Which area is least likely to be affected in someone with a speech sound disorder?

In the context of speech sound disorders, behavioral skills are least likely to be directly affected. Speech sound disorders primarily impact an individual's ability to produce sounds accurately, which directly relates to articulation and can influence expressive language—the ability to convey thoughts and ideas verbally. Receptive language, which involves understanding and processing language, may remain intact even when speech production is challenging.

Behavioral skills, while they may be indirectly affected due to frustrations stemming from communication difficulties, do not inherently involve the mechanics of speech. Therefore, individuals with a speech sound disorder may still possess strong behavioral skills, making this area the least likely to show direct impairment in comparison to understanding language and articulating words correctly.