What does sound modification in articulation therapy entail?

• A. Isolating target sound in a context
• B. Shaping a sound from an existing one toward the target
• C. Mirror practice
• D. Memory recall of words

Answer: (B)

Sound modification in articulation therapy means starting with a sound the client can already produce and gradually shaping it toward the target sound by making small, step-by-step changes to how the mouth moves. The idea is to build a motor pattern from an achievable starting point, adjusting one feature at a time—such as place of articulation, manner, or voicing—until the target is produced. For example, if the goal is a hissy sibilant, the therapist might begin with a nearby sound the child can make and slowly add frication and adjust tongue placement and airflow until the target sound is achieved. This approach works well because it leverages the client’s existing articulatory abilities and progressively tunes them to the desired sound, rather than trying to produce the target in isolation.