🔹 How to use this chart
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Work on ONE sound at a time
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Follow the order: Sound → Syllables → Words → Sentences → Conversation
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Practice 5–10 minutes daily
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Always model first, then let the child try
1. Bilabial Sounds (Lips Together)
/p/ /b/ /m/
Age expected: 2–3 years
Placement:
👉 Lips together, air out (voice ON for /b/, /m/)
Examples:
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/p/: pan, pen, apple
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/b/: ball, baby
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/m/: mama, milk
Home practice ideas:
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Blow kisses
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Lip popping
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Mirror practice
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“Mama–me–my” games
2. Alveolar Sounds (Tongue Behind Teeth)
/t/ /d/ /n/ /l/
Age expected: 3–4 years
Placement:
👉 Tongue tip touches ridge behind upper teeth
Examples:
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/t/: toy, top
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/d/: dog, door
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/n/: nose, net
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/l/: lip, lamp
Home practice ideas:
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Tongue-up games
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Lick honey/jam from upper lip
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“Touch the sound” (tongue → teeth ridge)
3. Velar Sounds (Tongue Back)
/k/ /g/
Age expected: 3–4 years
Placement:
👉 Back of tongue lifts toward soft palate
Examples:
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/k/: cat, car
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/g/: go, gate
Common error:
“tat” for “cat”
Home practice ideas:
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Cough sound practice
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Gargling water (supervised)
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“Back sound” awareness games
4. Fricative Sounds (Air Flow Sounds)
/f/ /v/ /s/ /z/
Age expected: 4–5 years
Placement:
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/f/ /v/: Teeth on lower lip
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/s/ /z/: Tongue near teeth, air flows out
Examples:
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/f/: fan, fish
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/v/: van, vase
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/s/: sun, soap
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/z/: zoo, zip
Home practice ideas:
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Blow cotton
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Hold long “ssss”
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Snake games 🐍
5. Palatal Sounds
/ʃ/ (sh), /tʃ/ (ch), /dʒ/ (j)/
Age expected: 4–5 years
Placement:
👉 Tongue slightly back, lips rounded
Examples:
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sh: shoe, shop
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ch: chair, chip
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j: jug, jam
Home practice ideas:
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Train sound “ch-ch-ch” 🚂
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Quiet sound “shhh”
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Mirror + lip rounding
6. Liquid & Later-Developing Sounds
/r/ /th/
Age expected: 5–6 years
Placement:
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/r/: Tongue lifted, not touching teeth
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/th/: Tongue between teeth
Examples:
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/r/: red, run
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/th/: thumb, this
⚠️ These sounds need more time and guidance
Home practice ideas:
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Slow, guided practice only
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Never force
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Always under SLP guidance
7. Practice Hierarchy (VERY IMPORTANT)
For every sound 👇
1️⃣ Sound alone → “ssss”
2️⃣ Syllables → “sa, si, su”
3️⃣ Words → “sun”
4️⃣ Phrases → “sun is hot”
5️⃣ Sentences → “The sun is very hot.”
6️⃣ Conversation → daily talking
8. Daily Home Practice Chart (Sample)
| Day | Sound | Level | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | /s/ | Syllables | 5 min |
| Tue | /s/ | Words | 5 min |
| Wed | /s/ | Phrases | 5 min |
| Thu | /s/ | Sentences | 5 min |
| Fri | /s/ | Conversation | 5 min |
9. One-Line Summary
Speech sound therapy works best when each sound is practiced step-by-step, daily, with correct placement and lots of positive reinforcement.