Speech Sound Production (How Sounds Are Made)
1. What is Speech Sound Production?
Speech sound production is the process of making clear, correct speech sounds using:
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Breath (airflow)
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Voice (vocal cords)
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Articulators (lips, tongue, teeth, jaw, palate)
👉 Simply:
“How the mouth and voice work together to make sounds.”
2. Components of Speech Sound Production
A. Respiration (Breath Support)
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Air from lungs powers speech
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Weak breath → soft, unclear speech
Example therapy:
Blowing bubbles, holding long sounds (“aaaa”, “ssss”)
B. Phonation (Voice)
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Vocal cords vibrate to make voiced sounds
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No vibration = voiceless sounds
Examples:
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Voiced: /b, d, g, z/
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Voiceless: /p, t, k, s/
Therapy teaches the child to feel vibration (hand on throat).
C. Articulation (Mouth Movements)
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Precise placement of lips and tongue
| Sound | Where it’s made |
|---|---|
| /p, b, m/ | Lips |
| /t, d, n, l/ | Tongue tip |
| /k, g/ | Tongue back |
| /s, z/ | Teeth ridge |
| /f, v/ | Teeth + lip |
D. Motor Planning (Apraxia aspect)
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Brain plans movement sequence
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Child knows the word but can’t say it correctly
3. Types of Speech Sound Errors
1. Substitution
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One sound replaces another
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“tat” for “cat”
2. Omission
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Sound left out
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“ca” for “cat”
3. Distortion
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Sound is unclear
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Lisp for /s/
4. Addition
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Extra sound added
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“buhlue” for “blue”
4. How Speech Therapy Teaches Sound Production
Step 1: Sound Awareness
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Listen to correct vs incorrect sounds
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Identify errors
Step 2: Correct Placement
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Use mirror, visuals, touch cues
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“Lips together for /p/”
Step 3: Sound Practice Hierarchy
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Sound alone → /s/
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Syllables → “sa, si”
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Words → “sun, soap”
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Sentences → “Sun is bright”
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Conversation → spontaneous speech
5. Therapy Techniques Used
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Modeling – therapist shows correct sound
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Repetition drills – short and fun
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Minimal pairs – “pat–bat”
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Tactile cues – touch lips or chin
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Visual cues – mouth pictures, mirrors
6. Age Expectations (Approximate)
| Age | Sounds Typically Mastered |
|---|---|
| 2 yrs | p, b, m, n, t, d |
| 3 yrs | k, g, f, y |
| 4 yrs | l, s, sh, ch |
| 5–6 yrs | r, z, th |
Errors within age range are normal.
7. Parent Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
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Model correct speech naturally
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Practice daily (5–10 min)
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Praise effort
Don’t:
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Force repetition
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Correct harshly
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Compare with other children
8. One-Line Summary
Speech sound production is the coordinated use of breath, voice, and mouth movements to produce clear speech, and therapy teaches this step by step from sound to conversation.