{"id":3785,"date":"2013-05-02T20:39:06","date_gmt":"2013-05-02T20:39:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.speechbuddy.com\/blog\/?p=3785"},"modified":"2023-11-08T10:23:57","modified_gmt":"2023-11-08T18:23:57","slug":"treating-cluster-reduction-for-s-in-speech-therapy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.speechbuddy.com\/blog\/speech-therapy-techniques\/treating-cluster-reduction-for-s-in-speech-therapy\/","title":{"rendered":"Treating Cluster Reduction for S in Speech Therapy"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"s<\/a>

Source: http:\/\/firstgradefuntastic.blogspot.com<\/p><\/div>\n

Speech therapists must target a variety of phonology and articulation issues in therapy<\/a>.\u00a0 Today we\u2019ll talk about treating cluster reductions for the \/s\/ sound. The \/s\/ sound is found in a variety of combinations with other letters, called \u201cblends.\u201d\u00a0 Some \/s\/ words with a blend can include \u201cspider\u201d (the consonants blended together are s and p), \u201cskate\u201d (s and k) or \u201cspoon\u201d (s and p). When someone reduces the number of sounds in a blend, it is called cluster reduction. A child might have difficulty if you hear them saying \u201cpoon\u201d for \u201cspoon,\u201d \u201csate\u201d for \u201cskate\u201d or \u201cpider\u201d for \u201cspider.\u201d They might not be as tricky as teaching the \/r\/ sound,<\/a> but clusters have their own treatment techniques in speech therapy.<\/p>\n

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At What Age Should I Be Concerned?<\/h2>\n

Cluster reduction is sometimes sweet and endearing in a small child. What child doesn\u2019t sound adorable talking about a \u201cpider?\u201d That is because this process is a common one and is normal for children under the age of three and a half. After that, if a child is still producing \u201cpider\u201d for \u201cspider,\u201d a speech and language evaluation<\/a> might be warranted. \u00a0\u201cPhonological processes<\/a>,\u201d like this one, are quite common in young children. They are persistent errors that most children will usually correct with age.<\/p>\n

How are These Errors Assessed?<\/h3>\n

Cluster reduction is observed generally using a formal measure such as the Goldman Fristoe by a speech language pathologist who will look for patterns in the child\u2019s speech and systematically document them.<\/p>\n

Tackling \/s\/ Blends in Treatment<\/h2>\n

Some targets include:<\/p>\n