Speech Sound Development: What’s Typical and When to Be Concerned

Jaclyn Shasha
2 days ago
2 min read

As children grow, their speech sounds develop in a predictable pattern. While every child develops at their own pace, there are expected age ranges for when certain speech sounds are typically mastered. When these sounds are not present by the end of the expected age range, it may indicate a speech delay.

Understanding typical speech sound development can help parents know when to monitor progress and when to seek support.

Speech Sound Development by Age

The Speech Sound Development Chart was updated in October 2020 based on research by Crowe & McLeod, Children’s English Consonant Acquisition in the United States, published in the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology.

Typical Sound Acquisition

By Age 2

H, P, N, D, B, W, M

By Age 3

T, F, Y, NG, K, G

By Age 4

CH, L, S, V, Z, DZ, SH

By Age 5

TH (voiced, “this”), ZH (as in “measure”), R

By Age 6

TH (unvoiced, “thumb”)

If your child has not developed these sounds by the end of each age range, a speech-language evaluation may be recommended.

How Understandable Should My Child’s Speech Be?

Another important part of speech development is intelligibility — how well your child is understood by someone who does not know them well.

When speaking in short sentences to an unfamiliar listener, children are typically understood at the following levels:

3 years old: ~68% understood
3½ years old: ~78% understood
4 years old: ~86% understood
4½ years old: ~91% understood
5 years old: ~94% understood
6 years old: ~97% understood

If your child is significantly less intelligible than expected for their age, this may be a sign of a speech sound disorder.

When Should Parents Be Concerned?

You may want to seek a speech evaluation if your child:

Is missing multiple expected sounds for their age
Is frequently misunderstood by unfamiliar listeners
Becomes frustrated when trying to communicate
Avoids speaking or speaking situations
Shows little improvement over time

Early intervention is key — addressing speech sound delays sooner can lead to faster progress and improved confidence.

Schedule a Speech Evaluation

📞 Contact Virtual Speech Solutions today to schedule an evaluation and get answers about your child’s speech development.

Speech therapy that meets you where you are — online or in person!