I cannot understand my child’s speech. What is the problem?
This is an articulatory disorder in which very often, children do not pronounce the sounds clearly or they replace one sound for another e.g. [k] replaced by [t] or [g] is replaced by [d].

What is the cause of this problem?
There are many causes like: -

Delayed speech
Hearing impairment
Mental retardation.
Learning disability etc.

If my child’s speech is not clear, then does it necessarily mean that he may be having the above problems?
No, the child may have an articulatory disorder even in the absence of the above condition.

How can I help my child to cope with his problem?
Take the help of a speech pathologist who will evaluate the child and find out the underlying cause.

When should seek the help of the speech pathologist?
Normally by the age of three and a half years, the child starts speaking in sentences. If you find it difficult to understand your child’s speech, then help should be sought immediately.

How can the speech pathologist help my child?
The speech pathologist will teach the child the correct sound with the help of simple exercises and will also teach the child to use the corrected sound in his speech.

Will my child be able to overcome his problem?
Yes, your child will definitely overcome his problem completely provided he does not have any underlying cause.

Last updated on 07-11-2001