Helping Your Child Master The R Sound

by Gordy Rogers, M.S. CCC-SLP Speech Therapy for Kids

Is that tricky American English R getting you down?

Maybe you’ve been waiting and hoping your school-aged child would eventually stop turning R into W on her own. Maybe your son is finishing his third year of school-based speech services, has made good overall progress, but still cannot quite get that R sound to click.

Whatever your story, you are not alone. Difficulty with the American English R is extremely common. In fact, the R sound we use in American English is a relatively rare version of R compared with many other languages.

I like to think that has something to do with how complex the sound is from a phonetic standpoint. That may not be the actual reason, but after nearly twenty years of helping children work through this exact sound, I can say this with confidence: if your child is struggling with R, it makes sense.

The good news is that there are practical steps you can take to help.

Why the R Sound Is So Difficult

Let’s start with a quick crash course in phonetics.

R is difficult because it is one of the main consonant sounds in English that requires very precise, coordinated movement. In other words, your child has to do several things at the same time for the sound to come out correctly.

For a clear American English R, three things need to happen:

The lips need to round. This is one reason an incorrect R can sound so much like W.
The tongue needs to create a hump in the mouth, either by rolling slightly backward or retracting.
The root of the tongue needs to pull back, similar to what happens when you gargle.

All of that has to come together at once. So if your child is still finding R difficult, that is completely understandable.

Now let’s talk about what you can do to help.

Start With the Tongue, Not the Lips

I’m going to move quickly past the first piece: lip rounding.

In my experience helping kids with R, lip rounding is almost never the core problem. It may be part of the sound, but it is rarely the main reason a child cannot produce R correctly.

The real issue is usually the second piece: creating that hump with the tongue.

This is often the missing link. A child may understand what the sound should be. They may have heard instructions from a therapist, seen drawings, and practiced again and again. But they still may not know exactly where the tongue should go or what it should feel like.

That is one of the reasons we developed Speech Buddies Tools. The goal was to provide a direct cue that helps children feel and understand what the tongue needs to do, rather than relying only on verbal instructions.

For many kids, that tactile cue creates an “Aha!” moment. All of those explanations and diagrams get distilled into one clear action.

With the Speech Buddies R Tool, the tongue tip moves to the small bumps that show the starting position of the tongue. Then the child simply unrolls the coil.

That’s it.

Of course, it can take time for a child to get comfortable with the setup, and consistent practice still matters. But for thousands of children, this kind of direct cue has provided the missing piece in their R practice.

If R Still Is Not Clicking, Check the Tongue Root

If your child is using the Speech Buddies R Tool correctly and still is not quite getting the sound, the issue may be the third piece: tongue root retraction.

A practical way to teach this is to have your child practice R while gargling a small amount of water.

Gargling is an exaggeration of what is needed for R, but that is part of why it can be helpful. It gives your child a clear sense of the tongue-root movement involved in the sound.

Once these pieces begin to work together, your child can start getting those first accurate R sounds under his or her belt.

Practice Matters, Especially Early On

As I mentioned earlier, diligent practice is essential.

Early in the process, use the Speech Buddies R Tool for most practice repetitions. Then, as your child’s accuracy improves, gradually fade the tool and see whether your child can produce the sound independently.

Be sure to practice a variety of R sounds, including R at the beginning, middle, and end of words, as well as R in clusters such as br-, cr-, gr-, and str-.

You can also use your preferred AI tool to help generate practice word lists. For example, you might use a prompt like this:

Give me a twenty-word list of one- and two-syllable words containing R. I want R in each word only once, and the list should mix up where R occurs in the word, including the beginning, middle, and end of words, as well as clusters.

Practice the list once a day for several weeks. It can also help to choose a small reward your child can look forward to after putting in the work.

Once your child becomes more accurate with single words, move those words into short five- to eight-word sentences. The sentences do not need to be fancy. Just think of a simple sentence that includes the target word and gives your child another chance to practice R in a more natural context.

Keep Going

R can be stubborn, but it is not impossible.

With the right cues, consistent practice, and a little patience, your child can make real progress. Keep at it, celebrate the small wins, and let us know how it goes.

At Speech Buddies, we’re dedicated to helping kids make meaningful progress toward their speech goals. If you have questions about how our tools can best be used in speech therapy, or need help finding an SLP, contact us today.

