An omission error involves the complete deletion of a speech sound that should be present in a word’s standard pronunciation. This type of error often simplifies the word structure (for instance, dropping final consonants or unstressed syllables, as in “nake” for “snake”). Omissions are frequent in young children’s speech as part of typical development, but if they persist beyond the expected age they may signal a phonological disorder. Because omissions can significantly reduce intelligibility – sometimes eliminating meaning-carrying sounds – they are a priority in intervention, with therapy focused on helping the individual produce the missing consonants or syllables in the appropriate contexts.
Toby Macrae and Ann A. Tyler. “Lexical and Phonological Variability in Preschool Children With Speech Sound Disorder.” American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology 23, no. 1 (2014).
Jonathan Preston and Mary Louise Edwards. “Phonological Awareness and Types of Sound Errors in Preschoolers With Speech Sound Disorders.” Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research 53, no. 1 (2010).
