| What causes an articulation disorder? Why do | | | | can affect the control of the speech mechanism. |
| some children have perfect speech at age three | | | | These include dysarthria and apraxia. Dysarthria is |
| while others are difficult to understand at age | | | | a problem with the motor control of the speech |
| seven? | | | | mechanism while apraxia is a problem with the |
| There are many causes of articulation disorders. | | | | coordination of speech. |
| Some children have a hearing loss, either | | | | Children with overall developmental delays often |
| permanent or intermittent loss caused by | | | | have corresponding delays in the development of |
| frequent ear infections. When children go through | | | | both language and articulation skills. It is always |
| the critical language learning period of birth to | | | | advisable to consider a child's mental age when |
| three years, it is very important that they be able | | | | assessing his speech and language skills. |
| to clearly hear those around them. Even a mild | | | | In most cases, however, there is no known |
| loss may make it difficult for the child to | | | | cause for the articulation delay. Most children with |
| differentiate sounds, making it harder for him to | | | | articulation delays have no other disabilities. Their |
| master those sounds in his own speech. Hearing | | | | language skills are normal. Their home |
| deficits account for over 10% of all speech | | | | environments are loving and stimulating, and they |
| defects. | | | | are of normal intelligence. While it is wise for |
| Other children have physical disabilities that hinder | | | | parents to obtain advice and assistance dealing |
| them from producing accurate articulation. | | | | with their children's speech errors, they are in no |
| Certainly, structural differences, such as cleft | | | | way at fault. |
| palate can cause difficulties with nasality or | | | | When a speech-language pathologist evaluates a |
| articulation. Other children have a tongue-tie | | | | child, he or she will consider the possible causes of |
| (ankyloglossia) that may be undiagnosed, yet | | | | a disorder. These contributing factors will often |
| prevent them from raising the tongue enough to | | | | need to be addressed or at least considered in |
| produce the tongue-tip sounds, although this is | | | | the treatment decisions. Ultimately, however, the |
| seldom a significant factor. | | | | primary focus will be on remediation, whether or |
| Neuromuscular problems, such as cerebral palsy, | | | | not any cause is apparent. |