Substitution Speech Sound Errors
Substitution Speech Sound Errors
Substitution errors occur when a child swaps one sound with another, usually because the original sound is difficult for them to say. These patterns are a normal part of speech development as children learn how to produce more complex sounds. The table below has some of the most common ones.
Age of Elimination
Age of elimination refers to the age when we expected most of the speech sound errors to have disappeared. Below is a table which shows when we typically see sound errors disappear from a child’s speech.
Substitution patterns are typical in early speech development and usually resolve as a child’s speech skills improve. Most children outgrow these patterns by the age of 3 to 6 years.
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:
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (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 2 - Phonological Processes. Www.speech-Language-Therapy.com. https://www.speech-language-therapy.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30:table2&catid=11&Itemid=101
Bowen, C. (2011). Table 3 - Elimination of Phonological Processes. Speech-Language-Therapy.com. https://speech-language-therapy.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31:table3&catid=11&Itemid=101
Suggested Resources
FREEBIE Stone Age Struggle: /b/ Sound
Practice your child’s /b/ sounds with dangerous dinos in a fun interactive game.
FREEBIE Shopping Trip: /b/ Sound
Practice your child’s /b/ sounds by competing to see who can fill their shopping basket first.
FREEBIE Monster Madness: /b/ Sound
Practice your child’s /b/ sounds with mad monsters in a fun interactive game.