Speech and Language Information
Hi! My name is Maribeth Collier, and I’m a speech-language pathologist serving Holland and Wilder Elementary. I get lots of questions from teachers and parents about speech, so I put together this short, informational page. I’ve tried to address some common questions and concerns about speech and language. Please feel free to contact me! (see contact info at the bottom of the page).
The Difference Between Speech and Language
Language - understanding others (Receptive Language), or sharing thoughts, ideas, or feelings (Expressive Language).
Speech - ability to make the correct speech sounds..
Speech Development
Children begin learning speech sounds from birth onward. By about nine months, babies recognize all the sounds of their native language, although they are not producing them yet. Babies begin to coo, smile, recognize different voices, and cry differently for different needs by about 3 months of age. They begin to babble and make a variety of noises by about 6 months of age. By twelve months of age, babies begin trying to imitate speech sounds and may say a few words such as “mama”, “dada”, and “uh-oh”. By 18 months, babies may be using 8-10 words, and by 24 months, they can use simple phrases like “go bye bye”.
There is a wide range of “normal” development when it comes to speech sounds. These are general guidelines for the order of acquisition of individual sounds (Sander, 1972):
1st - /m, n, ng/, /p, b, t, k, g/, /w, y/
Next -/f, v, s, z, sh/
Last - /ch, j/ , /l, r/, /th/
It is very common for young children to substitute /w/ for /r/ and /l/ (“wat” for “rat”, “wike” for “like), and /f/ or /d/ for /th/ (”dat” for “that”, “fing” for “thing”), as these are later developing sounds. Generally speaking, children should be able to say /l/ correctly by age 6, /th/ by age 7, and /r/ by age 8. If you notice your child having difficulty with these sounds (or any other sound), try modeling the word slowly for them, and have them imitate you. If they can say it correctly, they are probably developing the sound and just need a little more time and practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I be concerned about my child’s speech?
If your child has several speech errors, and you or others have difficulty understanding them, it may be time to consult a speech-language pathologist.
Can my child get speech therapy at school?
If your child’s speech problems have an educational impact on their performance at school, they should be able to receive speech therapy. Sometimes speech errors can affect spelling and reading skills. Multiple speech articulation errors also affect intelligibility (the ability to be understood), which would interfere with the child’s ability to communicate at school. Finally, very noticeable errors may make the child self-conscious, and reluctant to participate in things like oral presentations.
If you are concerned about your child’s speech, feel free to contact me!
Maribeth Collier, Speech-Language Pathologist
Holland Elementary: 417- 523 - 4100
Wilder Elementary: 417-523-5300
Email - [email protected]
The Difference Between Speech and Language
Language - understanding others (Receptive Language), or sharing thoughts, ideas, or feelings (Expressive Language).
Speech - ability to make the correct speech sounds..
Speech Development
Children begin learning speech sounds from birth onward. By about nine months, babies recognize all the sounds of their native language, although they are not producing them yet. Babies begin to coo, smile, recognize different voices, and cry differently for different needs by about 3 months of age. They begin to babble and make a variety of noises by about 6 months of age. By twelve months of age, babies begin trying to imitate speech sounds and may say a few words such as “mama”, “dada”, and “uh-oh”. By 18 months, babies may be using 8-10 words, and by 24 months, they can use simple phrases like “go bye bye”.
There is a wide range of “normal” development when it comes to speech sounds. These are general guidelines for the order of acquisition of individual sounds (Sander, 1972):
1st - /m, n, ng/, /p, b, t, k, g/, /w, y/
Next -/f, v, s, z, sh/
Last - /ch, j/ , /l, r/, /th/
It is very common for young children to substitute /w/ for /r/ and /l/ (“wat” for “rat”, “wike” for “like), and /f/ or /d/ for /th/ (”dat” for “that”, “fing” for “thing”), as these are later developing sounds. Generally speaking, children should be able to say /l/ correctly by age 6, /th/ by age 7, and /r/ by age 8. If you notice your child having difficulty with these sounds (or any other sound), try modeling the word slowly for them, and have them imitate you. If they can say it correctly, they are probably developing the sound and just need a little more time and practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I be concerned about my child’s speech?
If your child has several speech errors, and you or others have difficulty understanding them, it may be time to consult a speech-language pathologist.
Can my child get speech therapy at school?
If your child’s speech problems have an educational impact on their performance at school, they should be able to receive speech therapy. Sometimes speech errors can affect spelling and reading skills. Multiple speech articulation errors also affect intelligibility (the ability to be understood), which would interfere with the child’s ability to communicate at school. Finally, very noticeable errors may make the child self-conscious, and reluctant to participate in things like oral presentations.
If you are concerned about your child’s speech, feel free to contact me!
Maribeth Collier, Speech-Language Pathologist
Holland Elementary: 417- 523 - 4100
Wilder Elementary: 417-523-5300
Email - [email protected]