Helping your child develop clear speech is a vital part of their overall development. This article aims to provide parents with an understanding of the neuromuscular components of speech, the typical sequence of speech sound development, and effective strategies for supporting their child’s speech clarity.

Understanding Speech Development

The Neuromuscular Components of Articulation

Speech production or articulation is a complex process that involves precise coordination of various muscles and cognitive functions. It involves the production of speech sounds at the beginning, middle, and end of words and production of sounds in the words of sentences. Here’s a general breakdown:

• Muscle Coordination: The muscles of the jaw, lips, tongue, and palate must work together. Just like learning to walk, children learn to coordinate their muscles for speech.
• Breath Control: Controlled breathing is essential for speech. It’s like the power source that drives the speech engine.
• Brain-Muscle Connection: The brain sends signals to speech-related muscles. This coordination becomes more and more precise with practice and age.

Sequence of Consonant Sound Development (ASHA Guidelines)

Speech sounds do not all develop at the same time. Rather, they usually develop in an orderly sequence. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) offers guidelines for the sequence of consonant development. These guidelines allow for a wide range of individual development.

Awareness of this sequence helps you have realistic expectations for your child’s speech sound production. If your child’s speech development is delayed, the order of development is helpful to understand because it lets you know what sounds to focus on now and what sounds to expect to emerge next. Here is a summary of the sequence of development from ASHA:

• Early Sounds (by age 3): m, b, y, n, w, d, p, h, g, k, f, t
• Next Sounds (by age 4 years): y, v
• Later Sounds (after age 4 years): May still make errors when producing the consonants z, sh, ch, j, ng, th, z, l, and r

Developmental Speech Sound Production Errors

Not all speech sound production errors are of concern. During speech development, children experience developmental speech sound production errors or errors in sound production expected for their age.

• Age-Appropriate Errors: These errors are normal at certain ages, reflecting the child’s ongoing development. For example, a toddler may say “wabbit” instead of “rabbit,” which is common and expected at that age.
• Expected Errors Due to Mouth Shape and Neuromuscular Maturity: As a child’s mouth grows and their neuromuscular system matures, their ability to produce more complex sounds improves. This process is similar to that of motor development. Just like children first roll over, then sit, then crawl, next, walk and later run.

Strategies to Support Speech Sound Production

When helping your child to learn to produce developmentally appropriate speech sounds patience and increasing their awareness of the speech sound are key. Their exposure to the targeted sounds through your modeling of the sounds in different contexts can make a tremendous difference.

1. Exaggerate Sounds in Daily Conversations: While talking with your child, clearly and deliberately and face to face, exaggerate correct production of sounds they struggle with. For example, if working on the consonant “s,” emphasize this sound in words like “sun,” “soup,” and “sandwich.” Do not require they repeat.
2. Speak to Your Child Face to Face: When you speak with your child face to face, you help them see how your mouth and face move as you produce sounds, words, and facial expressions while they are hearing the sounds and words you say. This heightens their ability to attend, listen, process, respond, and at some point, to imitate your speech and language.
3. Play ‘Listening for Sounds’ Games: Create games where your child listens for and identifies specific sounds. For example, say a list of words and ask your child to clap every time they hear a word that contains the “t” sound.
4. Use Pictures: Use pictures representing words that contain the target sound. For instance, for the “ch” sound, use cards depicting a chair, cheese, and church. Model these words for your child. No need for them to repeat.
5. Model Correct Pronunciation: Consistently model the correct pronunciation of sounds and words. If your child says “wabbit” instead of “rabbit,” gently repeat the word correctly in your response, like “Yes, I see the rabbit too!” No need for them to repeat the word or sentence.
6. Use Rhymes and Songs: Engage in rhymes and songs that feature the target sounds. Singing can be a fun way to practice sounds. For instance, for the “m” sound, sing songs like “Five Little Monkeys.”
7. Incorporate Articulation into Storytime: When reading to your child, emphasize and articulate the sounds they are working on. If your child is practicing “l” sounds, read a book with lots of “l” words and articulate them clearly, encouraging your child to listen.

Importance of Consulting a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)

While there are many things you can do independently at home, there is great benefit in consulting and collaborating with a Speech-Language Pathologist to support your child’s speech clarity. A few reasons include:

• Professional Expertise: Speech-Language Pathologists are highly trained professionals who can evaluate your child, identify their strengths and possible areas of need, if appropriate, design and implement a plan to support their speech development, and collaborate with you and others involved in your child’s care and education.
• Early Intervention: Identifying and addressing your child’s speech concerns early can make a tremendous difference in their development.
• Tailored Strategies: SLPs can evaluate your child and share specific suggestions with you about what they may need support as well as strategies, and techniques that align with your child’s individual needs and strengths.
• Progress Monitoring: An SLP’s ongoing assessment and plan adjustments ensure your child is progressing on their best developmental trajectory.

FAQs

1. How can I support my child’s speech at home?
   • Talk with your child, give language to their experiences, share books and read together, model clear speech in a variety of contexts, create a language -rich environment that offers your child opportunities to explore and learn from hands-on experiences, and seek professional guidance if you have concerns.
2. My daughter is five and I’m concerned because her speech is very unclear. Should I have their hearing checked?
   • Adequate hearing is essential to speech development. When a child struggles with speech production, it is important to rule out hearing as a contributing factor.
3. What are signs of a speech disorder?
   • A few signs include difficulty pronouncing words beyond what is expected for their age range, limited vocabulary, and frustration.
4. Can hearing problems affect speech development?
   • Yes, regular hearing checks are recommended as permanent and temporary hearing issues can significantly impact speech development.
5. When should I see a speech-language pathologist?
   • If you have concerns about your child’s speech sound production, do not hesitate to reach out to a speech-language pathologist for consultation and an evaluation if indicated.

Additional Resources

1. Activities to Encourage Speech and Language Development (asha.org)
2. Helping Your Child Speak Clearly: Tips for Parents of Children Aged 2-6 – Kids First Children’s Services (kids-first.com.au)
3. Helping Your Child with Unclear Speech | NHS GGC
4. Tips on Learning to Talk | ZERO TO THREE

Summary/Conclusion

Understanding your child’s speech development is a key part of their overall growth. Recognize that each child is unique, and some may develop speech skills faster than others. Being patient, actively listening, and modeling correct speech in a variety of ways are essential strategies. Consult a speech-language pathologist for personalized guidance and support if you have concerns about your child’s speech development.