Expert: Christine D. DeLoatch, MA CCC-SLP - 8/7/2008

Question
After 2.5 years of speech therapy, my son mastered all sounds. He is now almost 5.  However, for the past 8 months, he has regressed in his "th" "sh" and has been double marking words in the past tense - "walkeded"
I have modeled and corrected, and we worked SO HARD to master those sounds, and now they are gone.  Also, he cant pronounce Iron now - "Unron" and yesterday has become "yesterdayth"
Can you help point me in the right direction?


Answer
Dear Heather,

Thanks for asking me your question.  

It sounds like one problem could be hypercorrection.  Sometimes when a child learns a new sound, he uses that sound in places where he shouldn't - essentially over-using the sound. It often fixes itself with practice and gentle reminders.  

What sound is he using instead of the 'th' or 'sh' sound?  Is he using an 's' sound for 'sh' or 'f' for 'th'?  It sounds like he may have gotten busy and not mastered 'self-monitoring.'  He may need a little tune-up, but I wouldn't make it too soon.  Developmentally, we don't 'require' mastery of sounds like 'sh' and 'th' until 6-7 years of age.  He may not be ready to monitor his own speech, to move his mouth correctly when he is just busy being a boy.  

If he really is hard to understand - Like you have to have him repeat what he said 3 & 4 times, then I think you should see about more therapy now.  If he is not frustrated, and you can understand about 90% of what he says - even with the errors, then I think there is no need to be overly concerned.  

I hope that helps.  Feel free to go www.asha.org and look at public information about speech sounds and child development.  

Many blessing to you for being such as concerned Mom.

Christine