How Do Children Learn to Say Their Speech Sounds?

Smart Spot
Nov 16
1 min read

One of the most common questions we get from families is: “Should my child be saying that sound by now?”

The truth is, children don’t learn all their speech sounds at once. There’s a natural, developmental order known as the Speech Sound Hierarchy that helps guide us in understanding what’s typical and what might need extra support.

The Speech Sound Hierarchy – A Quick Guide

Early sounds – These usually come first (around ages 1–3) and include sounds like: p, b, m, d, n, h, w
Middle sounds – These develop a little later (ages 3–4): k, g, t, f, v, y
Later sounds – These often aren’t mastered until age 6 or even later: s, z, l, r, sh, ch, j, th

It’s completely normal for toddlers to substitute or miss some of these sounds as they’re learning. For example, saying “tat” for “cat” or “wabbit” for “rabbit” is a typical part of early speech development.

When Should I Check In with a Speech Pathologist?

If your child is:

Hard to understand for unfamiliar listeners
Getting frustrated when trying to communicate
Still using mostly early sounds past age 3–4it might be a good time to check in.

A short chat with a speech pathologist can help you figure out: