Speech Sound development
Learn how speech sounds develop and when to expect them as your child grows.
Children learn speech sounds step by step as they grow. Some sounds come early, while others take more time and practice.
Speech Sound Development Timeline
Early Sounds (Ages 2–3)
- Sounds: p, b, m, h, w, d, n
- “It’s normal for words to be simplified at this stage
Growing Sounds (Ages 3–4)
- Sounds: t, k, g, f, y
- Children are learning new sounds—mistakes are expected.
Speech Sound Development Timeline
Developing Clarity (Ages 4–5)
- Sounds: v, s, z, ch, j, l, sh
- Speech should be getting clearer to others
Mastering Sounds (Ages 5–7)
- Sounds: r, th, blends
- These sounds take the longest to master