What is the R Sound?
The “R” sound can be tricky for children because it changes depending on where it appears in a word. There are two main types of R sounds. Prevocalic R happens when the R comes before a vowel, like in “red,” “rabbit,” or “run.” Post-vocalic R (often called vocalic R) happens when the R comes after a vowel, like in “car,” “bird,” or “door.” Some children can say one type but have difficulty with the other. For example, a child might say “red” easily but struggle with “car.” Learning and mastering vocalic R often takes extra time and practice.
When Do Children Usually Learn R?
About half of children can say the R sound by age 3. By age 5, nearly all children—about 9 out of 10—say it correctly. Parents often ask, “when is vocalic R mastered?” and “when should vocalic R be mastered?” While every child is different, many children gain reliable R productions between ages 5 and 7, with vocalic R sometimes taking a bit longer. If your child isn’t saying the R sound by age 5, it’s helpful to speak with a speech therapist.
Common Errors with the R Sound
Some children replace the R sound with a “w” sound. This is called gliding and happens when the “r” sound changes to “w.” For example, a child might say “wed” instead of “red” or “wabbit” instead of “rabbit.” Gliding usually goes away by age 6 or 7. Other children might replace the R sound with a vowel sound, like saying “fuh” instead of “four.” This is called vowelization and usually goes away by age 6. These patterns can be more noticeable when a child is mastering vocalic R.
Why Early Help is Important
Most children learn the R sound by about 5½. If your child can make the R sound sometimes with help, starting speech therapy between ages 4 and 5 can be helpful. It is best to begin therapy by about 7½, because speech errors tend to become harder to change as children get older. Early support can speed progress toward mastering vocalic R.
How You Can Help Your Child at Home
You can help your child practice the R sound during everyday activities like mealtime, bath time, or bedtime. Using words with the R sound often gives your child plenty of practice. Try a memory match with picture cards that have R words or play “I Spy” by finding things with R sounds around the house or in the car. For example, say “I spy something red” and have your child say “red” five times. You can also play active games like tossing bean bags onto pictures or buckets with R words. These simple activities support progress, especially for vocalic R words like “car,” “bird,” and “ear.”
When to Talk to a Speech Therapist
It is a good idea to get help if your child is over 5 years old and still cannot say the R sound in most words. If your child still says “wed” instead of “red” after age 7, or “fuh” instead of “four” after age 6, this means the sounds are not changing as expected. Also, if your child avoids words with the R sound, becomes frustrated when trying to speak, or if speech difficulties are affecting their reading, spelling, or confidence, talking with a speech therapist can provide valuable support. A therapist can answer common questions like “when is vocalic R mastered?” and “when should vocalic R be mastered?” and create a plan for mastering vocalic R. Early help can make a big difference in improving speech and boosting your child’s communication skills and self-esteem.
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References
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.). Speech sound disorders. Retrieved from https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/speech-sound-disorders/
Crowe, K., & McLeod, S. (2020). Children’s English consonant acquisition in the United States: A review. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 29(4), 2155–2169. https://doi.org/10.1044/2020_AJSLP-19-00168
Shriberg, L. D., Gruber, F. A., & Kwiatkowski, J. (1994). Developmental phonological disorders III: Long-term speech-sound normalization. Journal of Speech and Hearing Research, 37(5), 1151–1177. https://doi.org/10.1044/jshr.3705.1151