What is the difference between an Articulation Disorder and a Phonological Disorder?

Articulation Disorder

Articulation is defined as the motor function of our lips, tongue, teeth, vocal cords, and palate to create sounds. Those sounds are then blended with others to make words and connected speech. The atypical production of those sounds results in an articulation disorder and is characterized by substitutions, omissions, additions, or distortions which affect a child’s ability to be understood. 

Phonological Disorder

Phonology is the sound system that governs how sounds combine in a language. When children are learning to talk, they use phonological processes to simplify words so that they are easier to say. Different phonological processes are estimated to resolve at different ages; however, if they do not resolve when expected, it can cause a child to produce many errors and be unable to be understood. This results in a diagnosis of a  phonological disorder.

Could my child have both?

Yes, your child can have both a phonological disorder and an articulation disorder. A Speech Language Pathologist can conduct articulation testing to identify errors and patterns that may be causing your child to be difficult to understand.