Speech Sound Errors: Affrication
What is a Phonological Process
A phonological process is a pattern young children use to simplify speech as they learn to talk. Since some sounds are harder to say than others, children might change them to make speaking easier. These processes are normal and usually disappear as the child grows older and gains more control over their speech.
What is Affrication
Affrication is when a child changes a simple sound into a harder, more complicated one called an affricate. Affricate sounds are like "ch" (as in chip) and "j" (as in jump).
For example:
They might say "chun" instead of "sun"
Or "jum" instead of "gum"
This can make speech hard to understand.
Age of Elimination
The pattern is more common in younger children, but most kids grow out of it by around 3-4 years old.
*Please note these ages of elimination are intended as a general guide only. Other sources can change age ranges by six months to a year. Phonological processes are a murky area of speech pathology.
Fixing Affrication
Model the correct sound – Say the word clearly for them (e.g., “It’s sun, not chun.”).
Use picture cards or toys – Show two pictures, like “sun” and “chun,” (create a silly image from your imagination) and ask your child to point to the right one.
Play listening games – Say two words (one correct, one with the error) and have them guess which one is right.
Practice correct sounds – Help your child say the simple sounds like “s”, “z”, “g”, or “k” on their own and in words.
Helping your child with affrication can be fun and engaging. With patience and practice, they'll start using the correct sounds in no time!
Please note the above information is general in nature and is not intended as professional medical advice. Please seek an appointment with a registered speech-language pathologist if you are at all worried about your child's development.
References:
Mcleod, S (2009). Speech sound acquisition. In Bernthal, J. E., Bankson, N. W., & Flipsen, P. Articulation and phonological disorders: speech sound disorders in children. Pearson/Allyn & Bacon. Boston, MA.
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. (2024). Phonological Processes Chart Phonological Processes Description Example Whole Word/Syllable Processes Consonant Cluster Simplification (reduction). https://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/sped/pdf/sl-phon-process-chart.pdf
Vollmer, E. (2023). Phonological Processes. Therapy Works. https://therapyworks.com/blog/language-development/phonological-processes/phonological-processes/
Suggested Resources
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FREEBIE Monster Madness: /b/ Sound
Practice your child’s /b/ sounds with mad monsters in a fun interactive game.