Imagine your child is learning a new song. They understand the melody and rhythm (the meaning), but they might stumble over some words (the sounds). Speech development is similar! There are three key areas that work together to create clear speech:

• Articulation: This is like playing the notes correctly. It refers to how your child uses their tongue, lips, teeth, and jaw to make specific sounds like "b," "p," or "s."

• Phonology: Think of this as the song's rules. Phonology involves how your child uses and combines sounds to form words. For example, a child with a phonological disorder might say "wun" instead of "run" by leaving out a sound.

• Motor Speech: This is the conductor bringing it all together. It refers to the precise movements of the muscles in the mouth needed to produce clear speech sounds.

Why are these important?

Strong skills in all these areas lead to clear communication! When a child struggles with any of these, it can affect their ability to be understood.

What can you do?

If you have concerns about your child's speech development, don't hesitate to talk to your pediatrician or a speech-language pathologist (SLP). An SLP can evaluate your child's speech skills and recommend the best course of action, which might include therapy exercises or strategies to support them at home.

Here are some resources to learn more:

• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)

• National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

Remember: Every child develops at their own pace. This description is meant to be a helpful starting point, not a cause for worry.