R Speech Therapy – What Effective Online Therapy Looks Like for Kids
R speech therapy helps children effectively improve the way they make the r sound. Many parents have questions about this sound, as it can be one of the hardest sounds for children to make. In this post we share the answers to many of these questions.
We talk about how you can help your child make better speech sounds at home and what supports SLPs use in speech therapy. We also explain how many sessions children usually need to make progress.
R Speech Therapy – Getting Started
Thinking about r speech therapy means looking at how children make the sound. It also means looking at the supports speech therapists use and the number of sessions kids need to make progress.
It’s also important to know why the r sound is challenging for kids and whether language may be a concern as well. Sometimes children struggle in language or social skills as well, changing what therapy looks like.
Children improve in making this sound with consistent effort and the right support. If a child is late in making the r sound, it is critical that they get r speech therapy. Like other speech sounds, the r sound gets more and more difficult to correct as a child gets older. However, the best time to get speech therapy is always right now. It is always better to get your child’s speech evaluated, rather than ‘waiting to see.’
How Is the R Sound Made?
What Are Common Errors When Making the Sound?
Many errors may occur when a child tries to make the r sound. We share three common errors and explain each of them. If your child struggles to make the /r/, they might make one or more of these errors when speaking. They may make these errors in different places in words as well.
1. Rounding r
The first error involves the rounding of the lips. When the sound is made, children sometimes round their lips in an /o/ shape. When the lips get rounded, robot sounds like wobot and rabbit sounds like wabbit. This common error occurs frequently, especially before children establish the sound at the expected age.
2. Lowering the Tongue
The second common error involves dropping the tongue. When a child lowers their tongue when trying to make the r sound, it sounds like a vowel. For example, instead of ear, the word might sound like ea-uh. When trying to make the word air, the child might say “Ai-uh.”
3. Deleting the Sound
For the third common error, a child may delete a sound. This often happens at the end of words but may happen anywhere in a word. For example, when trying to make the word car, a child may say “ca.” A child might also say “Ai” when trying to say “Air.”
Other Errors
Learning about Support
The most important part of speech therapy for your child includes the type and level of support. Your child may get visual, verbal or tactile support. These supports, known as either prompts or cues, let your child know how to make the sound and whether or not they made it correctly.
Prompts mean a direct type of support. A prompt, usually immediate, may involve a model or other support that tells them how to make the sound
Cues mean a less direct way of giving support. Cues involve giving the child important information, such as how to make the sound and what they do when they try to make it.
Your child’s speech therapist determines the type and amount of support they receive. However, every speech specialist wants to get children more independent. As a child makes progress in making their sounds, their SLP gradually removes supports.
Visual Support for R Speech Therapy
Visuals in speech therapy include powerful tools to help your child make the r sound better. These visuals may mean cues or prompts, where the therapist points to their own face when making a sound. They also may mean any way that the therapist visually shows the child how to make the sound.
Sometimes SLPs use rubber mouths to show tongue position. They may also show how to make the sound using their hand or other visual. They might show illustrations of the mouth to help give kids a better idea of how to make the sound.
Visuals vary greatly and the success of each depends on how your child makes the sound and their individual needs. Visual supports for R speech therapy may be different for every child.
Verbal Support for R Speech Therapy
Verbal support in speech therapy includes anything your child’s SLP may say to help them make the sound. This support may mean giving a direct model or describing how to make the sound.
Verbal support may also mean anything the speech language pathologist says about how your child makes the sound. Feedback is a powerful way in which kids learn to make the r sound given help from an SLP.
What a speech therapist may say to your child as a verbal support may vary greatly. This kind of support depends on how your child makes the sound and their individual needs.
How Do Speech Therapists Use These Supports?
Speech therapists know how to use these supports to help children make their sounds better. Licensed speech-language pathologists provide these support effectively. These specialists know exactly how and when to provide support to improve your child’s speech.
Should Parents Try Practicing Speech at Home?
We share expert tips on how to help your child make better speech sounds at home. However, we strongly suggest you speak with your child’s speech therapist before practicing any individual sounds.
