As parents, we want to help our children grow and develop in every way. Speech development and language are important parts of that growth. This guide will explain how speech sounds typically develop and how clear your child’s speech should be at different ages, so you can better support their communication skills.
What is Speech Intelligibility?
Speech intelligibility refers to how understandable a child’s speech is to others. It is important for effective communication. Here is how clear you should expect your child’s speech to be by age:
- By Age 2: A child’s speech should be about 25-50% understandable to strangers.
- By Age 3: Their speech should be around 50-75% intelligible to strangers.
- By Age 4: Children should be around 75-90% intelligible to strangers.
- By Age 5: Most children should be 90-100% intelligible to anyone who listens to them.
An SLP can help assess their speech intelligibility and provide strategies for improvement.
How Do I Know What Sounds My Child Should Have?
Children develop speech sounds gradually as they grow. By age 1, they typically start saying simple sounds like “m,” “b,” and “d” in words like “mama”, “ball”, “dada.” By age 2, they usually add more sounds, such as “p,” “t,” and “n,” making words like “puppy”, “and “nose”. By age 3, most children can say sounds like “k,” “g,” and “f,” helping them pronounce words like “cat”, “go”, and “fish” more accurately. By age 4 or 5, they continue to refine their speech, learning harder sounds like “s,” “sh,” and “ch,” which appear in words like “sun,” “shoe,” and “chicken.” In the chart below you will see an age, followed by speech sound listed. The speech sounds listed are when you can expect these sounds to show up in your child’s speech.Children developing speech and language skills are not expected to produce every sound correctly.
While every child develops at their own pace, understanding these milestones can help parents know what to expect and when to seek support if needed.If you notice that your child continues to struggle with specific sounds past these ages, it may be helpful to consult with a speech-language pathologist (SLP).
When Do Speech Mistakes and Patterns Disappear?
Phonological processes are patterns of sound errors that young children use as they learn to speak. These processes are a normal part of speech development, but they should disappear as a child’s speech matures. Below is a list of common phonological processes and the typical age by which they should disappear:
Syllable Structure Processes (Affect the structure of words)
- Final Consonant Deletion (saying “ca” instead of “cat”) → Fade away by 3 years
- Reduplication (saying “baba” for “bottle”) → Fades away by 3 years
- Cluster Reduction (saying “poon” for “spoon”) → Fades away by 4-5 years
- Weak Syllable Deletion (saying “nana” for “banana”) → Fades away by 4 years
Substitution Processes (Replace one sound with another)
- Stopping (saying “tun” for “sun”) → Fades away by 3-5 years, depending on the sound
- p, b, t, d, k, g stop sounds → By 3 years
- f, v → By 4 years
- s, z, sh, ch, j → By 5 years
- Fronting (saying “tat” for “cat”) → Fades away by 3.5-4 years
- Gliding (saying “wabbit” for “rabbit”) → Fades away by 6 years
- Deaffrication (saying “share” instead of “chair”) → Fades away by 4 years
Assimilation Processes (One sound influences another)
- Velar Assimilation (saying “gog” for “dog”) → Fades away by 3 years
- Labial Assimilation (saying “bub” for “bus”) → Fades away by 3 years
- Nasal Assimilation (saying “non” for “no”) → Fades away by 3 years
These processes are a normal part of speech development, but if they persist beyond the expected ages, it may be helpful to consult a speech-language pathologist for support.
Encouraging Speech Development at Home
As a parent, you play a vital role in your child’s speech and language development. Here are some tips to encourage their progress:
Read Together: Reading face-to-face with your child helps children hear correct pronunciation and expand their vocabulary. When your child can see your face while you read, they can watch how you move your mouth to say words, see your facial expressions, and stay more engaged in the story.
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How to Read Face-to-Face with Your Child:
- Sit at their level: Position yourself so your child can clearly see your face and the book. This will provide a visual model of your mouth as you are talking.
- Hold the book to the side: This allows your child to have a clear view of your face and the pictures in the book.
- Make eye contact: This helps keep their attention and strengthens your connection.
Provide Clear Models: If your child leaves off a sound or replaces it with an incorrect sound, such as “ca” for “cat”, repeat it in the correct way back to them. For example, “cat”, “Yes, that is a cat.” This will allow them to hear examples of correct productions of sounds.
Be Patient: Remember that speech development takes time. Celebrate your child’s successes and encourage them gently when they struggle.
When to Seek Help
Every child develops at their own pace. However, if you’re concerned about your child’s speech, it’s essential to seek help. An SLP can provide an assessment and recommend strategies tailored to your child’s needs. Early intervention can make a significant difference in their communication skills.
In conclusion, understanding articulation norms, phonological process norms, and speech intelligibility norms can empower you as a parent. By being aware of these developmental milestones and knowing when to seek help, you can support your child’s journey to becoming an effective communicator.
Resources
For more information check out these resources:
MDS: Understanding Speech and Language Delays: When to Seek Help for Your Child
