Speech Sound & Phonological Disorders

Phonological disorders differ from isolated articulation errors in that they involve patterns of sound errors that affect entire classes of sounds. Rather than difficulty producing a single sound, children with phonological disorders may demonstrate systematic simplifications such as fronting (substituting front sounds for back sounds), stopping (replacing fricatives with stops), cluster reduction, and final consonant deletion. These patterns significantly reduce speech intelligibility.

Phonological disorders are language-based in nature, reflecting difficulties with the mental organization and representation of speech sounds rather than with the motor production of individual sounds. Children with phonological disorders often benefit from approaches that target the underlying phonological system rather than individual sound production. Phonological disorders can co-occur with language delays and may be a risk factor for later literacy difficulties.

Speech-language pathologists use phonological process analysis and standardized testing to identify error patterns and determine treatment targets. Evidence-based approaches such as minimal pair therapy, multiple oppositions, cycles approach, and phonological awareness intervention are used to reorganize the child's sound system and improve overall intelligibility.