How to Maximize your Child’s School-Based Speech Therapy

by Gordy Rogers, M.S. CCC-SLP Hearing and Speech Speech delay Speech Therapist Speech Therapy for Kids

As the fall and back-to-school season progress, your child’s school-based speech therapy services are likely in full swing. At Speech Buddies, we believe parents should play an active and consistent role in their child’s therapy journey. Whether you’re new to therapy or have experience, this blog post offers a roadmap to help parents stay engaged, informed, and empowered throughout the process.

It All Starts with the Evaluation

For those new to therapy, the process starts with an evaluation to assess your child’s current skills and how they compare to age-matched peers. After receiving the evaluation report, schedule a call with the clinician to ensure you understand and agree with the findings. The report should provide a clear picture of your child’s strengths and areas for growth.

Ask the clinician to clarify the top priority goals and how they will be addressed, including whether they will focus on one or two goals at a time or multiple. Also, ask which goals are suitable for you to work on at home.

Materials!

Once your child’s therapy goals are clear and they’ve built a good relationship with their therapist, ask for simple, affordable materials to use at home, such as games, toys, or exercises. Choose fun items that make speech therapy enjoyable—these are likely the same activities their therapist uses to keep them engaged. Using familiar materials at home will help reinforce therapy goals. Let your child help pick the materials so they feel involved in the process. If cost is a concern, look into non-profits like Small Steps in Speech, which offer small grants to support therapy services or materials.

Progress Reports

School districts usually provide progress notes every six months or more often. Be sure to review these reports carefully, just like any other school report. If something doesn’t match what you’re seeing at home, or if you think there’s room for improvement, reach out to your child’s therapist and schedule a quick meeting. With over 20 years of experience, I can assure you that these conversations are important for your child’s progress and won’t be seen as overly demanding.

Achieving Goals and Sustaining Progress

Happily, your child will make significant progress and move on to more challenging and meaningful goals. As a parent or family member, you are a key player in solidifying those gains and making them habitual in your child’s speech and language. Think of your therapist as the leader, and you as the one who supports and strengthens the skills they have taught. While this is a vast topic covered in our Speech Buddies blog series, the underlying recommendation is to be consistent in follow-up exercises. Even a small daily commitment, like five minutes almost every day, can significantly help maintain the skills learned during therapy. Find a part of your family routine—like your commute, dinner time, or a homework reward—and designate it as your “speech practice time.” The key is to make it both convenient and consistent.

Congratulations on starting your child’s school-based speech therapy! These services are key to your child’s development and play an important role in their future. While the impact of therapy can vary, following the tips above will help you get the most out of it and have a positive effect on your child’s growth.

Gordy Rogers, M.S. CCC-SLP, & Speech Buddies Co-Founder

A Brief Guide to ENT Issues that could affect your child’s speech

by Gordy Rogers, M.S. CCC-SLP Language Development Parents' Corner Speech Disorders Speech Therapy for Kids

If a child shows concerning speech patterns, there is usually no clear cause. The vast majority of speech challenges related to development are what’s called idiopathic–they just happen. Sometimes, specific diagnoses can directly and casually affect speech challenges. Medical intervention can address these challenges, followed by intervention by a licensed speech-language pathologist.

Below, I summarize some of the most common issues related to otolaryngology (ear-nose-throat) that can present. Some may be present at birth and may be apparent or reveal themselves later in development; most issues appear in late toddlerhood or pre-school years. The goal of this post is to inform and empower parents and caregivers in a child’s development. However, it’s important to note that good care starts with qualified healthcare professionals.

Enlarged adenoids and tonsils

The adenoids, also known as pharyngeal tonsils, are bundles of lymphatic tissue that sit in the space between the oral and nasal cavities (the nasopharynx). When, after an infection like the common cold or an ear infection, the adenoids become inflamed (usually with pus–gross; I know), they can block proper nasal breathing. This issue can affect multiple vital systems in a developing child, but we’ll stick with speech here.

Often occurring in the later toddler years or during pre-school, enlarged adenoids can have varying effects on a child’s speech. Sometimes, there is no impact, while in others, it can be profound and require immediate attention. Speech affects include hyponasal speech, where children sound stuffed up. This can lead to a habitual open-mouth breathing posture, which can lead to changes in how a child articulates speech sounds.

