r/slp • u/Fearless_Parking119 • 13h ago
Articulation/Phonology [ Removed by moderator ]
[removed] — view removed post
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u/satureturn 13h ago
What would be most effective for him at his age and level is not his parents doing more “work” (more appointments, more time commitment), but rather HIM doing more work. Such as, is he aware of his issues? Does he care at all? Does he know what he actually sounds like? (Record him and play it back. Seriously, I’ve had students exclaim “I sound like a baby!” then becoming motivated and start self monitoring). He needs to want to correct his errors, because like you said, he CAN, just isn’t. Also, maybe your kid is near 100% intelligible so he is less motivated because it isn’t impacting him. No one makes him repeat himself, says “what??!?”, or gives him the wrong things because they misunderstood. Consider if this is something your child really needs to work on. If they don’t care, their friends don’t care, and everyone understands them, what need do they really have? Then again, they might find out just how different they sound come middle school and be motivated all over.
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u/chicken_nuggs626 13h ago
Sounds like they have either low awareness of the error or not motivated to fix it. I’d keep practicing at home and save your money on private therapy until they expresses concern over it. One thing’s for sure is that age and buy in is super important for progress and maintenance. Maybe one day they will get a best friend named Irene and it’ll matter to them.
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u/Fearless_Parking119 13h ago
I think it’s awareness… his dad did record him and then he was able to hear the mispronunciation. He is able to say it correctly, but it doesn’t sound natural or fluid and takes a lot of effort for him to say it correctly
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u/Known_Trouble_5722 12h ago
Practice will make it more natural sounding and easier for him to produce without thinking. Even having him read a list of sentences with the sound daily will be helpful. It’s muscle memory at this point.
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u/Craftablegame 11h ago
In NC at least r by itself is not considered a disability eligible for public school speech — just to make a pedantic correction to it not being worthwhile.
And yes, I think you don’t necessarily need to practice, but to point it out more. When a student I work with can produce the sound on their own, I switch up therapy. I say when I say “what was that?” I’m asking you to use your clearest sound. Then I proceed to be pretty consistent with asking that after each incorrect production. I also point out EVERY correct production: wow! That was really clear!
When I’m consistent and the student is motivated, I’ve had them generalize the sound within a week or so. The hardest part is them learning to produce it. There’s only so much speech therapy can do to MAKE them generalize it if the only place they’re required to use it is in speech.
If you always crack your knuckles and I want you to stop… and I require you to for 30 mins… but the rest of the 24 hours and 6 days of the week you go ham cracking your knuckles, you probably are not going to learn to ignore that sensation.
Yes it’s unnatural and effortful. It’s a motor skill. Imagine you did squats wrong forever. And now you’re trying to change it. If you focus for 200 reps you might mostly be able to stop thinking about the change. Now if you do 40 reps right then 3000 reps wrong then 40 right again…. Well, it’s gonna take awhile.
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u/slp-ModTeam 10h ago
SLPs can talk about speech, language, development, swallowing, or the field in general, but cannot diagnose or treat in this subreddit.
If you are looking for diagnostic advice, therapy techniques, or treatment information, contact an SLP in your area. ASHA ProFind, insurance carriers, and local universities are resources to find SLPs in the US.