The development of speech and language skills varies from child to child. However, there are certain age-range milestones that, when not achieved, may possibly imply future speech and speech-learning difficulties.
For instance, according to experts that offer speech therapy for toddlers, at the age of 6 to 12 months, a baby should be able to babble and repeat sounds. By age 1 to 2 years old, they may be able to say the sounds of p and b among others. By the time they’re 5, their speech should generally be easy to understand though they may still struggle to pronounce “th” sounds.
In this article, we’re rounding up the most common sounds kids may find hard to pronounce.
K. Most providers offering speech therapy services in Madison NJ, would agree that many youngsters struggle with saying the k sound (as in cake). Often, what they do is replace it with a t sound (as in tate).
L and r. Even among older children, you may encounter individuals who can’t properly pronounce these sounds, especially when they’re in the same sentence (as in the lion is roaring). As a substitute, they tend to use a w sound (as in the wion is wawing).
Zh. This sound is found in many complicated words. For instance, the second g in garage and the s in decision. Even for native English speakers, this is one of the most difficult sounds to learn.
Voiced and voiceless th. Ask any Speech and language therapist, these sounds are some of the most challenging to learn for children. The voiceless th is the sound used in words like “thumb” and “thank you”; voiced th, in words like the and with. Often, kids use f and v sounds as the respective replacements (as in fumb, fank you, va, and wiv).
Consonant blends. It’s also challenging for children to pronounce consonants used next to each other clearly. For example, instead of saying “stay” or “stop,” they will say “say” or “sop.”
Multisyllabic words. Therapists providing speech therapy for kids, it’s common to jumble or shorten words and phrases with too many syllables. For instance, instead of saying “spaghetti,” they may say paghetti or pagshetti.
Ways You Can Help
Getting help from a speech pathologist in NJ is one of the best ways to help your child who’s struggling to pronounce certain sounds at their age.
Pediatric speech therapy is a specialized form of rehabilitation that helps children recover from speech disorders. Speech therapists assess and help children develop their speaking skills through unique exercises and activities designed to improve their ability to communicate. They also work with parents like you and teachers to ensure that children receive the best treatment plan.
Apart from relying on early interventions from a speech therapy clinic in New Jersey, you can be a role model on how to pronounce sounds properly. Help your kid practice reading at home and be patient about their situation. It’s important not to force your child to learn hard phonics sounds. With a professional by your side, be there to guide them until they get better diligently.
Common Sounds Kids Struggle to Pronounce
