Is My Child's Speech Sound Development Typical?
If you've found yourself wondering, "Should my child be saying that sound by now?" you're certainly not alone. It's one of the most common questions parents ask.
The visual below provides a simple guide to when many speech sounds typically develop. It can be a helpful starting point for understanding your child's speech development.
It's important to remember that speech development is about much more than individual sounds.
Speech and Language Therapists don't just look at which sounds your child can or can't say—we also look at how they are using those sounds. Many young children use phonological processes (patterns of sound changes) as they learn to talk. Some of these patterns are a normal part of development, while others may persist longer than expected or make a child's speech much harder to understand.
For example, does your child say "tat" instead of "cat"? Or perhaps they leave sounds off the ends of words or simplify longer words? These patterns can give us valuable information about how your child's speech system is developing.
This visual is just one piece of the puzzle. A detailed speech assessment looks at your child's speech sound system as a whole, helping us understand whether their speech is developing as expected or whether they would benefit from some extra support.
If you're worried about your child's speech, seeking advice early can provide reassurance, clear answers and practical strategies to help your child become a more confident communicator.
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