Speech Sound Errors: Final Consonant Devoicing
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 Final Consonant Devoicing
Final consonant devoicing is when a child says a voiced sound at the end of a word (like "b," "d," "g") as a voiceless sound (like "p," "t," "k"). For example, they might say "cap" instead of "cab" or "bat" instead of "bad."
Age of Elimination
Broadly, final consonant devoicing should be eliminated somewhere around 3 years of age*.
Examples include:
Final Consonant Devoicing ‘g’: e.g., ‘g’ -> ‘k’ as in ‘pig’ becomes ‘pick’
Final Consonant Devoicing ‘b’: e.g., ‘b’ -> ‘p’ as in ‘cab’ becomes ‘cap’
Final Consonant Devoicing ‘d’: e.g., ‘d’ -> ‘t’ as in ‘bad’ becomes ‘bat’
*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 Final Consonant Devoicing
Model Correct Sounds: Show your child how to say the ending sounds correctly. Emphasize the voiced sound by making it louder and longer. For example, say "baaaab" and "baaad."
Use Minimal Pairs: Practice with pairs of words that are similar but end with a voiced or voiceless sound. For example, "cap-cab," "bat-bad." Show the difference and ask your child to repeat.
Games and Activities: Play games that focus on ending sounds. Use flashcards, matching games, or memory games with words that end in voiced sounds.
Practice with Visuals: Use pictures or objects that have names ending in voiced sounds. Ask your child to say the name and gently correct them if they use the voiceless sound.
Repetition and Praise: Practice these words often and give lots of praise when your child says the sounds correctly. Consistent practice helps build their skills.
Helping your child with final consonant devoicing 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: Final Consonant Devoicing ($0.50)
Practice eliminating various final consonant devoicing errors with dangerous dinos in a fun interactive game of minimal pairs.
Shopping Trip: Final Consonant Devoicing($0.50)
Practice eliminating various final consonant devoicing errors with minimal pairs by competing to see who can fill their shopping basket first.
Monster Madness: Final Consonant Devoicing ($0.50)
Practice eliminating various final consonant devoicing errors with mad monsters in a fun interactive game of minimal pairs.