Still Struggling with Speech? It's Not Too Late to Help Your Child Speak Clearly

If your child still struggles to say certain sounds clearly,like R, S, SH, or L, you’re not alone. These are some of the most common residual speech errors, and they often persist even after a child has “graduated” from school-based speech therapy. Maybe your child has been working hard for years and still can’t quite get that tricky R sound. Maybe they’re now a teen or even a young adult, and it’s beginning to affect their confidence. The good news? It’s not too late and it’s more common than you think.

What Are Residual Speech Errors?

Residual speech errors are speech sound distortions that remain after formal speech therapy has ended, often because the child was considered “functional enough” for everyday communication. While speech is generally understood by others, certain sounds are still produced incorrectly or in a noticeably distorted way (such as a slushy S or a weak R). These errors may not significantly impact overall intelligibility, but they can:

• Be frustrating for the speaker

• Affect confidence in social or academic settings

• Persist into adolescence or adulthood if not addressed

  
  

In many cases, therapy was discontinued once speech became intelligible, even though precision and clarity were never fully achieved. That’s where private, targeted support can make the difference.

Why Didn't School-Based Speech Therapy "Fix" it?

Speech therapy in schools plays an important role in helping many children. However, it has limitations:

• Caseloads are large: Your child might be one of 60+ students a school SLP sees weekly.

• Sessions are shorter and in groups: It’s harder to give individualized attention.

• Eligibility is based on education impact: If a child's articulation impairment no longer affects their classroom success, they might not qualify for school-based services anymore, even if they still feel frustrated by their speech.

  
  

In contrast, private speech therapy offers a more targeted and intensive approach. We can work one-on-one, dive deeper into motor patterns and oral function, and tailor the therapy pace to your child’s specific needs.

Motivation Matters- Especially for Older Kids

If your child is older—middle school, high school, or beyond—motivation and ownership are key. Many of the kids I work with want to fix their speech. They know something’s off. They’ve been told to “speak up” or “stop mumbling,” but no one has helped them fix the root issue.

With the right tools and support, they can make progress—often faster than they did in earlier years. Why? Because they’re ready. They’re aware. And with specialized coaching, they can finally connect the dots between what they hear and how to change what they say.

Could There Be an Oral-Motor or Myofunctional Component?

In some cases, lingering speech errors are more than just habits—they’re tied to how the tongue, lips, and jaw move and rest. If your child struggles with:

• Keeping their tongue in the right place

• Breathing through their mouth

• Low muscle tone or coordination in the face and mouth

…it could be part of a myofunctional disorder, which impacts both speech and other functions like breathing and swallowing. Identifying and addressing these underlying patterns can help unlock lasting speech clarity.

Self-Monitoring: The Missing Link in Carryover

One of the biggest challenges in speech therapy is carryover—using the correct speech sounds in everyday conversation, not just with the speech therapist. That’s where executive function skills like self-awareness and self-monitoring come into play.

As a speech-language pathologist who also specializes in executive function coaching, I understand how these cognitive skills support therapy success. If a child isn’t tuned in to how they’re speaking—or lacks the ability to catch and correct errors in real time—they’re unlikely to make consistent progress.

In therapy, I help kids:

• Tune in to what correct vs. incorrect productions feel and sound like

• Use strategies to monitor their speech during real-world tasks (school, social settings, etc.)

• Develop confidence in their ability to self-correct without constant cues

This approach empowers students to take ownership of their progress—and that leads to faster and more lasting change.

What Parents Can Do Between Sessions (No Worksheets Required)

You don’t need to become a speech therapist—or turn your kitchen table into a classroom—to help your child make meaningful progress. In fact, the most effective home practice is woven naturally into your daily routines, without stress, power struggles, or extra worksheets.

Here are a few simple ways to support your child between sessions:

🗣️ Use a Target Word of the Day

Choose one word with their target sound (like cars, stars, or race) and use it throughout the day. Say it at breakfast, in the car, during chores—anywhere it fits. Make it playful!

🎯 Catch the Sound Game (But Keep It Light!)

Let your child be the “sound catcher.” Have them listen for the target sound in what you say or in songs, books, or commercials. Then switch roles. This builds awareness without pressure.

🪞 Talk to the Mirror

Brushing teeth? Washing up? Take 30 seconds to say a few target words in the mirror. Watching how their mouth moves helps reinforce correct tongue and lip placement.

🚗 Car Chats

The car is a great, low-pressure place for speech practice. Use the time to tell short stories, play rhyming games, or give your child a “challenge sentence” using one of their speech goals.

📸 Record and Reflect

Let your child hear themselves using a voice memo app. You can ask, “Did that sound like your ‘strong R’ or your ‘old R’?” This gentle prompt activates self-monitoring without correcting or shaming.

🤝 Respectfully Monitor and Prompt

Instead of calling out every error, try cues that invite self-correction:

• "Could you attempt that word once more, concentrating on producing the sound more accurately?"

• "Let's go back and try that again—what do you believe you heard?"

• Is that a sound you're confident in, or can you improve it further?

These prompts keep the focus on awareness and problem-solving, not perfection. They help your child feel like a partner in the process.

Why Virtual or Hybrid Therapy Model Helps Busy Families

Let’s be real—your schedule is packed. Between sports, school, and family time, adding another weekly appointment can feel overwhelming. That’s why many families benefit from a hybrid therapy approach:

• Virtual sessions for consistency and convenience

• In-person visits when hands-on work or oral-motor assessments are needed

• Flexible pacing based on your child’s motivation and your family’s needs

It’s therapy that adapts to you—not the other way around.

Don’t Let the Summer Slide Set In

School breaks are the perfect time to make real progress. Your child is less stressed, there’s more flexibility, and you can front-load therapy to fast-track improvement. Instead of losing momentum, summer therapy can help your child enter the school year with more confidence and clarity.

Bottom Line: It’s Never Too Late

Whether your child is 8, 18, or even older—residual speech errors can be corrected. With motivation, the right support, and a therapy model that works for your family, lasting change is possible.

Let’s help your child speak clearly—and confidently.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If your child still struggles with lingering speech sound errors, they don’t have to settle for “good enough.” At Trailblazer Speech Therapy, we specialize in helping kids, teens, and adults overcome residual articulation issues with a personalized, evidence-based approach that fits your family’s life.

Whether you're looking for in-person sessions in Evergreen, CO, virtual support across Colorado or Texas, or a hybrid option—we’re here to help.

📞Schedule a free consultation or learn more at trailblazerspeech.com

Let’s partner together to build speech clarity, confidence, and lasting change.