|
By Katharine F. Bedsole, M.S., CCC-SLP
Developing speech and language skills is a difficult task. It is
natural for young children to make mistakes in the process of learning to
speak. Most children eventually drop errors in their speech and develop
normal speech patterns. Some children continue to make errors beyond
the age when other children have mastered those sounds.
It may be time to show concern if you observe one or more of
the following:
- Family members or friends have a hard time understanding your child.
- A child demonstrates frustration because you don’t understand his/her speech.
- Your child shows no signs of frustration when trying to communicate, but you do not understand his/her speech.
This is the time to seek a professional’s opinion. Direct questions about your child’s
speech development to a local speech-language pathologist (SLP). To find an SLP in your
area, visit http://www.asha.org/findpro/. A certified SLP administers a standardized test
comparing your child’s skills to other children his/her age. These test results, in addition to
other information, determine whether your child requires speech therapy. The chart below gives general guidelines of sound mastery. The guidelines allow for
the different developmental speech milestones that children experience.
| 90% of Children Have Mastered These Sounds...By Age |
- p, d, m, w, h, n
- t, b, k, g
- f, v, y
- s, z, j, l, r, sh, ch, th, blends
|
- 2 years old
- 3 years old
- 4 to 5 years old
- 5 to 7 years old
|
Resources
Mawhinney, Linda and McTeague, Mary Scott. (2004) Early Language Development. Greenville: Super Duper Publications.
|