Speech Sound Development Chart: Ages, Milestones, and Examples
One minute, you’re thrilled to hear your child say their first word. The next, you realize they won’t stop talking. (In a good way!) It’s amazing to hear their little voices chatter on. But sometimes children may struggle to form certain sounds. When that happens, should parents worry? Our speech sound development chart can help you learn what sounds are expected when, plus the best things you can do at home. (Hint: It involves chatting them up even more.)
My children’s pediatrician always “interviews” them during well visits. What do they want to be when they grow up? Do they like school? What sports do they play? What I didn’t realize is that the doctor was chatting with my child, in part, to hear their sound pronunciation.
It was during one visit that my son’s doctor said something that helped us: “You know, he’s having a hard time with the letter ‘r.’ Have you considered speech therapy?” After that, we had him evaluated. He improved his /r/ pronunciation and "graduated" from therapy a few months later.
Having a knowledgeable pediatrician is key, but so is having this information yourself. That’s where a speech sound development chart comes in handy. This guide will tell you what to expect from a child’s speech sound development, when to seek an evaluation, and the best ways to help them at home.
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You can use this to learn quick at-home checks and strategies for children from ages 1 to 7+:
Check out the speech sounds by age chart, find your child’s age, and read about typical sound development.
Look for intelligibility targets and red flags to decide if you may need to have a speech evaluation.
Pick one or two home strategies to start supporting your child’s sound development.
Speech sounds by age chart
Sounds that are easier to say develop sooner than others. This is why one of my sons used to say “strawbabies” instead of “strawberries.” (I still love thinking about that.) All children develop differently. They have their own unique strengths and support needs. Remember, if your child struggles with one sound, it doesn’t necessarily mean they have a speech problem.
The following is a speech development chart. This chart outlines when we expect sounds to form:
Ages 6 months to 1 year
Babbles with long strings of sounds like mimi, upup, bababa, mamamama
2 to 3 years
/p/, /b/, /m/, /d/, /n/, /h/, /t/, /k/, /g/, /w/, /ng/, /f/, /y/
4 years
/l/, /j/, /ch/, /s/, /v/, /sh/, /z/
Can make mistakes with /s/, /sh/, /ch/, /j/, /ng/, /th/, /z/, /l/, /r/
5 years
/r/, /zh/, voiced /th/ (“that”)
By age 5, most children can produce all kinds of speech sounds
6 years
voiceless /th/ (“thick”)
Intelligibility milestones
As kids grow, their speech typically gets clearer, too. There are guidelines for how understandable speech should be. This is called intelligibility. Here’s what speech therapists look for:
2 years: ~50% of speech is understandable to familiar listeners, or people who talk with the child often
3 years: ~75% of speech is understandable to familiar listeners
4 years: ~90% understandable to familiar listeners, more than 50% understandable to unfamiliar listeners (people who don’t talk with the child often)
5 years: ~75% understandable to unfamiliar listeners
7 years: ~90% understandable by anyone they speak to
Common speech sound errors
Children develop language at their own pace. And certain speech sound “errors” are normal and expected. When you notice that your child is using “tat” for “cat,” or “wabbit” instead of “rabbit,” rest assured these usually disappear with time.
Here are common speech sound patterns to watch for:
Final consonant deletion (saying “ca” for “cat”): typical under age 3
Fronting (“tat” for “cat”): typical under age 4
Cluster reduction (“pane” for “plane”): typical under ages 4-5
Stopping (“tun” for “sun”): may resolve gradually by 5, depending on sound
Gliding of /r/ or /l/ (“wabbit” for “rabbit,” “yook” for “look”): can persist to ages 6-7 if not treated
Examples by sound
The following are parent-friendly prompts you can use with your child if you notice that they’re struggling with certain sounds:
p/b/m: puppy, bus, milk
t/d/n: train, duck, nose
k/g/ng: cow, game, ring
f: fish
v: van
s/z/sh/ch/j: snake, zebra, shoes, chair, juice
l: lion
r: ribbon
zh: treasure
th (voiced): feather
th (voiceless): teeth
Blends: star, blue, train, splash
When to watch vs. when to seek a speech evaluation
“All children develop speech sounds at their own pace, and it’s normal for them to make certain sound errors as they learn,” says Alexis Irazoque, M.S., L/SLP, a speech-language pathologist with Expressable. That said, there are some signs to watch for. If you notice any of the below, consider scheduling an evaluation with a speech therapist:
Your child is hard to understand
Your child gets frustrated when trying to talk
Your child isn’t meeting typical speech sound or language milestones
Your child’s speech seems to be regressing, or getting worse
Your child’s speech difficulties affect their social interactions, confidence, or ability to participate in school or play
The speech therapist may tell you that your child is on track with their development. But the sooner you can have an evaluation, the better. “Early evaluation can help determine if a child’s speech is developing typically or if therapy could support clearer, more confident communication,” says Irazoque.
