Artikulaatiohäiriö

Artikulaatiohäiriö is a Finnish term referring to a speech sound disorder. It describes difficulties in producing individual speech sounds correctly. This can manifest as substituting one sound for another, omitting sounds, distorting sounds, or adding sounds that are not typically present. Artikulaatiohäiriö is distinct from a language disorder, which affects the understanding or use of language itself.

The causes of artikulaatiohäiriö can vary. Some cases are developmental, meaning the child's speech sound system has not matured as expected. Physical factors, such as dental issues, hearing loss, or problems with the tongue, lips, or palate, can also contribute. In some instances, the cause may be unknown.

Diagnosis typically involves an assessment by a speech-language pathologist (puheterapeutti). This assessment evaluates the child's ability to produce various speech sounds in different word positions and contexts. Treatment usually involves speech therapy, where the individual works with a therapist to learn and practice the correct production of problematic sounds. Therapy may involve exercises to improve tongue and lip movements, auditory discrimination skills, and sound production. The prognosis for artikulaatiohäiriö is generally good with appropriate intervention, especially when addressed early.