Children follow a developmental pattern when they learn to speak. Pronunciation errors are very common and are a predictable part of sound development. The table below gives guidelines on when to expect a child to be able to say certain sounds. This table is referred to throughout the developmental checklists. (Input from SLT is generally not required until the child is at the 90% stage)
|
Sounds produced
|
Age at which 50% of children produce them
|
Age at which 90% of children produce them
|
|
All common vowels
|
1.5-2yrs
|
3yrs
|
|
p b t d m n w
|
1.5-2yrs
|
3yrs
|
|
k g f h
y as in’ yet’
|
2.5-3yrs
|
4yrs
|
|
s
ng as in ‘sing’
|
2.5-3yrs
|
5yrs
|
|
l
|
3-3.5yrs
|
6yrs
|
|
sh as in ‘shoe’
ch as in ‘chin’
j as in ‘joke’
z v
|
3.5-4.5yrs
|
6yrs
|
|
Th as in ‘thin’
Th as in ‘then’
Sh as in ‘measure’ r
|
4.5-5yrs
|
7yrs
|