent enough. The age of the child plays an important role in his/her progress. The earlier the treatment gets started the better are the chances of improvement. Throughout the period of treatment, it is your duty as a parent to be critical as well as the patient.

If you need any assistance or have a question about Articulation Therapy, you can consult our HearingSol experts with your problem, feel free to call us on +91-9327901950. We are always here to help you.

You have to be every bit of encouraging too for your child’s sake. Ensure that you are present during all the therapy sessions and try repeating everything the doctor said at home. Hearing Sol is in touch with a lot of professionals who can provide the best treatment for your child. Have a thorough look at our website to get adequate details.

The Process of Articulation Therapy

Target Sound The Process of Articulation Therapy goes through the steps of teaching the target sound (the sound you want to teach) in isolation, syllables, words, sentences, stories, conversation and finally generalizing the target sound in all contexts of language.

Let’s discuss these terms in detail:

Isolation

Isolation means practicing a particular sound repeatedly without adding a vowel. Like while practicing the /t/ sound a child will have to practice that sound by saying /t/, /t/, /t/ multiple times. The more exact the repetitions the better the child will be able to produce sound better.

Syllables

Practicing a particular sound in syllables simply means adding a vowel one by one (a,e, i,o,u) after the target sound, before the target sound, and before and after the target sound.

Words

The words stage comes when it is decided which position (start, mid or end) of the word is the target. The best way to practice in this stage is by using word cards. Go ahead to the next step when you’re fully satisfied that the child is responding well enough.

Sentences

Encourage the child to talk in full sentences or ask him/her to complete your sentences. For example, your sentence might read, “Put ________ in the black box.” This is an extremely helpful way to practice sentences for young children who can’t read yet. Always notice if the child is able to memorize the sentence, or use visual signs to help them read it aloud.

Stories

This is the most recommended practice of articulation therapy. Read stories to your child on a regular basis and after it finishes ask him/her to repeat a particular incidence from it.

Conversation

After successfully completing the conversation stage. The child will now find it easy to converse. It will now be easier to observe how they construct sentences in their everyday speech. Respond positively when they are correct and correct them in case you hear an error. With regular practice, it all gets fine and the child starts speaking fluently.

Generalization

After achieving positive results in the pronunciation of words, framing of sentences, stories, and proper conversations, it is important to achieve generalization over all the contexts of language. If the child is facing any trouble in this step of therapy, it is advised to go back and practice the area the child is going wrong, whether it is words, sentences or stories.

Remember to be patient. This may take a lot of time, but your child will get it.

How Is Articulation Therapy Done?

Articulation therapy begins with a full evaluation. The entire speech motor system of an individual addressed using a different set of exercises and speaking activities. For speech-sound disorders, a child’s production of every sound is listed to identify which sounds are produced incorrectly and why.

You will then be asked about your communication demands to ensure that your therapy program enables you with the right kind of articulation style. Therapy is an intensive process and includes a range of speech exercises to retrain your speaking patterns.

The sessions move at a steady pace, building up a conversation, to ensure that clear articulation in your everyday speech is maintained.

How Long Does The Articulation Therapy Last?

The length of therapy programs depends on the nature and severity of the articulation disorder, as well as the individual’s personal goals. Articulation therapy also requires proper dedication even after the sessions with the therapist are over.

Regular and daily practice strengthens speech skills and leads to fast progress. Irregularity in practice leads to an increase in the number of speech therapy for children.

It’s Never Too Late To Fix Your Speech

There have been cases of many adults with speech and sound disorders who worry they have now missed the opportunity for correcting their speech pattern.

This is absolutely UNTRUE! All it requires for an adult to fix his/her speech is with dedicated effort because learning the new skills has no age boundaries. You will see a change in yourself in no time if you’re willing to work hard.

If you have any query related to speech problem, call on our toll-free number +91-9327901950 or you can schedule a visit at HearingSol Clinic.