What is the result of incorrect placement of the tongue in speech?

Incorrect placement of the tongue during speech can lead to articulation disorders, which are characterized by difficulties producing specific sounds correctly. When the tongue is not positioned correctly within the oral cavity, it can impact how sounds are formed, resulting in substitutions, omissions, or distortions of speech sounds. For example, placing the tongue too far forward or too far back can change the quality of the sounds being produced, leading to challenges in being understood by listeners.

Articulation disorders specifically focus on these issues with sound production, whereas fluency disorders relate to the flow of speech (like stuttering), and language delays pertain to the broader aspect of understanding and using language. Improved clarity cannot result from incorrect tongue placement; rather, it is the opposite. Thus, articulation disorders are directly tied to the mechanics of speech production and are the outcome of improper tongue placement.