Speech Sound Delay
Helping kids communicate with confidence
Does my child have a speech delay?
You notice that there are certain speech sounds your child is not yet saying correctly and you may wonder:
- What speech sounds should my child me saying?​
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- Should I be worried?
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- Will they catch up?
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- What can I do to help my kiddo?
It is good to be curious and you are not the only parent that has had these thoughts go through their head. If your little is not developing their speech sounds as expected they many benefit from support form a speech therapist and we are here for you!
What is a speech delay?
A speech sound delay occurs when a child has difficulty pronouncing sounds or phonological processes correctly compared to peers their age.
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Difficulty producing specific speech sounds, making their speech hard to understand.
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For example:
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Saying "wed" for "red"
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Talking with a lisp (e.g., a slushy S speech sound)
Articulation Disorder
Speech Sound Development
Every child develops at their own pace so it is useful to know when most kids start saying certain speech sounds.
Can produce: p, b, m, d, n, h , t, k, g, w, f, ng and y.
Is understood ~70% of the time by an unfamiliar listener
3 Years
Can produce: v, s, z, sh, ch, j, l
Is understood ~85% of the time by an unfamiliar listener
4 Years
Can produce: th (voiced), zh, r
Is understood ~95% of the time by an unfamiliar listener
5 Years
Can produce: th (voiceless)
Is understood ~100% of the time by an unfamiliar listener
6 Years
Signs your child may have a speech delay...
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Not able to produce speech sounds expected for their age
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Other people have a hard time understanding their words
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Your child is frustrated when their message is not understood
Phonological Disorder
Difficulty understanding and using the rules for sounds in words, which affects their ability to produce words appropriately.
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For example:
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Omitting the final consonant sounds in words - saying "cu" for "cup"
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Substituting sounds - saying "tar" for "car"
Phonological Processes
When learning to talk, children may simplify their speech by using patterns.
Final Consonant Deletion
When a child leaves off the final consonant at the end of a word.
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For example, says "ha" for "hat" or "shee" for "sheep"​
Expected to be gone by 3.5 years of age
Fronting
Sounds that are made at the back of the mouth are instead made at the front.​
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For example, says "tup" for "cup" or "do" for "go"
Expected to be gone by 3.5 years of age
Stopping
A child stops the air flow in a speech sound instead of using long air flow.
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For example, says "tee" for "see" or "muppin" for "muffin"
Expected to be gone by 4 years of age
Cluster Reduction
A child reduces a cluster to a single sound​.
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For example, says "top" for "stop" or "bed" for "bread"
Expected to be gone by 4 years of age
Gliding
The R or L speech sounds are produced as Y or L​
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For example, says "wed" for "red" or "yike" for "like"​
Expected to be gone by 5 years of age
Signs your child may have a phonological delay...
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Unclear speech compared to peers
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Frequent sound substitutions (e.g., saying "tat" for "cat" or "wabbit" for "rabbit")
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Omitting sounds in words (e.g., "nana" for "banana")
The Power of Early Intervention
The "wait and see" approach is great if you're watching the stars—but when it comes to your child’s speech and language development, research shows that early intervention leads to the best outcomes. Taking action now can make a meaningful difference in your child’s ability to communicate effectively.
Our Therapy Services
At True North SLP, we are committed to understanding your child’s communication challenges so we can help set them up for success. Every child deserves the opportunity to confidently express themselves, and we are here to support them every step of the way.
In-Home Therapy Sessions
Therapy sessions in your home allows your child to learn in a familiar setting, making sessions more effective and convenient.
Ongoing Parent Support
We aim to empower parents with resources and strategies to support their child beyond the therapy session.
Personalized Goals
After a comprehensive assessment, we develop personalized goals tailored to your child's specific area of needs and challenges.
Flexible Scheduling
Book speech therapy sessions that fits your busy schedule, so therapy works seamlessly into your life.
Engaging Therapy Sessions
We strive to create therapy sessions that incorporate your child's interests while working towards their goals in a structured manner.
Knowledgeable SLPs
We are dedicated to helping your child reach their full potential through joy and evidence-based practice.
Getting Started is Easy...
Share information about your child and your primary concerns.
We aim to respond to your speech therapy request within 1-2 business days.
Get connected with an SLP
Discuss with a speech therapist what you hope to achieve through therapy sessions. As well, gain insights into how we can help.
Start Speech Therapy
Begin personalized speech therapy sessions in your home that support your child's unique communication needs.
At True North SLP, we are here to guide and support your child’s journey to confident communication.
Let’s go on this journey together!