The adenoids are the most likely to affect a child’s speech development when inflamed, but the palatine and lingual tonsils are also important to consider. When you open your mouth wide, you can see the palatine tonsils on the back sides. The lingual tonsils, not visible, are at the base of your tongue (see picture). These two tonsils affect speech production only when inflamed.

Should you suspect that your child’s adenoids and/or tonsils are affecting speech development, the first course of action would be to consult with your pediatrician or pediatrician otolaryngologist. A course of antibiotics and/or oral steroids can solve the problem. In rarer cases, surgery is required. Urgency is crucial, as delays can worsen speech problems. Please also see a previous blog post on this subject. (Tonsils & Adenoids)

Source url: https://teachmeanatomy.info/neck/misc/tonsils-and-adenoids/

Ankyloglossia (tongue tie)

I’ll be brief and direct you to this blog post (Is My Child Tongue-Tied?) as this subject is important and a current topic of discussion. There has been an uptick in the number of tongue tie surgeries being performed. The procedure is often quick, straightforward and painless when performed by a qualified provider such as an otolaryngologist or specialized pediatric dentist.

Parents should understand that the severity of tongue tie can affect speech and other oral behaviors like feeding and swallowing. I have seen unsubstantiated (and wild) claims from certain providers stating that tongue tie surgery can improve symptoms of autism and stuttering. Healthcare consumers must tread cautiously and remain vigilant against such claims, ensuring they comprehend the motives of those advocating for this procedure. Throughout my nearly twenty-year clinical practice, I have observed the changing opinions of clipping the lingual frenulum, with periods of powerful encouragement followed by periods of strong discouragement. Having a perspective that attitudes can swing based on recent evidence is crucial.

That said, tongue tie can have a negative impact on a range of critical behaviors, like suckling/breastfeeding, oral feeding, swallowing and speech. Any situation that limits a child’s tongue range of motion can affect functioning. As with adenoids and tonsils issues, the first line of defense, so to speak, is to consult with your pediatrician and ask him/her for a specialist referral.

Lip tie (sometimes referred to as bugloss)

As the name implies, lip tie occurs when the labial frenulum limits the range of motion of the lips. This condition less commonly affects speech development and production. When it does, the lip tie is usually quite severe. However, certain speech sounds require precise lip movements and lip tie. Again, as with tongue tie, should you suspect this is occurring in your child, your first course of action would be to contact your pediatrician.

Velopharyngeal insufficiency

Separating the mouth and nose is necessary for numerous reasons, too many to detail here. Compromising this separation can affect speech (and other functions). The hard palate, a piece of the maxilla (upper jaw) bone that fuses while a child is in utero, separates the mouth (oral cavity) and nose (nasal cavity). Sometimes, the incomplete fusion results in a cleft palate. Pediatricians almost always diagnose this condition at birth. They have a comprehensive, stepwise plan to treat and facilitate your child’s proper development of structures and functions.

Sometimes, however, an anatomical issue may be less apparent (i.e., a submucosal cleft). In these cases, a child’s voice might sound unusual, often hypernasal where air is escaping out of the nose when it shouldn’t. This issue requires a full clinical workup and diagnosis from a specialized physician. The course of treatment and speech therapy may vary for a congenital palate issue.

Finally, a situation can arise where velopharyngeal insufficiency occurs because the soft palate cannot function or may have malformations or injuries. The soft palate is a flap of muscle tissue between the nasal and oral cavities that raises and lowers to open or close off the nasal cavity. Just as with hard palate issues, soft palate challenges can make a child’s speech hyponasal. If the challenge is anatomical, the pediatric otolaryngologist will again possess the best resources to chart a course of treatment.

With these conditions, time is of the essence! Children have what we call critical periods for specific skills, like speech. Their brains are most receptive to learning these skills during specific age ranges. For speech, this occurs from birth to around 8-9 years old. Although it’s possible for a child to develop crucial speech skills after age 8-9, progress might be slower and therapy programs more complex and challenging. No matter your concern, the first step is to get information from a local licensed medical or speech and language professional. At Speech Buddies, we would be honored to assist you!

