Speech Sound Development
By Ellicott, Kim on March 10, 2015
I am frequently asked if it is typical for a child to make sound substitutions, and the answer is yes, sound substitutions are typical during speech sound development. Each sound has a different age when it is mastered by most children. The earliest developing sounds are ‘m, n, b, p, w, d, h, and y’ which are typically acquired by age three. Sounds that are usually mastered by the age of five are ‘ng, f, v, t, g, k, ch, and j. By the age of six, ‘sh, s, z, and th’ are usually correct. The most common sounds that are asked about being typically in error are ‘l and r’, which are the latest developing sounds. These sounds can be in error until the age of eight. In the state of Nebraska, children must be exhibiting errors one year after the typical age of acquisition in order to qualify for speech services.