Persistent Speech Errors: When to Look Beyond Articulation

When a child has difficulty producing certain speech sounds, it's natural to focus on helping them learn how to say those sounds correctly. Speech therapy often includes practicing specific sounds, learning where to position the tongue, and improving coordination of the lips and jaw. But what happens when a speech error persists despite practice? Or when a child can produce a sound correctly during therapy but struggles to use it in everyday conversation? Sometimes, the answer involves looking beyond articulation alone.

Speech sound production depends on more than learning where to place the tongue or how to move the lips. Oral structures, tongue mobility, resting posture, and the coordination of movements can also play a role in how a child produces speech.

When Speech Errors May Be More Than an Articulation Issue

Children develop speech sounds at different rates, and some errors are a typical part of speech development. However, persistent errors may warrant a closer look, particularly when a child has difficulty making progress or consistently using a sound they have learned.

Here are a few signs that additional evaluation may be helpful:

What Is the Connection Between Speech and Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders?

An orofacial myofunctional disorder (OMD) involves atypical patterns involving the muscles and functions of the mouth and face. Depending on the individual, these patterns may affect resting oral posture, swallowing, or other oral functions.

Some children with OMDs also have speech sound disorders. For example, an atypical tongue posture may occur alongside certain articulation errors.

However, not every articulation error is caused by an OMD, and not every child with an OMD has a speech sound disorder.

The important distinction is that traditional articulation therapy focuses on learning and using accurate speech sounds, while orofacial myofunctional therapy addresses relevant patterns of oral muscle function and posture.

When both types of concerns are present, the treatment plan should be individualized to the child's needs.

What Should Parents Do if Speech Errors Persist?

If your child continues to struggle with speech sounds, an OMD evaluation may be warranted to identify if there are concerns involving tongue mobility, oral resting posture, breathing, swallowing, or other aspects of oral function. The goal is to understand the factors contributing to your child's difficulty, not to assume that every persistent speech error has the same explanation.

Could Your Child Benefit From a Myofunctional Evaluation?

The therapists at Midwest Myofunctional Specialists, are both speech-language patholoists and orofacial myology specialists. We look at the bigger picture of oral function, including tongue and lip posture, oral habits, and the coordination of the structures involved in everyday functions.

If your child has persistent speech errors along with concerns about oral posture, tongue function, or other oral habits, we can help you determine whether an orofacial myofunctional evaluation may be appropriate.

Contact Midwest Myofunctional Specialists to learn more about our services and whether an evaluation may be a helpful next step.