Gordy Rogers, M.S. CCC-SLP, & Speech Buddies Co-Founder

Keeping the Momentum In Your Child’s Speech Plan During The Summer

by Gordy Rogers, M.S. CCC-SLP Parents' Corner Speech Therapy for Kids Speech Therapy Ideas

Ahhh summer. The time of year when your child’s speech plan is interrupted because of camp and family vacations. As much as our kids deserve a break from their academic routine, pausing can affect your child’s momentum toward his/her speech goals.

Speech Buddies® can maintain and progress speech skills over the summer, regardless of the learning phase or service provider.

Phases of speech development:

1. The Establishment Phase – With the help of his/her therapist the child is learning to unlearn previous patterns of speech production. If your child is in this phase, it’s crucial to include frequent practice sessions with the Speech Buddies tools. By feeling the correct placement of the tongue in a variety of speech contexts, summer practice with Speech Buddies can be directed, effective and very efficient. Just five to ten minutes per day is beneficial.

2. The Generalization Phase – In this phase, the sound has already been established, but your child still requires these new speech skills to become a habit in everyday speech.

Our tools help orient your child’s entire sound system to the proper placement and movement of the challenge sound (s). We offer carefully developed supplementary materials to support your home-based programming. Find our free lesson plans here.

Applying a framework like Speech Buddies can provide structure and direction to your home-based work with your child; just getting going and sticking with a program is half the battle.

Kids deserve their summers to explore, to experiment, and unwind. Yet, with Speech Buddies, summers can also be a time of growth through practice without it feeling like work.

Visit our website or contact us to help with your family’s summer speech program!

Making the Most of Your School-Based Speech Services

by Gordy Rogers, M.S. CCC-SLP Parents' Corner School Speech and Hearing Disorders Speech Therapy Techniques

Congratulations! You’ve made it off a waiting list for school-based speech therapy services for your child. Through no fault of their own, many school districts provide speech therapy in groups of three to five children – in some states, the legal maximum can be six.

You’re grateful for the chance to have the support for your child’s speech challenges, but may feel that it could be challenging to address your child’s specific speech challenge efficiently in a group of other children who also have their own very specific challenges and goals.

As a speech pathologist who has worked in both schools and in private practice, I emphasize supplementing your school-based services with home-based work to help your child reach their speech goals.

School-based speech pathologists are dedicated and passionate professionals. They’re not only educators but also pillars of the communities they serve.

However, they’re often faced with huge caseloads that prevent them from going that “extra mile” for your child. That’s why it is critical for parents to be empowered to support their own child’s speech journey directly.

Speech Buddies provide a solution to do that in two key ways:

1) They provide a specially designed and clinically proven way to cue your child to place and move his/her tongue exactly as it should for those hard-to-learn speech sounds that develop in late pre-kindergarten and early school years (e.g. R, L, SH, CH and S)

2) They come with actionable support and learning plans that empower you to be the most effective partner in your child’s therapy process.

Each speech sound requires your child to place the tongue specifically within the mouth. For example, with the commonly disarticulated S sound, if they place the tongue too far back or too far forward in their mouth, the S won’t come out right.

Using a hand-held delivery mechanism, the S Speech Buddy provides a clear and consistent target within the mouth for your child to hit each time. In many cases, Speech Buddies provide that “aha!” moment early in the therapy process, where your child just gets it.

This can be enormously motivating for your child and for you, and is the first crucial step toward remediating a speech challenge.

But, because your child has said that speech sound in the old, incorrect way literally hundreds of thousands of times in his or her young life, it’s essential you follow up with diligent practice so this new, correct way of speaking can quickly become habit.

We know that school-based group therapy essentially means that your child gets 5 to 10 minutes of directed attention for his or her specific speech goals. Speech Buddies tools come with a comprehensive lesson plan to help support your child.

Speech pathologists welcome parent involvement, but school-based therapists can’t give 50-70 parents a home lesson plan each week. Our lesson plans provide a clear roadmap for success and help make your child’s speech pathologist’s job easier.

If your child is in a group of three at school and is in two 30-minute speech sessions per week, your child is really getting 20-minutes of directed speech therapy per week. So, even twenty solid minutes of home-based work with your child effectively doubles the practice your child is getting; forty minutes triples this time!

And many studies throughout the field of speech pathology have confirmed that parents can only help their children meet their goals faster.

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