What to know for bilingual or multilingual children
What if your child speaks two or more languages? The good news is that learning more than one language does not cause speech sound delays, says Irazoque. “Children may make different sound errors in each language because the sounds and rules can vary,” she explains. Continue to speak and read to your child in all languages. “Consistent exposure helps strengthen overall speech and language development.”
That said, if a child is having the same speech sound difficulty across all languages, the cause may be a speech sound disorder. A speech therapist can identify what sounds need work and help in both languages.
How a speech therapy evaluation works
You’ve made an appointment for a speech therapy evaluation for your child. Now, what can you expect? “We use a variety of tools and activities to understand how the child produces sounds and what might be causing any difficulties,” says Irazoque. Here’s how she describes the parts of the evaluation process:
Oral mechanism exam: Checks how their lips, tongue, jaw, and palate move and work together for speech. Can identify physical issues like muscle weakness or dental problems that can affect speech.
Hearing screening: If needed, a hearing screening can help rule out hearing issues that can contribute to speech sound production.
Speech sound assessment: Often follows a standardized test, such as the Goldman-Fristoe Test of Articulation-3 (GFTA-3). “This helps identify which sounds the child can say correctly and which ones they find difficult,” says Irazoque.
Speech sound collection: The speech therapist will engage your child through play or conversation. They are looking for patterns in sound errors, consistency, and intelligibility.
You can learn more about how Expressable evaluates and treats articulation problems in children in our speech sound disorder treatment guide.
Home practice: Simple, play-based strategies
At-home practice can make a big difference with your child’s speech sound development. Irazoque says parental involvement is the key. “When we’re talking about a child with speech sound difficulties, the ultimate goal of speech therapy is generalization. This means that a child has learned to pronounce and use their target sounds in all settings and situations, no matter who they’re talking to,” says Irazoque. This approach is important. It improves the child’s safety (ability to express themselves in an emergency), reading, confidence, and ability to make friends, she says.
Here’s how you can make practice part of your everyday in a fun, engaging way:
Listen carefully: Notice which sounds or words are difficult. Share them with the speech therapist, says Irazoque.
Model correct sounds: Avoid correcting your child. Instead, model the right pronunciation, says Irazoque. For example, if your child says “pwaying wif da ball,” you say, “You’re playing with the ball!”
Narrate your day: Talk, talk, talk. “When you’re around your child, tell them everything you’re doing,” says Clare Short, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, an Atlanta-based speech-language pathologist and author of Bo the Boat, a book designed to support early speech development. “When you narrate your daily activities, your child is exposed to language all day long.”
Use books: “Reading is our number one favorite way to encourage sound development,” says Short. “Reading once a day introduces children to thousands of words and more complex language than they hear in their daily routine.”
Use flashcards or word lists: Make these yourself at home, or buy flashcard bundles online or in a store. There are also talking toy flashcard devices you can buy.
Above all, the focus should be on play and fun. No child wants to sit down and practice their target sound for 20 minutes straight. That’s why it’s important to find an activity that helps keep practice engaging. Maybe your child enjoys making crafts, kicking a soccer ball, trying out yoga poses, or playing board games. Use whatever they like to your advantage! Before each step of their craft, kick of the ball, or turn of the game, have your child practice a word or two.