Practicing speech sounds incorrect or providing poor feedback can negatively affect your child’s speech. Speech sounds should only be practiced at home if recommended by a licensed SLP providing guidance.
R Speech Therapy – How Many Sessions?
Many parents wonder how many sessions their child may need to make better speech sounds. This number may vary depending on your child’s needs. However, research suggests that children need a minimum of two sessions per week for effective improvement.
Best practice suggests that children typically either get high intensity treatment with fewer sessions or less intense therapy with more sessions. Research continues to suggest that children need a minimum of two sessions a week to make progress. This may be especially true if your child has additional speech or language needs.
Because frequency may vary, speak with your child’s SLP to learn what amount of therapy will be most effective. Also know that if they have needs in other areas, such as in social skills or language, they may need additional therapy sessions.
How Can I Help My Child’s Speech at Home?
Practicing speech at home depends on the recommendations from your child’s therapist. Home programs can be a powerful way to help their speech skills get better. However, home programs and at-home speech practice must be guided by a licensed speech therapist.
By providing your child with strong speech models, you help support their skills. For example, by speaking clearly and concisely, you give them models that provide strong feedback on how to make the sound.
Speaking more slowly and fully articulating each sound also helps give children strong models. These speech models help support a child’s development by letting them hear how to make the sound correctly.
R Speech Therapy Online
If your child needs r speech therapy, you may wonder whether online speech therapy is the right option for you. Research shows that online speech therapy is as effective as in-person therapy. Online speech therapy also gives your child a safe and comfortable space to improve their r sound. This option provides you with a way to get your child the support they need while meeting your busy schedule.
If your child’s therapist can see and hear them, they can provide effective speech therapy. Also, your online practice may provide you with the tools you need to help your child be successful at home.
At What Age Should My Child Make the R Sound?
Some of the newest research indicates that children get the r sound between the ages of 2:11 and 5:6 (2 years and 11 months; and 5 years and 6 months). Children typically make the sound between those ages. If your child struggles to make this sound at 5 years and 6 months or older, they may need r speech therapy.
If younger than 5 years and 6 moths, your child still benefits from clear speech models at home. Make sure your own r sound comes out clear and concise. This helps your child understand what it sounds like for when they make it too. Listen carefully to your child’s speech and get them evaluated if you feel concerned.
Is It Too Late to Get R Speech Therapy?
It is never too late to start speech therapy.
Parents sometimes ask whether they called ‘Too late.’ While speech may get harder to change as kids get older, right now is the best time for r speech therapy. Kids continue to make progress and fix their speech with support. Older children may also demonstrate more self-awareness, which helps them understand what their speech-language pathologist tells them. This leads to better speech.
You may wonder about whether you should ‘Wait and see.’ However, it is always better to speak with a licensed SLP if you have concerns about your child’s speech. As children get older, they struggle more to make speech sounds they don’t already have. Critically, they need speech therapy when it matters the most. Children make the most progress in early years, but continue to make progress as they get older.
If your child struggles to make the r sound, get them started with speech therapy so they fix their speech before they get older.
Should I Be Concerned about Language?
Children who may struggle with making the r sound may also need help in other areas. Speech difficulties commonly occur with language challenges as well. While you may only look for help with the r sound, all areas of communication need attention.
Some parents may feel worried that their child may also struggle with language. However, children need support in all areas of need. Some skills get seen only through special language tests.
By getting your child the help they need in all areas, you help them succeed in school and in everyday life activities. Ignoring other areas may cause problems later in life when they need those skills for high school, college and beyond. By getting a complete evaluation, you get your child support in every area of need.
Get Started with Effective Online Speech Therapy
Luckily, getting started with speech therapy is easy. First, reach out to a licensed SLP who has experience helping children with similar needs. Then explain your concerns and get scheduled for an evaluation.
Once your child begins speech therapy, check-in with their therapist often to learn about their progress. Also, ask your child’s speech-language therapist important questions about how to help your child at home.
If your child struggles to make the r sound, or experiences other challenges in communicating, contact a licensed speech-language pathologist today.
