Speech therapy focuses on the treatment of specific articulation / phonological errors / oral motor disorders by the use of specified techniques and strategies. The main goal of speech therapy is to improve the child’s ability to communicate effectively to participate in social interactions and build their self-esteem. Early intervention is key when it comes to the treatment of speech disorders and the earlier you start with intervention, the higher the success rate will be. The speech and language therapist will determine the underlying condition by administering a diagnostic assessment. An assessment is a crucial part of identifying any speech disorder as this can be caused by various factors e.g. muscle control weakness, acquired communication disorders, cognitive disorders, inability to properly form sounds and words etc. If you are concerned about your child’s speech development and pronunciation of certain sounds and words, contact a speech therapist and start intervention as soon as possible.