"R" sound

So I'm not very VERY concerned about this, but DH is so he asked me to post. My girls are really verbal and have been forever. I won't brag, but they are my special snowflakes Other people usually think they are older by how they talk, and its been like this since before they turned 2. So other people understand almost everything they say... and they say a lot!

But DH is concerned about how Meara says her R's. Ana really doesn't have an issue except she does call Meara (pronounced Meh-ra), Mewa. But other words with R she gets right most of the time. Meara on the other hand consistently says her Rs like Ws. They both pronounce almost every other letter correctly (except tough ones like the "th" sound), so I don't think this is a huge issue.

Anyone know when they should be able to say Rs correctly? Or things we can do with her to help her make the proper mouth shape for an R? Its really difficult to explain to her how I put my mouth to make that sound. When we emphasize that sound she can do it, but when she talks she reverts back to Ws.

Can you smart ladies help a momma (and worried daddy) out?! Thanks!

 

By age 6. One of mine still can't. I asked the teacher to see about speech therapy, but no news on that front. However, the next-door neighbor girl and a girl one street over, also at least 7, cannot say theirs, either. So I would not worry just yet.

 

If she can make the sound in isolation (repeating it back to you when you make it) then it is less of a concern than if she couldn't make it at all, she just needs to learn to say it within her normal conversation.
I can't remember when they should be able to make the R sound but I'm pretty sure it's one of the later ones. My sister is training to be a speech and language therapist, if you like I can ask her (tomorrow) for the age and also for some ways you can describe the sound to Meara.

 

My little girls have R issues. It's all /w/. The /l/ is also /w/. It's Elwie, that's "white" for right, etc. I'm not concerned yet even though they are 4 and days from 5.

 

I think it's age 6 or 7 for "R". They both still substitute W for L and R, although Bea is starting to say L's. Our days of "Ainswee" are coming to an end. :cry:

 

One of mine is like that. Not only does she have trouble with 'R's but with 'G's as well. She's just over 3. I asked the Dr. about it and she of course wasn't worried. I asked her teacher at school and they did mention they noticed it as well..

One of mine is like that. Not only does she have trouble with 'R's but with 'G's as well. She's just over 3. I asked the Dr. about it and she of course wasn't worried. I asked her teacher at school and they did mention they noticed it as well..

The only reason I'm a little concerned is becuase my other twin is so articulate. And no matter how hard I try, 'J' just doesn't get all the 'R' and 'G' sounds, but her sister does. Matter of fact, if 'J' didn't have a twin to compare to, I would've just chalked it up to being 2 (now 3) and having the 'baby talk'.

 

My girls till have trouble with the "r" sound as well. My son had trouble with his r's and l's up until kindergarten.

 

Tyler has issues. For example he calls cereal (ce-we-al). Derek is fine with the "r." Thanks for posting. It's good to see other's experiences.

 

Thanks all! I figured it was normal and a difficult sound to master. Zoe if you could ask your sister about anything we can do to help her, that would be great. Sometimes she gets self-conscious about it and it just breaks my heart.

Oh and I hope y'all know I was being tongue-in-cheek about my "special snowflakes." I re-read my OP and it sounded a little, um, braggy. Oops!

 

I'm an SLP and today they won't even consider working on the /r/ sound in the schools until around age 8 now. It's considered "mastered" around the 7-8 yr. mark so they have a long time to go until it's really a concern.

 

The pp is absolutely correct. I have first graders in my class not producing that sound and they do not qualify for speech. We are working on tongue placement and practicing those sounds in isolation, but that is it. By second grade, if it is still happening, then they will receive intervention.

 

On of my two still have trouble with R and l the other with S and th. I work in their K class once a week and it runs the gammut of who has trouble with these letters. So, I am not worried at this point and they will be six in June

 

Everyone is correct about the age. If you want to try something with her though, try having her make the sound while smiling. Make sure she doesn't stop smiling to make it though. This is what we are working on with the twins (they are already in speech for extensive articulation issues which is why this is being addressed).

 

Ok I talked to my sister for you. First of all she said tell you (and your husband) Don't Worry AT ALL, that you normally wouldn't even think about specifically working on the r sound unless the child was at least 5. Her first advice was just to forget all about it as your girls seem far ahead of the curve but she said as it is sometimes upsetting her then it would be worth working on (she was surprised that Meara would even be aware she said the sound wrong).

This is what she suggested. Try it for yourself; to make the W sound you have to move your lips down, if you keep your mouth in a smile and try to make a W it will come out like a R.
You could also play a game with her about growling/roaring like a lion/tiger/monster to get her to practice making a long R sound.
When you can (without it being akward) repeat the R words she says back to her correctly.
As much as possible don't draw attention to it, if nobody mentions it to her and you make it a non-issue she may forget to worry about it. Don't correct her outright when she says something wrong. Remember that she is advanced in her language skills and in all probability this will resolve itself over time with no intervention. If Meara expresses upset/frustration over not making a word right then you can remind her to "use a growly R" or "say your R with a smile".

Good Luck!

 

My kids are way younger, but I was just asking my Mom about this. She teaches first grade, and she was saying the same thing as Melissa and Kate. I guess the same is true for the "L" sound.

 

Thanks so much Zoe!!! I think she is aware of it because we repeat the word back to her emphasizing the right pronunciation. I think we inadvertently made it a big deal I guess its another case of comparing twins. Oops.

 

:hug: I think it is fine to repeat the word back to her, just try and keep it like a natural conversation instead of an obvious correction. For example (not saying you do/don't do this but just to illustate the point) if she said "Look Mommy it's waining!" you could say something like "Oh yes, it is raining. That is a lot of rain, do you think it will make some big puddles?" but I wouldn't say "R. Raining, yes it is Raining" because then you're putting the focus on how she is speaking rather than what she is saying.

Oh, and you're welcome.

 

I KNOW Conner can say "R", but he doesn't use it all his words yet. He will say RRRRROARRRRR for a lion sound & GRRRRR for a bear sound, yet says cewyeal for cereal. I can't tell if he's saying Conna or Conner when he says his name, but I know that Aiden uses R correctly in all his words. But, Aiden's way advanced. Like you, another joy of having twins & comparing their speech...I asked our Ped if Conner needed speech therapy & he laughed at me! He said Conner is normal, but Aiden is advanced, so I have to stop comparing! It's nice to hear other kiddos around this age who don't use R yet either!

FYI, in the speech chart that someone linked for me in another thread, it says that R is not mastered until 3-7. That's a WIDE range, so it's obviously a tough one!!!