Saying words clearly and correctly is easy for some young children. However, others need a lot of practice before they are able to say all of the sounds of their language correctly. Many times your child's pronunciation of words is endearing and not a cause for concern. However, since the age at which a child masters all speech sounds may vary as much as two to three years, parents often ask: Is this a stage? Will he outgrow it? When Should I seek professional help?
It is important to keep in mind that speech is not the same as language. A child with a language delay may be able to say all speech sounds clearly, but doesn't say many words or doesn't understand what others say to him. A child with a speech problem may understand words and phrases, and use them to talk, but has trouble saying the sounds of these words correctly. Sometimes, because people have difficulty understanding him, they may assume that he knows less then he does.
As your child matures physically, he will learn to move his mouth, tongue, lips, and hard and soft palates in the correct way to form sounds, syllables, and words. Generally, 75% of children are able to make all the sound correctly by the age of 4 years, 6 months. However, some children learn speech sounds gradually, and in a sequence that begins at birth and may continue through the seventh year of life. Most children are able to make the following sounds by the ages indicated:
* Three to four years: b,d,g,h,k,m,n,p,t,w,and vowels (a,e,i,o,u).
* Five to six years: l, ch, sh, and l blends (for example, bl, sl and kl)
* Seven years old: r, s, z, r blends (for example, br, dr, and kr) and s blends (for example, sl, sm, sn and st).
If your child is 18 months old, you should expect at least 25% of his words to be understandable, as compared to 50-75% of what a two-year-old says. Although your three-year-old child may have sound errors, experts will agree that 75-100% of what he says should be understandable to people outside the home.
Sometimes physical problems, such as cleft palate, dental abnormalities, or hearing loss may be the cause of a speech problem. However, many times the cause is simply now known and may just be the result of the child learning to say the speech sounds incorrectly. The child with a severe problem may have many sound errors, enough that the listener does not understand his message. While a child with a mild problem, may only have difficulty pronouncing one sound, such as l or k.
Generally, children make three kinds of errors: substitutions, omissions, and distortions. These errors can occur in sounds in the beginning, middle, or end of words. A child who uses a sound substitution may say tootie for cookie, using a /t/ instead of a /k/ sound. Other common substitutions include s/sh (sue for shoe, s/ch (sicken for chicken), d/g (dod for dog), or w/r (wabbit for rabbit. Omissions occur when a child does not produce any sound in the beginning, middle, or end of a word: such as, how for house, or ish for fish. Some children may distort sounds or say approximations of the sound. Distortion of r is a common error.
Your child learns to talk by listening to you talk. Speak clearly, naturally, and most of all, correctly, Modeling the correct way to speak will help him learn the correct way to speak. If you suspect your child has an ear infection, call your physician immediately. Even a temporary mild hearing loss from an ear infection can slow a child's ability to understand words, and thus, say sounds correctly.
If your child says a word incorrectly, don't correct his speech by asking him to say it again. Instead, model the correct response, emphasizing the word or sound with which he had difficulty. For example, if your child says, Me do to the pool, try saying, I go to the pool. Emphasize I by saying it louder, and emphasize the g sound in go by stretching it. If you wish, point to your
lips, tongue, or throat for additional emphasis. In addition, focus on what your child is saying correctly. Think of all he has learned in such a short amount of time. If your child senses that he is not talking correctly, he may become frustrated and stop talking.
If you are simply unable to understand what your child is saying, try smiling and understanding just one word. Use that word to ask your child questions. Tell him that you are having trouble understanding what he is saying. You might ask, Can you help me please? If your child feels he is helping you, and you are having a problem rather then he is, he may repeat his words more slowly, try to say it another way, or point or use some sort of gesture in order to be your helper. You could also ask your child to show you what he is talking about. If your child becomes frustrated, comfort him with pats or hugs, and say, "It's okay, I'm trying. Let me hear it again."
As most children mature, their overall speech patterns usually become more understandable. However, some children need speech therapy. Therefore, if you have any questions or concerns about your child's speech development, it is wise to see a Speech/Language Pathologist for a speech evaluation. This will certainly put your mind at ease if you learn your child is progressing at an acceptable rate or get him the needed help early.
Editor's Note: Have your child's hearing tested as well when there is evidence of a speech problem. Hearing loss can occur in specific speech sounds and not necessarily in all speech frequencies, so it is best to identify or rule out a hearing problem.
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Dorothy P. Dougherty, MA, CCC-SLP, is a Speech/Language Pathologist and author of
"How to Talk to Your Baby: A Guide to Maximizing Your Child's Language And Learning Skills." For 24 years, Ms. Dougherty has worked with children and adults in school, clinical, and private settings. In her book, she shows busy parents how to enhance a young child's language skills as they go about daily life activities. Ms. Dougherty is a frequent contributing writer at HearingExchange.
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© Copyright Dorothy Dougherty, 2001. All rights reserved.
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