| AN ARTICULATION CHECKLIST: Literature shows that children with articulation problems often have later reading/spelling difficulties.
An articulation delay is likely if:
• Others cannot understand your child
• There is difficulty with coordinating speech
• Parts of words are omitted eg, the endings
• They are having difficulty saying sounds expected for their age
2 Yrs -> 3½ Yrs - m n h p b w t d g y k
3 ½ Yrs -> 4 ½ Yrs - f l ch sh j s z
5 Yrs -> 6 Yrs - r v
7 ½ Yrs -> 8 Yrs - th (voiced & voiceless)
A STUTTERING CHECKLIST: Stuttering is characterised by one or more of the following:
• Repeating sounds, words or phrases: d-d-d-d-dad / dad-dad-dad / I can – I can - run
• Prolonging sounds: ccccccan
• Blocking before the sound begins …….. can
• Facial grimaces, twitching or irregular breathing
Whilst some children spontaneously stop stuttering, most children require therapy. If stuttering is left untreated, the pattern can become established which makes it more difficult to treat.
STUTTERING INFORMATION See Stuttering Information sheet (yellow and double sided) - will be posted to you.
Click here for Myths and Facts about Stuttering
What is Dyspraxia? Dyspraxia refers to a difficulty in organising the oral muscles to make voluntary movements in order to produce speech sounds. Characteristics of dyspraxia may include:
• Increased difficulty saying target sounds when pressure is applied (ie, when they are told to do so)
• Difficulty saying consonant and vowel sounds
• Speech that is difficult to understand
• Searching movements with the mouth when trying to make speech sounds
• Inconsistency in repeating sounds and words
• Slow progress with learning speech sounds
• A child with dyspraxia may show frustration when they are not understood, and they may use their own system of gestures to communicate
POOR VOICE QUALITY: A voice that sounds
• husky
• hoarse
• raspy
• strained
• breathy
NASALITY: A voice that sounds
• hyponasal = sounds like the person has a cold all the time, even when they are perfectly healthy.
• hypernasal = sounds like the voice is coming out the nose (can be a little snorting sound)
PITCH: A voice that sounds
• too high or too low for the persons age and sex.
VOLUME: A voice that sounds
• too loud
• too weak/soft
Click here to listen to a person with a voice disorder (constricted voice).
(To listen to the sound sample, right-click the link and select "Save Target As...".
Save the file to your computer, then open it in your desired media application.)
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