Structural Reasons

Children may have articulation disorders due to one or more organic disorders in the speech organs, especially in the 3rd cluster organs. The most common structural defect in the lips is the upper lip cleft (rabbit lip). The lip sounds 'pbmf-v' may sound distorted in this case. The lips may have an unusually thin or thick texture. The absence of teeth, irregularity, and teeth may distort the sounds.

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The structure and mobility of our jaws are important in making some sounds. For example, articulation disorder may occur if the lower jaw is too far back and the anterior, upper and lower teeth are sitting in an overlapping manner. If the lower jaw's ability to move up, down, right and left is limited, articulation may be adversely affected. In addition, the crooked, cracked nasal bone and the presence of meat on the nasal mucosa are among the factors that cause articulation disorders. The fact that our tongue is too large or small compared to the tongue bed or cavity, the tongue tie is too extended, disorders in the tongue muscles and nerves, the unusual bluntness of the tongue tip and tongue wounds affect the articulation negatively.

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If the palate is excessively high or flat, the part called the soft palate lacks the required softness or is paralyzed, cleft uvula, unusually small or shifted uvula to one side may cause distorted sound.

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Functional Reasons

It is considered that there are functional reasons when the speech organs are not able to perform their duties even though they are sound. Hearing impairment or deficiencies in hearing sensitivity also negatively affect articulation. Hearing impairment affects the sound receiver. The degree of impact depends on the type and degree of hearing impairment. In some cases of articulation disorders, as mental retardation increases, the degree of disability also increases. On the other hand, the mental level of the child is also very important for the correction of the articulation disorder. Some of the articulation disorders are entirely due to incorrect learning. The language spoken at home, the discouragement of the child, the inhibition of speech, and the environments that do not allow to reinforce speech are the factors that cause articulation disorders. In some cases, speech disorders may develop due to emotional conflict. The most difficult to correct articulation disorders are those due to emotional disharmony or conflict. In such cases, only performing articulation correction studies may not be of much benefit. In addition, educational measures and psychotherapy may be required.

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Diagnostics

In the diagnosis, it is necessary to decide in which sounds and in which types of articulation barriers the child with articulation disorder has difficulty. The severity of the articulation disorder should be determined. The place of the sounds with articulation disorders in the word should be determined. Articulation tests are used to make the determination more accurate, complete and detailed. Articulation tests can take different forms such as making the child talk, reading, and answering questions. Which test will be used depends on the child's condition. If he can read, tests for reading can be used, if he does not know, picture tests can be used, and it can be determined by speaking freely with the child.