In a therapy session for a child with reduced intelligibility, which is a critical focus for SLPs?

Maximizing speech clarity is essential in a therapy session for a child with reduced intelligibility because the primary goal of speech-language pathology is to improve the ability to communicate effectively. When a child's speech is unclear, it can lead to misunderstandings and frustration for both the child and their communication partners. Focusing on speech clarity involves working on articulation, rate, volume, and overall speech production quality to ensure that the child can be understood by others.

Improving speech clarity also lays a foundation for effective communication, supporting the child's overall communicative competence and interaction with peers and adults. While social skills, comprehension, and spontaneous communication are important aspects of language development, they rely heavily on the child’s ability to express themselves clearly. In this context, enhancing speech clarity directly addresses the child's immediate challenge of reduced intelligibility, making it the critical focus during therapy sessions.