Speech Sound Errors: Gliding/Liquid Simplification
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 Gliding
Gliding (also known as liquid simplification) is when a child replaces certain sounds, like ‘r’ and ‘l’, with ‘w’ or ‘y’ sounds. For example, they might say "wabbit" instead of "rabbit" or "yeyo" instead of "yellow". This is a normal part of speech development for many young children.
Age of Elimination
Broadly, gliding should be eliminated somewhere around 5 to 6 years of age*.
Examples include:
Gliding w: e.g., ‘r’ -> ‘w’ as in ‘run’ becomes ‘one’
Gliding l; e.g., ‘l’ -> ‘y’ as in ‘leg’ becomes ‘yeg’
*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 Gliding
Model Correct Sounds: Clearly and slowly pronounce words with the correct liquid sounds so the child can hear the difference. When your child says "wabbit", gently correct them by saying, "Yes, it's a rabbit."
Practice Minimal Pairs: Use pairs of words to highlight the difference between the two sounds. A good example is ‘ring’ and ‘wing’. This helps the child hear and practice the difference.
Practice with Games: Use picture cards or fun activities that encourage your child to say words with "r" and "l" sounds correctly.
Praise and Encourage: Celebrate their efforts and successes, even if small. Give them encouragement when you can see they are trying their hardest.
Helping your child with gliding 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: Gliding ($0.50)
Practice eliminating various gliding errors with dangerous dinos in a fun interactive game of minimal pairs.
Shopping Trip: Gliding ($0.50)
Practice eliminating various gliding errors with minimal pairs by competing to see who can fill their shopping basket first.
Monster Madness: Gliding ($0.50)
Practice eliminating various gliding errors with mad monsters in a fun interactive game of minimal pairs.