Speech Sound Disorders

As children learn to talk, it is normal for them to say some sounds and words incorrectly. Once these speech sound errors continue past a certain age, it becomes more difficult for a listener to understand what the child is trying to say. Speech sounds can be omitted, substituted, or distorted.

According to ASHA:

By 3 months

• Makes cooing sounds

By 5 months

• Laughs and makes playful sounds

By 6 months

• Makes speech-like babbling sounds like puh, ba, mi, da 

By 1 year

• Babbles longer strings of sounds like mimi, upup, bababa

By 3 years

• Says m, n, h, w, p, b, t, d, k, g, and f in words
• Familiar people understand the child's speech

By 4 years

• Says y and v in words
• May still make mistakes on the s, sh, ch, j, ng, th, z, l, and r sounds
• Most people understand the child’s speech