Which statement best defines articulation disorder?

• A. An inability to produce a perceptually acceptable version of particular phonemes, either in isolation or in any phonetic context.
• B. A hearing impairment causing language delays.
• C. A cognitive deficit causing memory problems only.
• D. A motor coordination problem affecting gross motor skills.

Answer: (A)

Articulation disorders are about producing speech sounds accurately with the mouth, lips, tongue, and related structures. The statement describes an inability to produce perceptually acceptable versions of specific phonemes, whether in isolation or in any phonetic context—exactly what articulation difficulty means: the motor execution of individual sounds across contexts.

Other ideas don’t fit as well. A hearing impairment can cause language delays, but it isn’t defining articulation itself. A cognitive memory problem isn’t about how speech sounds are formed. A motor coordination issue affecting gross motor skills isn’t the same as the fine, precise mouth movements needed for producing specific phonemes in speech.