Speech Sound Disorder
If your child is difficult to understand, you’re not alone. Many parents wonder whether their child’s speech is simply developing more slowly or whether they would benefit from specialist support.
While every child develops speech at their own pace, some children experience persistent difficulties producing speech sounds. This is known as Speech Sound Disorder (SSD).
Could this describe your child?
Your child is difficult to understand, particularly by people who don’t know them well.
They leave sounds out of words or replace one sound with another.
They find longer or more complex words particularly difficult to say.
They become frustrated when other people don’t understand them.
Their confidence is affected because of their speech.
Their speech continues to sound less clear than other children of a similar age.
Not every child with Speech Sound Disorder will experience all of these difficulties, and every child’s speech profile is unique.
Understanding SSD
Speech Sound Disorder (SSD) is the term used when a child has persistent difficulty producing speech sounds which affects how clearly they are understood. Speech difficulties can present in different ways and may involve individual sounds, patterns of sounds or the way sounds are organised within words.
Speech Sound Disorder is more than simply “mispronouncing” a few sounds. Different children experience different types of speech sound difficulties, which is why a careful assessment is so important.
Why assessment matters
Although two children may sound similar, the reasons behind their speech difficulties may be very different. Understanding why your child is finding speech difficult helps identify the most appropriate support and allows therapy to be tailored to their individual needs.
How can I help?
A detailed assessment helps build a clear picture of your child’s speech sound development. Understanding not only which speech sounds are difficult, but also why they may be difficult, helps ensure that any recommendations are thoughtful, practical and tailored to your child’s individual needs.
Depending on your child’s needs, support may include: