When Should My Child Say That Sound?

Understanding the Age of Acquisition of Speech Sounds in English

As a parent or educator, you’ve probably wondered: "Is it normal that my child can’t say the R sound yet?" or "Should they be saying ‘th’ by now?" 

These questions are common—and important! Speech sound development follows a typical pattern, and understanding when sounds usually emerge can help you support a child’s communication skills and know when to seek guidance.

What Is "Age of Acquisition"?

The age of acquisition refers to the age when most children (typically 85-90%) are able to accurately produce a particular speech sound in conversation. While every child is unique, speech-language pathologists use this information as a general guide.

Early, Middle, and Later Sounds

Researchers have grouped English speech sounds into three broad categories based on when they typically develop:

Early Sounds (by age 3–4):

These are the building blocks of early speech.

Sounds: /p, b, m, n, h, w, d, y (as in "yes")/

Middle Sounds (by age 4–5):

These sounds appear as your child’s speech becomes clearer and more varied.

Sounds: /t, k, g, f, v, ŋ (as in “sing”), ʧ (ch), ʤ (j)/

Later Sounds (by age 6–7+):

These are often trickier and take more time to master.

Sounds: /s, z, ʃ (sh), ʒ (as in “measure”), θ (voiceless "th"), ð (voiced "th"), l, r/

What’s Typical?

Here’s a quick guide based on commonly accepted norms:

Sound	Typically Mastered By
/p, b, m, n, h, w, d/	2–3 years
/k, g, t, f, v, y, ŋ/	3–4 years
/l, j, ch, sh/	4–5 years
/s, z, r, th/	6–7 years

Remember: some children develop sounds earlier or later than these benchmarks and still fall within the range of typical development.

When Should I Be Concerned?

You might consider consulting a speech-language pathologist if:

• Your child is very difficult to understand by age 3.

• They are omitting many sounds or substituting with incorrect ones beyond typical ages.

• Speech errors are impacting their confidence, social interactions, or academic performance.

Early intervention can make a big difference, especially if the child becomes frustrated or avoids speaking due to their speech challenges.

Final Thoughts

Knowing the typical age of acquisition for speech sounds is a great first step in understanding your child’s speech development. If you ever have concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to a speech-language pathologist—we’re here to help!