A Guide to Understanding Your Child's Speech Sound Development
“Lellow” for “yellow”, “cool” for “school” or “pasketti” for “spaghetti”—if you’ve ever heard your child say these, you’re definitely not alone! Learning to talk is a fun (and often funny) part of early childhood. While some speech errors are perfectly normal, it’s important to understand what typical speech development looks like.
Being aware of developmental milestones helps you better understand what to expect—and when it might be time to seek extra support. Research shows that addressing speech and language concerns early can significantly improve a child's long-term communication skills. Working with a speech-language pathologist (SLP) early on not only helps your child speak more clearly, but also reduces frustration (for both of you!), boosts confidence, and supports overall development. The sooner you get support, the better the outcome for your child’s learning, self-esteem, and ability to connect with the world around them.
But what exactly is speech sound development? Let’s take a closer look at what it is, what’s considered typical, and when it might be time to check in with an SLP.
What Are Speech Sounds?
As SLPs, we work on a range of communication skills, including both speech and language — and they’re not the same thing!
Speech refers to how sounds are produced — like saying /s/ or /r/ correctly.
Language refers to our expressive language (our ability to communicate thoughts, ideas, and feelings) and receptive language (our ability to understand and process language).
When we talk about speech sound development, we’re focusing on the individual sounds that make up words. Producing these sounds accurately requires coordination of the lips, tongue, teeth, voice, and airflow.
See below for the typical ages and acquisition of speech sounds:
When to Be Concerned
While sound errors are considered normal as your child develops, there are signs that indicate your child may need a speech evaluation:
Your child is overall difficult to understand
You or others familiar with your child’s speech are having to “translate” for them
They make speech errors of sounds beyond the expected age (reference the chart above!)
Your child begins to have academic difficulties (spelling, rhyming, etc.)
They become frustrated when not understood by others
Their speech is not improving as they age
Seeking Help
If you're worried about your child's speech intelligibility or sound errors, you're not alone—and help is available! An SLP can evaluate whether your child’s speech is developing typically or may benefit from extra support. Through a thorough assessment, the SLP will identify specific speech sound errors, determine if therapy is needed, and create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your child’s needs.
Searching for speech therapy near me?
Reach out to us for a free consultation! During the consultation, we can determine if an evaluation is recommended and answer any questions you may have. We’re here to support your child’s development every step of the way.
Northern Virginia:
Phone: 703-470-6957
Email: info@owlstherapy.com
Philadelphia’s Main Line
Phone: 610-579-0914
Email: philadelphia@owlstherapy.com