Articulation 

Articulation refers to the way in which a sound is made. Sounds that are pronounced incorrectly call attention to how the speaker sounds rather than to the message that he/she is relaying. Speech sound errors can include:

Substitutions (when a different sound is produced instead of the correct sound – for example, “fum” for “thumb”)

Distortions (the sound is produced with improper use of airflow or oral mechanics – for example, a lisp) Omissions (the sound is left out of the word – for example, “um” for “thumb” or “ca” for “cat”)

Articulation disorders can vary from mild substitutions to multiple sound errors. A major focus of therapy is to increase the amount of speech that a listener can understand.

Modeling (giving a demonstration of the sound), cueing (giving “hints”), and repetition combined with visual aids are used to help the client say the appropriate speech sound.