Fronting plays a role in speech patterns, especially for kids learning to talk. Sometimes, children use fronting as a phonological process where sounds that should come from the back of the mouth are produced at the front. Understanding how and why this happens can be crucial for parents and educators to address it effectively.
Understanding Fronting
Fronting is when certain sounds are made at the front of the mouth instead of where they usually should be. This section explains fronting and when children typically outgrow it.
Defining the Phonological Process of Fronting
Fronting involves a shift in the place of articulation. In simpler terms, certain sounds that should be made at the back of the mouth are instead made at the front.
For example, the /k/ sound (“cat”) might be pronounced as /t/ (“tat”). Similarly, a /g/ sound (“go”) might turn into a /d/ sound (“dough”). These changes occur because children find it easier to produce these substituted sounds.
Fronting is a normal part of language development in young children. They are learning to control their speech mechanisms. It’s just one of many phonological processes they go through.
Typical Development Milestones
Most children who use fronting will naturally stop doing so by the time they reach a certain age. Typically, fronting disappears by around 3.5 to 4 years old.
During this period, they start to master the correct production of sounds like /k/ and /g/. If fronting continues beyond this age, it might indicate a speech sound disorder that could benefit from the help of a speech-language pathologist.
Identifying when a child should stop using fronting is crucial. It ensures that any potential issues are addressed early, supporting better communication skills as they grow older.
Monitoring these milestones helps you understand how your child’s speech is developing and when to seek help if needed.
Backing- The Reverse of Fronting
Backing is a phonological process where sounds typically made at the front of the mouth, like “t” and “d,” are produced at the back, such as “k” and “g.” This is the opposite of fronting, where sounds that should be made at the back of the mouth are articulated at the front. For example, a child might say “gog” instead of “dog” when backing. Backing is less common than fronting and often requires speech therapy for correction. Understanding and addressing backing is crucial for improving a child’s speech clarity and overall communication skills.
Approaches to Treatment for Fronting
Treating fronting in speech therapy involves early intervention and specific articulation techniques. These methods help correct speech patterns and improve communication skills. Your child’s speech therapist may use a combination of the following techniques to treat fronting.
Cycles Approach: Targeting specific speech sound patterns for a while, then moving to others, allowing gradual improvement. This helps children recognize and use correct sounds, making their speech clearer.
Minimal Pairs Therapy: Using pairs of words that differ by one sound, where one word has the target sound and the other has the fronted sound (e.g., “key” vs. “tea”). This helps your child hear and produce the differences.
Auditory Bombardment: Providing repeated and amplified exposure to the correct production of the target sounds. This can be done using recordings or live repetition, helping your child become more familiar with the correct sounds.
Phonetic Placement Techniques: Teaching your child how to position their articulators to produce the correct sound. Use mirrors, tongue depressors, or tactile cues to guide your child in placing their tongue correctly.
Sound Approximation: Gradually shaping the correct sound by starting with a sound your child can produce and slowly altering it toward the target sound. For example, start with “t” and gradually move the tongue back to produce “k.”
Visual Cues and Hand Signals: Using visual aids like pictures or hand signals to represent the correct sound and its placement. This can help your child remember how to produce the sound correctly.
Speech Sound Discrimination Activities: Engaging your child in activities that require them to discriminate between correct and incorrect productions of the target sound. This might involve sorting pictures or listening to recorded sounds.
Interactive Games and Apps: Utilizing speech therapy games and apps that focus on correct sound production. Interactive and fun activities can motivate your child and provide additional practice opportunities.
By using a combination of these approaches in speech therapy, a speech therapist can address fronting effectively and help your child achieve accurate speech sound production. Check in with your child’s therapist for carryover ideas that you can use at home.
Nanette Cote is an ASHA certified speech pathologist, published author, and private practice business owner with 30 years experience.
