Speech sound disorder

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A speech sound disorder (SSD) is a speech disorder affecting the ability to pronounce speech sounds, which includes speech articulation disorders and phonemic disorders, the latter referring to some sounds (phonemes) not being produced or used correctly. The term "protracted phonological development" is sometimes preferred when describing children's speech, to emphasize the continuing development while acknowledging the delay.

A study in the United States estimated that amongst 6 year olds, 5.3% of African American children and 3.8% of White children have a speech sound disorder.^[1]