Classroom tips
Let your child’s teacher know what sounds you’re working on with your child. This can help in several ways. “It’s common for parents and close family to understand more of what a child says than unfamiliar listeners like teachers or new friends. This can sometimes be frustrating for both the child and family,” says Irazoque.
Talk to their teacher about ways to encourage your child’s speech sound development. Remind the teacher to give your child their full attention when they speak. Their teacher may also use tools like word lists or visual blends to help teach, depending on the child’s age. Your speech therapist can offer guidance and ideas to share with teachers.
Keep practice positive and supportive
Working with your child at home on speech can be wonderful and rewarding. Inclusivity starts with acceptance. Your child will make errors as they speak. That’s OK!
“It’s often tempting to stop and correct your child right away. However, this can make your child feel discouraged and frustrated,” says Short. Go back to the idea of modeling speech. Your child will hear the correct articulation of sounds without feeling as if they’re doing something wrong or disappointing you.
When you model speech, your child will hear the correct articulation of sounds without feeling as if they’re doing something wrong.
In addition, make practicing at home part of the everyday routine. Ask your child questions after school or at dinner. Talk about things you see while you’re in the car together. Think of ways you can better hear and understand what your child is saying. For example, turn off the TV or music to reduce background noise during conversation.
Supplies master list
You don’t need a bunch of supplies to help your child with speech sound development. Really, you both can make it fun by chatting it up together. If you’d like to bring in supplies to support you at home, you might try word lists, flashcards (either paper or electronic), a home practice tracking log, or a reading log. And of course, books! Look for those that include repetition, which helps children absorb sounds. Short recommends:
Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Bill Martin Jr.
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr., and John Archambault
Where's Spot by Eric Hill
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Wishy Washy by Tabitha Paige
Imitation by Stephanie Anderson
Hi, How Are You by Holly Rosensweig
You can also check out our lists of therapist-recommended books by sound:
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal for my 3-year-old to say “tat” for “cat”?
Saying “tat” for “cat” is very common, and it typically disappears as your child gets older. If this lasts beyond age 4, consider a speech evaluation.
My child is 4, and strangers still don’t understand them—now what?
By age 4, we expect that children are 50% understandable to strangers. So, if strangers don’t know what they’re saying, it may still be normal. If you're concerned for any reason, make an appointment for a speech evaluation.
Do kids “outgrow” lisping?
If you think your child has a lisp, see a speech therapist for an evaluation. In some cases, a lisp may be caused by incorrect tongue placement, which could further affect the arrangement of teeth. Lisps that aren’t corrected can persist into adulthood. Speech therapy can correct a lisp in kids and adults.
Will practicing the wrong sound make it worse?
It’s OK if your child uses the wrong sounds. You don’t need to correct them. Model the right speech sounds for your child in conversation. This is one of the best ways to help them develop the correct sound.
Does bilingualism cause speech delays?
No, bilingualism or multilingualism do not cause speech delays. Families are encouraged to speak and read at home in all of their languages.
Key takeaways
Speech sound development happens gradually during a child’s first five years.
Familiar listeners should be able to understand your child by age 4. By age 7, all listeners should be able to understand your child.
Consider a speech therapy evaluation if your child isn’t meeting speech milestones or their speech regresses (gets worse).
There are many things you can do to help your child improve their speech sounds at home. Use fun, play-based strategies that keep your child interested.
How Expressable Can Help
Concerned your child isn't reaching age-expected milestones? Looking for communication support from a professional? Expressable is a national online speech therapy practice serving children and adults. We treat all major areas of communication and feeding, offer flexible hours including evenings and weekends, and accept most major health insurance plans. We’re proud to have earned more than 3,000 5-star reviews from our clients (4.9/5 average).
Our therapy model is centered on parent and caregiver involvement. Research proves that empowering caregivers to participate in their loved one’s therapy leads to better outcomes. That’s why we combine live, 1-on-1 speech therapy with personalized education and home practice activities for faster progress.
Communication is more than words. It’s how we share how we feel and show who we are. We’re here to help you or your child do just that.
