Speech sound Disorder

It is common to see most children making pronounciation mistakes as they learn to say new words. But if the mistakes continue past a certain age, the errors are termed as speech sound disorders.

Speech sound disorders can be classified into Articulatory and Phonological disorders.

Articulatory disorders reflect difficulty in learning to physically produce speech sounds. Sounds can get substituted, left off ,added or changed .

 

The types of errors seen are

Substitution e.g. substituting the s in the word sun with a f, thus saying fun for sun

Omission e.g. omitting the “l” in the word milk and saying mik

Distortion e.g.the intended speech sound is produced with an error ,changing the meaning of a word

Addition e.g. adding an extra  sound in a word

 

 

 

Articulatory errors can vary in severity ,making it hard for people to understand the speaker.

 

Causes of articulation disorders:

Hearing loss

Structural abnormalities as cleft of lip and palate, paralysis, tongue thrust

Neurological problems; as cerebral palsy

Motor speech disorders as dysarthria, apraxia of speech (this can affect a child’s or an adult’s ability to speak clearly/correctly)

Phonological processing disorders:

 

The child is capable of producing sounds but uses them inconsistently or not at all. Sound patterns reflects trouble in learning the sound system of the language. Most children learn to outgrow the problem, but for some it could be a sign of  a speech disorder.

 

When to seek help of a Speech language pathologist:

 

The speech is not understood

Speech is not mature as compared to the speech of other similar aged kids

Difficulties in chewing, biting, swallowing

Has developed a hearing loss

 

Assessment :

A speech language pathologist will carry out

A detailed case history

An articulation test to check speech sound production &  analyse errors

 

Intervention :

The intervention procedure for misarticulations consists of:

Auditory and sensori-perceptual training

Production of the target speech sounds

Stabilisation of the correct production of speech sounds: Activities and strategies are used to stabilise the correct production

Carry over and maintenance of the correct speech sounds is emphasized to daily conversational use

Home training programs

 

 

 

 

Medicare items for speech pathology:

 

General Practitioner can make a referral for speech pathology sessions under the EPC (Enhanced Primary Care Plan) or the Chronic disease management Plan ,for children and adults with chronic care needs. Medicare rebate is available for 5 speech therapy sessions per calendar year.

rebates may also be claimed from your private health provider, depending on the extras covered by the health fund. To find out more about the rebates, you may contact the private health provider.

Medicare and private health insurance rebates may not be claimed for the same speech therapy session.

Rebates for Medicare and private health insurance can be claimed via the HICAPS at the speech Clinic.