Embedded Files
Disclaimer: While most research indicates that 90% of children will have mastered these sounds at this age, it is important to remember that this is not a be-all, end-all by any means. We have found credible sources for this information, but the downside of tables is that they are an attempt to be black and white in a world that can be very much grey.
By age 2-3 a child should be able to produce the following sounds: p, b, d, m, n, h, w.
By age 3-4 a child should be able to produce the following sounds: t, k, g, ng, f, y.
By age 4-5 a child should be able to produce the following sounds: v, s, z, sh, ch, j, l.
By age 5-6 a child should be able to produce the following sounds: th (voiced), zh, r.
By age 6-7 a child should be able to produce the following sounds: th (voiceless), vocalic r.
If your child appears to be delayed with their sounds, we have included some tips to help them produce the sounds. If the child is not able to imitate the sound, it may be time to refer them to a Speech-Language Pathologist.
Age of Acquisition for American English Consonants.pdf
Articulation disorders focus on errors (e.g., distortions and substitutions) in production of individual speech sounds. Phonological disorders focus on predictable, rule-based errors (e.g., fronting, stopping, and final consonant deletion) that affect more than one sound.
There is a speech hierarchy to follow which is helpful when working on correct sound acquisition. It's best not to move on to the next step until the previous step is at 80-90% accuracy. Your child's speech therapist may start at any of the various levels of difficulty depending on how easily your child is able to make the targeted sound. If you are unsure of where to start, ask your child's SLP for clarification. As your student learns their sound, they will move through the levels of difficulty. If your student is becoming frustrated or having a lot of difficulty at the conversation level, try moving backwards to an easier level of difficulty, in order to build confidence.
How can parents help?
Talk about your student's goals and/or targeted speech sound with them daily.
Practice with your student for 5 minutes every day.
Try to avoid pushing your student to frustration. If they are close to a correct production, praise them! Sometimes it's best to move on and come back to practice at another time.
Understand that changing a student's speech patterns takes time and frequent reinforcement. It cannot be done through speech therapy alone.
Refer to your child's IEP or therapist for specific speech sounds they're working with and/or goals they may have.
Click on your sound to watch videos and get word lists to practice at home.
Early developing sounds (ages 2-4)
Middle developing sounds (ages 4-5)
Later developing sounds (ages 5-8)
Phonological Processes
Other
Page updated
Report abuse