Speech Sound Errors: Epenthesis
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 Epenthesis
Epenthesis is a speech sound pattern where a child adds an extra sound, usually a vowel, into a word. For example, instead of saying "blue," they might say "buh-loo" or instead of "sleep," they might say "suh-leap." This makes the word sound longer than it should be.
Age of Elimination
Children may use epenthesis to make words easier to say. It often happens when two consonants are next to each other, like in "blue" or "slide." It's common in young children and usually goes away on its own by around age 8.
*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 Epenthesis
Model the correct word: Say the word clearly and slowly—“blue, not buh-loo.”
Use listening games: Say two versions of the word (e.g., “blue” and “buh-loo”) and ask which one sounds right.
Practice with simple word lists: Use pictures or flashcards of words like "blue," "slide," "snow," or "play." Practice saying them clearly together.
Try tapping out sounds: Tap once for each sound in the word to show there’s no extra sound.
Break it down: If the word is hard, start with the second sound (like “loo” in “blue”), then add the first sound (“b”), and blend them together.
Helping your child with epenthesis 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
Suggested Resources
FREEBIE Stone Age Struggle: /b/ Sound
Practice your child’s /b/ sounds with dangerous dinos in a fun interactive game.
FREEBIE Shopping Trip: /b/ Sound
Practice your child’s /b/ sounds by competing to see who can fill their shopping basket first.
FREEBIE Monster Madness: /b/ Sound
Practice your child’s /b/ sounds with mad monsters in a fun interactive game.