Speech Sound Errors: Final Consonant Deletion
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 Deletion
When children use final consonant deletion, they leave off the last sound in a word. For example, they might say "ca" instead of "cat" or "do" instead of "dog."
Age of Elimination
Broadly, final consonant deletion should be eliminated somewhere around 3 and a 1/2 years of age*.
Examples include:
Final Consonant Deletion ‘m’: e.g., ‘m’ -> omitted as in ‘comb’ becomes ‘coe’.
Final Consonant Deletion ‘d’: e.g., ‘d’ -> omitted as in ‘toad’ becomes ‘toe’.
Final Consonant Deletion ‘p’: e.g., ‘p’ -> omitted as in ‘sheep’ becomes ‘she'‘.
*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 Deletion
Model Correct Speech: Clearly say the whole word, emphasizing the final sound. For example, say "cat" and emphasize the "t" sound.
Practice Words: Choose simple words that end in a consonant and practice them with your child. Make it fun by using pictures or objects.
Use Minimal Pairs: Find two real words that differ only by their final sound and create flashcards to highlight the difference. For example, you could use ‘time’ and ‘tie’ if you find your child removing the final ‘m’.
Sound Play: Play games where you add the final sound to words. For example, say "ca-" and have your child finish with "-t" to make "cat."
Praise and Encourage: Give lots of praise when your child tries to use the final sound, even if they don't get it perfect every time. Positive reinforcement helps them learn.
Helping your child with final consonant deletion 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 Deletion ($0.50)
Practice eliminating various final consonant deletion errors with dangerous dinos in a fun interactive game of minimal pairs.
Shopping Trip: Final Consonant Deletion ($0.50)
Practice eliminating various final consonant deletion errors with minimal pairs by competing to see who can fill their shopping basket first.
Monster Madness: Final Consonant Deletion ($0.50)
Practice eliminating various final consonant deletion errors with mad monsters in a fun interactive game of minimal pairs.