“My son is unable to pronounce certain words properly. How can we help him?”
My son is 5 years old and is unable to pronounce certain words properly like ones that begin with S and V. How can we help him?
7 Answers
I would see a speech language pathologist to get an articulation assessment. /s/ and /v/ can be later developing sounds, but early intervention is key if he is having errors that are not age appropriate.
Terlenda Lassiter
Speech-Language Pathologist
This is the perfect age for him to work on his /s/ and /v/. He is still in the age where those sounds are in development. If he is still having trouble with those sounds after age 6 yrs 3 months and beyond, then he would benefit from a speech language pathology evaluation.
Activities: For the /s/ sound, playing games can help practicing the sound feel natural instead of like a drill. Smile really big and have him touch his teeth and make hissing sounds, pretend a teapot is ready or the airbags or being released in the toy car, or a toy snake is slithering across the floor. Have him practice breathing hard and "sighing" through this exaggerated smile to simulate the "s" sound. Try to have him connect that to words like "sun" or "soap". Some kids actually have an easier time saying the sounds at the ends of words like "oats". For the /v/ sound, he can start practicing to wipe peanut butter or something fun off of his bottom lip and when he "bites his lip" practices to make the "f" sound "stronger" or "harder" to practice "vee" for fun. Just a couple of ideas to get you started. Allow his 6th birthday to come first before you really really worry though.
Activities: For the /s/ sound, playing games can help practicing the sound feel natural instead of like a drill. Smile really big and have him touch his teeth and make hissing sounds, pretend a teapot is ready or the airbags or being released in the toy car, or a toy snake is slithering across the floor. Have him practice breathing hard and "sighing" through this exaggerated smile to simulate the "s" sound. Try to have him connect that to words like "sun" or "soap". Some kids actually have an easier time saying the sounds at the ends of words like "oats". For the /v/ sound, he can start practicing to wipe peanut butter or something fun off of his bottom lip and when he "bites his lip" practices to make the "f" sound "stronger" or "harder" to practice "vee" for fun. Just a couple of ideas to get you started. Allow his 6th birthday to come first before you really really worry though.
Depending on the severity of his speech errors and overall intelligibility, your son could be eligible to receive speech services at his school or at an outpatient center. The /s/ and /v/ sounds are typically correctly produced by ages 5 and 6.
It would be a good idea to start with a speech therapist for evaluation first.
See an orthodontist and a speech therapist. You need both.
A certified SPEECH THERAPIST -- pediatric if possible -- is the BEST you can do for your son if you think the problem is not just some temporary problem that will resolve as he gets older.
Make sure there is no problems with his tongue. Go over the sounds and go over words that contain the sounds. Stop him when he mispronounces and say it properly. Reward him when he says it properly
