7 Steps of Articulation Therapy– A Guide for Parents

Articulation therapy is used for children who have difficulty producing certain sounds. This form of therapy uses exercises to help enhance the ability of the child to articulate. Speech and language therapists will work on sounds that are developmentally appropriate. Some children are not yet ready to produce certain sounds. These steps will not be of help. 

Below mentioned are 7 steps utilized to improve the articulation ability of children.

Step 1: Isolate

The initial step in articulation therapy is to practice speaking the sound alone. If your kid is having trouble with a particular sound, you will demonstrate to them how to make the sound and then practice speaking it with them numerous times in a row. Once your child has finished this step, make them proceed to the next one.

Step 2: Syllables

The second phase in articulation treatment is to practice the target speech sound in syllables with a vowel sound added. Vowels would be put before and after the target sound in the middle position to rehearse it. The target sound would be practiced with various vowel combinations. You must frequently employ image resources that contain genuine words (consonant + vowel) while practicing at the syllable level.

When a youngster can reliably create the target sound in syllables, it is appropriate to go on to step 3.

Step 3: Words

At the word level, the target sound is often practiced at the beginning of words (in initial position), in the middle of words (in medial position), and at the end of words (in final position).

You must make the kid first practice the target sound in a specific word position (initial, medial or final). If the child has begun practicing the target sound at the starting position in words with around 80% accuracy, then make them practice it in the first position at phrase and sentence level before moving on to another sound position in words (medial or final positions). Before going on to the next phase, make them pronounce the target sound in all word locations.

Step 4: Phrases and Sentences

Practice at the phrase and sentence levels is the subsequent phase in articulation therapy. Essentially, a phrase is a condensed statement. Children, particularly younger ones, frequently find it simpler, to begin with, a carrier phrase, or a phrase in which only the target word changes. It can be more difficult to construct unique phrases that contain extra words that have the goal sound. The kid gets several opportunities to practice speaking their target sound in a designated location when there are two, three, or more target words (words that have the target sound).

The next stage should be reached when a youngster can speak the given words in original phrases with at least 80% accuracy.

Step 5: Stories

The target sound is then practiced in tales as the next stage in articulation therapy. There are several stories in which the target sound appears repeatedly. It is frequently a good idea to read the same tale to a kid several times until they can speak the target words with at least 80% accuracy. As part of their practice, older students will generally be able to read the narrative aloud. Younger children might benefit from hearing you read the narrative to them and emphasizing the target sounds in words. Request that the youngster recounts the story. They will very certainly need to utter some of the target words with the target sound while doing so.

The next phase is dialogue if the child can properly articulate the target sound in words while recounting a narrative and if they have mastered the sound in each sound location (initial, medial, and final) in words, sentences, and tales.

Step 6: Conversation

During the conversation phase in a speech therapy session, the therapist may conduct typical conversations with your kid. They will be watching your child’s consistency in saying words with the target sound in conversation. They may also discuss certain themes or make use of cards and visuals.

You will naturally have many talks with your youngster both at home and when out and about. Having a specific period during the discussion to focus on the right creation of the goal sound is frequently a good idea. Inform your youngster that any mistakes will be corrected at this time. In other cases, you might indirectly correct them by repeating the term with the right target sound. When doing so, emphasize the intended sound.

We would want to see some carryover into regular discourse if your kid has gone through the previous levels in articulation therapy. In other words, we’d like them to utter the target sounds in words appropriately throughout a discussion. If you continue to hear many errors, notify your child’s speech and language therapist, as they may require further sentence-level practice.

Step 7: Generalization

The final phase in the articulation therapy process is generalization. When a kid has mastered a target sound in words, phrases, sentences, tales, and conversation, it is essential to keep an eye out for carryover/generalization during various times. Inform their speech and language therapist if you see that they are not producing the target sound appropriately in a daily speech in various circumstances. They may require further practice at the conversational or sentence level.

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