Understanding Pediatric Speech Sound Disorders (SSD)

Speech is a complex motor activity that involves the coordination of muscles in the mouth, face, and respiratory system. For some children, this coordination comes naturally. However, some children experience challenges or speech sound disorders that make speaking clearly a significant hurdle. As pediatric speech therapists, we work closely with children facing speech sound production difficulties to help make the appropriate differential diagnosis and help them find their voice and communicate with confidence. 

What Are Speech Sound Disorders? 

“Speech sound disorders is an umbrella term referring to any difficulty or combination of difficulties with perception, motor production, or phonological representation of speech sounds and speech segments—including phonotactic rules governing permissible speech sound sequences in a language. 

Speech sound disorders can be organic or functional in nature. Organic speech sound disorders result from an underlying motor/neurological, structural, or sensory/perceptual cause. Functional speech sound disorders are idiopathic—they have no known cause”   – – ASHA 

Two Most Common Speech Sound Disorders:

Articulation: accurate motor production of individual sounds in increasingly complex phonetic contexts (e.g., traditional articulation hierarchy) (Example sounds that are often distorted in the English language: r, s, l, to just name a few!) 

Phonology: suppression of error patterns by teaching rules for how sounds are used in language (e.g., snow vs. no is an example of an error pattern called “cluster reduction”) 

Motor Speech Disorders:

Motor planning refers to the brain’s ability to coordinate muscle movements needed to produce speech. When motor planning is impaired, children may struggle to sequence, coordinate, or execute the movements required for clear speech. This can manifest in various speech disorders, including: 

• Dysarthria: A motor speech disorder caused by muscle weakness or difficulty controlling speech muscles, often due to neurological conditions. 

• Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS): A neurological speech disorder where the brain struggles to plan and coordinate the precise movements needed for speech, despite the muscles being physically capable. 

How a Pediatric Speech Therapist Approaches SSD and Motor Planning Challenges 

Every child is unique, and our therapy approach is tailored to each child’s specific needs. Here’s how we typically approach these concerns: 

1) Comprehensive Assessment The first step is conducting a thorough evaluation to understand the nature and severity of the child’s speech difficulties. This includes assessing oral motor function, speech sound production, and language development. 

2) Individualized Treatment Plans Based on the assessment, we design customized treatment plans that address the child’s specific motor planning needs. Goals may include improving speech sound accuracy, increasing muscle strength, and enhancing overall communication. 

3) Motor-Based Therapy Techniques For children with motor planning disorders, we often use motor-based therapy approaches such as:

            a.  Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC): A method that uses visual, verbal, and tactile cues to help children improve speech movements. 

            b. PROMPT (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets): A tactile-kinesthetic method where therapists use gentle touch cues to guide the child’s oral movements. 

             c. Repetition and Drills: Practicing speech sounds in a structured way to build muscle memory and improve motor coordination. 

4) Multisensory Approaches We incorporate visual, auditory, and tactile feedback to help children understand and produce sounds correctly. Tools like mirrors, apps, and hand signals can reinforce learning. 

5) Parental Involvement and Home Practice Parents play a crucial role in their child’s progress. We provide parents with strategies and exercises to practice at home, ensuring consistent reinforcement of skills learned in therapy sessions. 

6) Celebrating Progress Overcoming motor planning challenges takes time, patience, and persistence. We celebrate every milestone, no matter how small, to keep children motivated and confident in their abilities. 

Final Thoughts 

Speech sound disorders and motor challenges can significantly impact a child’s ability to communicate. However, with early intervention and consistent therapy, children can make remarkable progress. At Chicago Pediatric Therapy and Wellness Center, we are dedicated to helping every child find their voice and thrive in their communication journey. 

If you have concerns about your child’s speech development, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Together, we can create a customized plan to support your child’s unique needs. Find more info on our Speech Page

Please contact us today at info@cptwc.com or 773-687-9241 to learn more about how we may be able to help your child.