Normal Preschooler Speech

Proper speech development in your preschooler is important. Are you worried that your preschooler may not speak properly? Do you wonder if they are “behind” schedule? Speech refers to a person’s ability to orally express ideas and thoughts. Normal speech involves proper speech sound, rhythm and voice quality. The preschool years are an important time for speech development and the following are some guidelines for preschool parents.

How is Speech Different from Language?

Language skills involve expressing communication through words or gestures. It involves word combination, formation, expression and understanding.

Speech and language are intimately intertwined, but are two different developmental processes.

What are Speech Norms for Preschoolers?

Speech development will go through trial and error processes during the preschool years as articulation and speech rhythm are sharpened.

According to Nebraska-Iowa Articulation Norms Project (1990) the following are some speech milestones for preschoolers. Keep in mind, however, that these are only general guidelines and that children vary in their speech skill development. Don’t expect that your preschooler has to master the speech skills by the ages indicated here.

By the Age of 3

Speech sounds that should be developed almost fully include b, p, m, h, d, g, k, f, and vowel sounds (a, e, i, o, u). Girls may also be able to articulate w and n sounds at this time, while boys may also be able to make t sounds.

For example, the sentence “The dog has a bone,” should be spoken intelligibly.

According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), your preschooler’s speech should be understandable to familiar (i.e., family) listeners, most of the time.

Between the Ages of 3 to 4 years Old

Speech sounds that should develop at this time include y, t, kw, voiced th sounds for females and g sounds for males.

People outside of the family should understand most of what is said.

Between the Ages of 4 to 5 Years Old

Speech sounds like f, v, l, pl ,bl, kl, gl, fl should develop more fully for girls and f, v, y, tw, kw sounds for boys.

ASHA recommends that your preschooler should say most sounds correctly (except perhaps certain ones such as l, s, r,v, z, ch, sh, th) at this time.

Also, most voice sounds should be as clear as other children’s voice sounds (i.e., no hoarseness).

Another tool...

You can use the National Institute for Deafness and Other Communication Disorders’ interactive checklist. Taking these quizzes, you can better gauge your preschooler’s speech (and language) development.

What Are Some Speech Disorders?

1. Stuttering
2. Speech sound disorder (for example, your child continues to say “wabbit” instead of “rabbit” or “tup” instead of “cup” beyond a certain expected age)
3. Abnormal voice quality or pitch (ie, hoarseness or no voice sound).
4. Childhood apraxia (a disorder affecting the muscles that produce sound).
5. Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (a disorder where the tongue thrusts out and affects speech and swallowing)

By: Pia Chaparro

References:

1. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Available from www.asha.org/public/speech
2. Smit, Ann Bosma. “The Iowa Articulation Norms Project and Its Nebraska Replication”Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders Jan 1990. Retrieved 11 November 2007 3. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Available from http:/www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/speechandlanguage.asp#mychild