DOESN'T SPEAK CLEARLY

PHONOLOGICAL DISORDER

 

Topics in Mental Health

 

By Shlomo Y. Radcliffe

 

What is Phonological Disorder?

“Say it again more slowly because I can’t understand you!” Is this your common refrain to your child? By age four, if a child has failed to speak clearly enough to be easily understood by others, he or she may have the speech problem called “phonological disorder.” Basically, this disorder involves poorly articulated sounds. Sometimes the disorder later affects the child’s ability to learn, spell and read.

Symptoms of Phonological Disorder (DSM-IV Criteria)

In order to diagnose a child with phonological disorder the child must meet the following symptoms:

 

• The child does not use speech sounds that are expected for his age and knowledge of language (i.e. substituting consonant sounds for one another).
• The problem interferes with educational success and/or social communication.
• If the child has mental retardation, environmental deprivation or a speech-motor or sensory deficit as well, the problems with language are worse than would be expected otherwise.

 

Treatment for Phonological Disorder

When treating phonological disorder a speech-language pathologist is usually consulted and speech therapy is employed. Helping the child to feel a sense of accomplishment during treatment is important in order to motivate the child to want to continue and advance in therapy.