Skip to content
Seyon Occupational & Speech Therapy Centre logoSeyonOccupational & Speech Therapy Centre
Speech Therapy

Articulation Therapy

Precise sounds, so everyone understands your child.

Suitable for ages 3 – 14 years

Overview

Articulation therapy corrects specific speech sound errors — substitutions, distortions, omissions and additions. We first determine whether the pattern is articulatory, phonological or motor-based, because each responds to a different technique.

Sessions progress through a strict hierarchy: isolated sound, syllable, word, phrase, sentence, reading and finally spontaneous conversation, with generalisation checks at every level.

Signs your child may need this therapy

  • Speech unclear to strangers after age four
  • Substitutes sounds, e.g. 'tar' for 'car', 'wed' for 'red'
  • Drops sounds at the end of words
  • Lisps on /s/ and /z/
  • Teased or asked to repeat frequently
  • Reluctant to speak in class

Benefits of Articulation Therapy

  • Accurate production of target sounds
  • Speech intelligible to unfamiliar listeners
  • Improved spelling and phonological awareness
  • Reduced teasing and social withdrawal
  • Confidence in classroom participation
  • Carry-over into everyday conversation

Treatment process

  1. STEP 1

    Speech and language assessment

    A 60-minute evaluation of receptive language, expressive language, articulation, oral-motor structures, fluency, voice and social communication, with parent interview and play observation.

  2. STEP 2

    Diagnosis and goal setting

    We explain exactly where your child sits against age expectations and agree on functional communication goals — first words, two-word phrases, clearer /s/ and /r/, smoother speech.

  3. STEP 3

    Customised therapy plan

    Approaches are matched to the child: Hanen-style parent coaching for toddlers, minimal pairs or cycles for articulation, PECS or AAC where speech is not yet functional.

  4. STEP 4

    Weekly sessions

    45-minute one-to-one sessions, 2–3 times per week for early intervention, in a distraction-controlled therapy room with live modelling for parents.

  5. STEP 5

    Parent training and home practice

    You receive weekly home activities that fit into daily routines — bath time, mealtimes, the drive to school — because 15 focused minutes a day outperforms an hour once a week.

  6. STEP 6

    Progress monitoring

    Word counts, intelligibility ratings and language sample analysis are re-measured monthly, with a written progress report every quarter.

FAQ

Articulation Therapy — your questions answered

Not sure where to start? Begin with an assessment.

One hour with our team gives you a clear picture of your child's development and a written plan you can act on — whether or not you continue therapy with us.