What is a Speech Sound Disorder?

Aamina Shakoor, Speech Pathologist, Change for Life.

Speech Sound Disorders (SSD) is a term used to refer to a range of difficulties involving the perception, motor production and phonological representation of the various speech sounds and segments.

SSD’s are split into either functional or organic in nature. Functional speech sound disorders are idiopathic; having no known cause as opposed to organic speech sound disorders as they result from underlying motor/neurological, structural or sensory/perceptual cause.

When Speech Pathologist’s plan to work on a speech delay, they plan according to the child’s speech. There are many different approaches that can be chosen to work on. There is no single therapy approach that works for all children and it may be required to change approaches at time. It is the Speech Pathologist’s role to ensure they consider the research and evidence and aim to provide the correct intervention to the child and their needs.

Organic Speech Sound Disorders

Organic speech sound disorders encompass:

• Neurological or Motor issues; Childhood Apraxia of Speech and Dysarthria
• Structural issues; Cleft Lip/Palate and other structural deficits
• Sensory/Perceptual disorders; Hearing Impairments

Functional Speech Sound Disorders:

Functional speech sound disorders include:

• Articulation Disorders (e.g., substitution or distortions of sounds)
• Phonological Disorders, which are more predictable, rule-based errors (e.g., fronting, backing, stopping etc.)

It is often difficult to be able to differentiate between a Phonological Disorder and an Articulation Disorder therefore many researchers and clinicians prefer to use the broader term of “Speech Sound Disorder”

References:

Bowen, C. (2021). Children’s Speech Sound Disorders by Caroline Bowen. Retrieved 9 June 2021, from https://speech-language-therapy.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16:ssd&catid=11:admin&Itemid=101

Speech Sound Disorders: Articulation and Phonology. (2021). Retrieved 9 June 2021, from https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/clinical-topics/articulation-and-phonology/