Targeting speech sounds
Speech sound development is a gradual process with some sounds developing much later than others. For example: b is present at 2;06 but r does not develop until a child is 7.
Simplification processes are a normal part of speech development but when should we be concerned and seek further support…
A boy with a bow and arrow
By 2 children should be able to:
produce vowels accurately
produce consonant sounds made with the lips. For example: b, p, and m. Followed by sounds made just behind the teeth (on the alveolar ridge) such as t, d, and n
If a child has vowel distortion, no consonants or is deleting initial consonants then refer on
By 3 1/2 years children should be able to:
produce the back sounds k, g and ng
produce the long sounds f and s
The following chart is an indication of when a sound should be secure in spoken conversation.
Typical Simplification Processes
The following are typical simplification processes that you will hear children use as part of their natural development.
Final Consonant Deletion
FCD is when a child deletes the final consonant in a word for example: boat is realised as “bow”. This usually resolves around the three years.
Fronting
Fronting is when a child produces a sound at the front of the mouth instead of at the back. Back sounds are k, g and ng. For example: cat is realised as “tat”. This usually resolves by 3 years 6 months.
Stopping
Stopping is when long sounds are produced as short sounds. For example: f is produced as b (bork is realised as fork) and s is produced as d (sock is realised as dock). Stopping of f and s usually resolves by 3 years 6 months. Stopping of v and s usually resolves by 4 years 6 months.
Cluster Reduction
Clusters are when we have either two or three clusters together, e.g. sp, bl, cr, str… Often these are reduced to one sound
S clusters - sp, sn, sm, st, sw, sk
For example: spoon 🥄 is realised as “boon”; snail 🐌 is realised as “nail” Reduction of s clusters should resolve by 4 years 6 months.
L and r clusters - bl, cl, sl and cr, tr, br, pr, tr, str, scr, spr, str
These resolve later usually between 5 and 7 years
If you have concerns it is important to raise these concerns with parents right from the start
If we share our concerns we can go on the journey with them
Screening
Monitoring
Supporting
Referring on if required (referral is not the time to start conversations with parents about your concerns. An onward referral should not be a suprise)
It is important to remember that some children are not ready to work on how they talk, they are still learning to talk. So before embarking on speech sound/ production work think about how a child’s other skills are developing:
attention skills
play skills
turn taking skills
use of gestures
Understanding of language
Expressive language
Other things to consider including:
hearing (has this been checked)
do they have frequent glue ear
what other languages do they speak
By Sarah Winstanley, SaLT
Communication Lincs Ltd. …….because Speech Therapy Matters