ABSTRACT
This chapter describes some of the many terms involved in speech sound production, as well as the ways speech can be affected. According to the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists in the UK, “speech sound disorders is a term used to cover difficulties that some children have with their articulation, phonological and/or prosodic development”. A variety of other terms are also used to describe speech sound disorders including speech delay and speech impairment and, in some cases, verbal dyspraxia. Articulation can be affected by difficulties achieving the correct placement, voicing or manner for speech sounds. Phonology is a key area of study for student speech and language therapists/pathologists. People learn that the phonological system begins as quite a simple system, with fewer rules, before gradually becoming more refined as sounds are separated and organised with more contrasts. Knowledge of their hearing levels is obviously very important, particularly when identifying difficulties with perception and phonology.
