Speech Sound Errors: Fronting
What is a Phonological Process
A phonological process is a pattern young children use to simplify speech as they learn to talk. Since some sounds are harder to say than others, children might change them to make speaking easier. These processes are normal and usually disappear as the child grows older and gains more control over their speech.
What is Fronting
Fronting is a common speech pattern in young children where they say sounds made at the back of the mouth (like ‘k’ and ‘g’) at the front of the mouth (like ‘t’ and ‘d’). For example, a child might say ‘tat’ instead of ‘cat’ or ‘doe’ instead of ‘go.’
Age of Elimination
Broadly, fronting should be eliminated somewhere around 4 years of age*.
Examples include:
Fronting c: e.g., ‘c’ -> ‘t’ as in ‘tar’ becomes ‘car’
Fronting d; e.g., ‘d’ -> ‘g’ as in ‘date’ becomes ‘gate’
*Please note these ages of elimination are intended as a general guide only. Other sources can change age ranges by six months to a year. Phonological processes are a murky area of speech pathology.
Fixing Fronting
Model Correct Sounds: Clearly and slowly pronounce words with the correct fricative sounds so the child can hear the difference. If your child says “tat,” you can say, "Oh, you mean 'cat.' I see the cat."
Practice Minimal Pairs: Use pairs of words where one word uses a sound from the front of the mouth and the other sound from the back of the mouth. A good example is ‘tea’ and ‘key’. This helps the child hear and practice the difference.
Games and Activities: Play games that emphasize the correct sounds. For example, you can play a picture-matching game with images of objects that start with the "k" and "g" sounds.
Praise and Encouragement: Celebrate when your child tries to say the words correctly. Positive reinforcement goes a long way.
Helping your child with fronting can be fun and engaging. With patience and practice, they'll start using the correct sounds in no time!
Please note the above information is general in nature and is not intended as professional medical advice. Please seek an appointment with a registered speech-language pathologist if you are at all worried about your child's development.
References:
ASHA. (2022). Selected Phonological Processes. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/clinical-topics/articulation-and-phonology/selected-phonological-processes/
Bowen, C. (2011). Table 3 - Elimination of Phonological Processes. Speech-Language-Therapy.com. https://www.speech-language-therapy.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31:table3&catid=11:admin&Itemid=117
Suggested Resources
Stone Age Struggle: Fronting ($0.50)
Practice eliminating various fronting errors with dangerous dinos in a fun interactive game of minimal pairs.
Shopping Trip: Fronting ($0.50)
Practice eliminating various fronting errors with minimal pairs by competing to see who can fill their shopping basket first.
Monster Madness: Fronting ($0.50)
Practice eliminating various fronting errors with mad monsters in a fun interactive game of minimal pairs.