Speech Sound Errors: ‘l’ Blend Cluster Reduction
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 ‘l’ Blend Cluster Reduction
‘l’ blend cluster reduction happens when a child leaves out the ‘l’ sound in a blend. For example, instead of saying "blue," they might say "boo." It's a normal part of speech development for young children. They can find it hard to say all the sounds together, so they simplify it.
Age of Elimination
Broadly, ‘l’ blend cluster reduction should be eliminated somewhere around 4 years of age*. Blends with ‘s’ are usually eliminated around 5 years of age.
2 consonant examples include:
Cluster Reduction ‘sl’: e.g., ‘sl’ -> ‘s’ as in ‘slide’ becomes ‘side’.
Cluster Reduction ‘fl’: e.g., ‘fl’ -> ‘f’ as in ‘flute’ becomes ‘fute’.
Cluster Reduction ‘bl’: e.g., ‘bl’ -> ‘b’ as in ‘blue’ becomes ‘boo’
Cluster Reduction ‘pl’: e.g., ‘pl’ -> ‘p’ as in ‘plate’ becomes ‘pate’
Cluster Reduction ‘kl’: e.g., ‘kl’ -> ‘k’ as in ‘claw’ becomes ‘caw’.
Cluster Reduction ‘gl’: e.g., ‘gl’ -> ‘g’ as in ‘glue’ becomes ‘goo’.
3 consonant examples include:
Cluster Reduction ‘spl’: e.g., ‘spl’ -> ‘sp’ as in ‘splash’ becomes ‘spash’.
*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 ‘l’ Blend Cluster Reduction
Modelling: Clearly pronounce words with "l" blends when you talk to your child. For example, say "blue" slowly and emphasize the "l" sound.
Practice: Play games where you say words with "l" blends and ask your child to repeat them. Use pictures of items with "l" blends (like "clown," "plane," "flag") and practice saying their names together.
Break It Down: Help your child say the word in parts. For "blue," have them say "b" and "loo" separately, then slowly put them together.
Positive Reinforcement: Praise your child when they try to say the blends correctly. Encouragement can motivate them to keep practising.
Helping your child with ‘l’ blend cluster reduction 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: ‘l’ Blend Cluster Reduction ($0.50)
Practice eliminating various ‘l’ blend cluster reduction errors with dangerous dinos in a fun interactive game of minimal pairs.
Shopping Trip: ‘l’ Blend Cluster Reduction($0.50)
Practice eliminating various ‘l’ blend cluster reduction errors with minimal pairs by competing to see who can fill their shopping basket first.
Monster Madness: ‘l’ Blend Cluster Reduction ($0.50)
Practice eliminating various ‘l’ blend cluster reduction errors with mad monsters in a fun interactive game of minimal pairs.