What does stimulability indicate regarding a child's speech sound acquisition?

Stimulability refers to a child's ability to produce a speech sound correctly when provided with a model or prompt by an adult. When a child shows stimulability for a specific sound, it suggests that they possess the underlying capability to produce that sound but may not do so in their spontaneous speech.

Indicating that a child who is not stimulable needs treatment to acquire the sound aligns with the understanding that without intervention, the child may struggle to learn and use that sound effectively in communication. Consequently, lacking stimulability is often a sign that focused speech therapy may be necessary, as these children are unlikely to independently develop the sound patterns through natural acquisition alone. Therefore, recognizing the need for treatment based on the lack of stimulability is crucial in designing effective therapy plans for children's speech sound development.