Speech Therapy for Speech Sounds and Lisps in Perth

Articulation or phonology: what's the difference?

Speech sound difficulties usually fall into two groups. Many children have a mix of both.

Articulation

This is when a child has trouble physically making a particular sound. The tongue, lips or jaw aren't moving quite the right way, so sounds like "s", "r" or "th" come out differently. Lisps are the most familiar example.

Phonology

This is when a child uses patterns of errors that affect whole groups of sounds. They might say "tat" for "cat", "tun" for "sun" or "pider" for "spider". The child can often make the sound on its own, but hasn't yet learned where it belongs in words.

Speech sound delay or speech sound disorder?

A speech sound delay means your child is learning sounds in the usual order, just later than expected. With the right support, many children catch up.

A speech sound disorder is more complex, and the difficulties tend to be more persistent. An assessment shows which one applies to your child, so therapy can focus on the right sounds.

Speech therapy for lisps

A lisp is when the "s" and "z" sounds don't come out clearly. With a frontal lisp, the tongue pokes forward between the teeth, so "sun" sounds like "thun". A lateral lisp happens when air escapes out the sides of the mouth, giving the sound a slushy quality.

Frontal lisps are common in young children and sometimes resolve on their own. A lateral lisp isn't part of typical speech development, so it's worth having it checked at any age.

Is my child's speech normal for their age?

Children learn sounds in a fairly predictable order. Sounds like "p", "b", "m" and "d" usually come early, while "r" and "th" are among the last to settle, sometimes not until around seven or eight.

As a rough guide, most four year olds can be understood by people outside the family most of the time. If that isn't the case for your child, or you're simply unsure, it's worth getting some advice.

Signs it may be time to get help

• Family, teachers or other children often struggle to understand your child

• Your child gets frustrated or stops talking when they aren't understood

• Sound errors are still there well past the age you'd expect

• Your child has a lateral lisp

• Other children have started to notice or comment on how your child speaks

What speech sound therapy involves

Therapy starts with an assessment of your child's speech sounds, so I can see exactly which sounds or patterns need work. From there, sessions use games and activities to practise sounds in words, sentences and then everyday conversation.

Short, regular practice at home makes a big difference. I glue simple activities into your child's speech therapy book, and because sessions happen at home or at school, you can see exactly what to practise.

Questions about speech sound therapy

How long will my child need speech therapy?

Every child is different. Some make good progress within a few weeks, while others need support over several months. It depends on the type of difficulty, how many sounds are involved, and how often your child practises between sessions. After the initial assessment, I can give you a clearer idea of what to expect.

Will my child grow out of it?

Some children do, particularly with sounds that develop later. Others don't, and the errors can become harder to change the longer they continue. If you're concerned, it's best not to wait and see. An assessment will tell you whether your child's speech is on track or whether some extra help would be worthwhile.

Can speech sound problems affect reading and spelling?

They can for some children. Phonological difficulties in particular can make it harder to link sounds to letters, which is an important early reading skill. Getting help with speech sounds early can give children a stronger start when they begin learning to read and spell at school.