Learning to speak clearly is a huge part of a child’s development. It allows them to express themselves and be understood by those around them.
This article provides a detailed look at how speech sounds develop, outlining the typical patterns and highlighting why it’s important to catch any potential delays early on.
We’ll cover the ages at which children typically learn different speech sounds, provide a speech sound development chart, discuss factors that can influence development, and emphasize when it’s time to seek professional help.
What is speech sound development?
Speech sound development is how children learn to say the sounds of their language correctly, including consonants, vowels, and diphthongs (a sound made by combining two vowels). Typically, kids learn simple sounds first and then move to more complicated ones in a predictable order.
Keep in mind that every child learns at their own pace, so there can be a wide range of “normal.”
If you’re concerned about your child’s speech, a speech-language pathologist (SLP) can evaluate their skills and provide therapy to improve their communication.
Speech sound acquisition milestones
Kids develop speech at different rates, but there’s a general timeline for when children typically learn to pronounce different sounds. Here’s a look at when you can expect your child to master certain sounds.
Early sounds
Between the ages of 2 and 4, children typically learn to say the sounds /m/, /b/, /p/, /d/, /h/, /w/, and /n/.
These sounds are considered easier to pronounce because they don’t require a lot of complex movement of the tongue, lips, or jaw. Some examples of words that use these sounds are mama, ball, pop, dog, hi, we, and no.
Middle sounds
Between ages 4 and 5, kids tend to learn the sounds /t/, /k/, /g/, /f/, /v/, /s/, and /j/.
These sounds require more precise tongue placement and control than the earlier sounds. You can hear these sounds in words like toe, cat, go, fun, van, sun, and yes.
Late sounds
The sounds /ʃ/, /θ/, /ð/, /l/, /r/, and /ʒ/ are usually mastered between the ages of 5 and 7.
These are typically considered the most challenging sounds to learn because they require more complex coordination and movement of the mouth. Examples of words with these sounds include shoe, think, this, lion, red, and measure.
Speech Sound Development By Age
Here’s a rough guide to speech sound development, broken down by age range. Keep in mind that every child is different and develops at their own pace. If you’re concerned about your child’s speech development, talk to a speech-language pathologist.
2 to 3 Years (24-35 months)
At this age, a child should be saying around 200 to 300 words and using simple two- to three-word sentences. Most vowels should be present, along with the consonants /p, b, m, h, w/. A child’s speech should be roughly 50% to 75% understandable to people who know them well.
3 to 4 Years (36-47 months)
Vocabulary expands quickly during this period, and kids start using longer, four- to five-word sentences. They should be adding consonants such as /t, d, k, g, f, n/ to their repertoire. A child’s speech should be about 75% to 90% understandable to familiar listeners.
4 to 5 Years (48-59 months)
At this age, children are using complex sentences and telling stories. They should also be adding consonants such as /s, v, z, ʃ, ʒ, tʃ, dʒ/ to the sounds they can correctly pronounce. By now, their speech should be almost 100% understandable to people who know them.
5 to 7 Years (60-83 months)
Children in this age range should be able to articulate most sounds correctly and carry on conversations with ease. They’re working on mastering more complex sounds such as /θ, ð, l, r/. Their speech should be almost 100% understandable, even to people who don’t know them well.
What affects speech sound development?
Several factors can impact how well a child learns to make speech sounds:
- Hearing: Children need to hear sounds clearly and accurately to imitate them. Adequate hearing is essential for typical speech development.
- Oral Motor Skills: Kids also need to be able to control their tongue, lips, and jaw. If they struggle with these movements, their speech may not be clear.
- Language Exposure: A language-rich environment helps children develop speech skills. Kids need lots of chances to hear different sounds and practice making them.
- Tongue-tie (Ankyloglossia): Sometimes, a child’s tongue movement is restricted. This condition, called tongue-tie, can affect speech, especially sounds that require the tongue to move up.
When should you seek professional help?
If you notice potential speech delays or disorders, it’s a good idea to talk to a professional. Some signs include:
- Strangers have a hard time understanding your child
- Your child’s vocabulary is small for their age
- Your child consistently makes speech errors that are outside the typical age range
Early intervention can make a big difference in communication outcomes. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) can assess your child’s speech and create a plan to help them improve.
You can find a qualified SLP through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), or ask your pediatrician for a referral.
Putting It All Together
As we’ve seen, children tend to develop speech sounds in a predictable order. But keep in mind that there’s a lot of normal variation, and early intervention is key when there’s a concern about a child’s speech development.
By monitoring how your child says different sounds and talking to a speech-language pathologist when you have questions, you’re ensuring your child gets the support they need to communicate effectively.
Creating an environment that’s rich with language, where you interact with your child and expose them to lots of spoken words, can also help them develop healthy speech patterns.