Identifying risk factors for articulation disorders in children

Background: Articulation disorders, characterized by difficulties with speech production due to problems with the speech mechanism, can significantly impact a child's speech, language, and communication development. These disorders can arise from various factors, including muscle weakness, limited fine motor skills, hearing loss, swallowing difficulties, tongue positioning issues, pacifier use, muscle spasms, intellectual disabilities, poor coordination of speech organs, and psychological conditions. Objective: This study aimed to explore the specific risk factors associated with the development of articulation disorders in children. Methods: The research method used is descriptive research with a literature review approach. Secondary data were collected from journals related to factors affecting articulation disorder in children. Respondents in the study were children with an average age of 3-13 years. The articles reviewed were published within the last 10 years in Indonesian and English. Five journals meeting the criteria were identified and discussed in the review. Results: The results showed that several factors such as hearing loss, Down syndrome, a history of using pacifiers for more than 18 months, thumb sucking, poor differentiation of oral muscles and AOB conditions significantly affected articulation disorders in children with an average age range of 3-13 years. The most influential factor is the condition of the child with Down syndrome. Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between several factors that influence the occurrence of articulation disorders in children.