generalization

What is generalization?

Generalization in articulation therapy is when the child is able to produce their sound(s) correctly in different contexts and with different people. That is the goal! We want our students to use their sound(s) correctly everywhere they go.

How is a sound generalized?

If your child can correctly say their targeted sound in words, phrases, sentences, and reading tasks, but when they start talking, their old speech errors return...it can be frustrating! But this is totally normal. It requires a lot of time and practice for a new motor habit to be learned. A speech error is not going to be fixed overnight. When your child is at this level, the best thing to do is practice for 2 minutes 2x a day. Here are some ideas for practicing at home:

1. Have your child read a list of targeted words as quickly as possible (using a stopwatch--which can be accessed on your phone). Then, do it again and have them try to beat their time. Encourage them to not stretch out the targeted sound. We want it to sound natural.

2. Have your child practice targeted sentences with various intonation. For example, have your child read the sentences in an angry voice, scared voice, surprised voice, high-pitched voice, low-pitched voice, or as a question. When your child changes their intonation while practicing, it speeds up the motor learning process.

3. Find tongue twisters that contain your child's targeted speech sound and have them practice them as many times as they can in 2 minutes.

4. Print out a story or article from the internet and have your child highlight their targeted sound(s). Then have them read the story out loud. Print the story again and have them read it out loud without any highlights. Correct them when they say their sound incorrectly and prompt them to practice the sentence again.

5. Have your child pick a high-frequency word with their targeted sound in it. Then, watch a TV show together and have your child write a tally mark every time they hear a character say that word. After the show is over, have your child practice saying that word for every number of tally marks they wrote.

Once your child is starting to produce their sound correctly in conversational speech at least part of the time without any prompting, it is appropriate to start practicing the sound in conversational speech. Start by practicing at a certain time of the day, such as when you are driving to sports practice, sitting at the dinner table, or getting ready for bed. Turn on a timer and prompt your child to use their correct sound(s) during a conversation. Start with only 1 minute and then gradually increase the time each day.