Why Is My Child Hard to Understand? Signs of Speech Sound Disorders

Written By Vanessa Saintil

As a speech-language pathologist (SLP), one of the most common concerns I hear from parents is:

"My child talks a lot, but sometimes I’m the only one who understands them."

If you’ve ever felt this way, you’re not alone. Many children experience challenges with speech sound development. Sometimes it’s just part of learning, but in other cases, it may signal a speech sound disorder that can benefit from therapy.

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Articulation vs. Phonological Errors: What’s the Difference?

Parents often ask me about the difference between articulation and phonological errors. While they sound similar, they’re not the same:

  • Articulation Errors
     These happen when a child has trouble physically producing a sound. For example, a child may have difficulty making the /r/ sound and say “wabbit” instead of “rabbit.” This is a motor-based issue — their mouth, tongue, or lips aren’t quite coordinating correctly.

  • Phonological Errors
     These happen when a child uses the wrong patterns of sounds. For example, instead of saying “cat,” they might say “tat,” or they may leave off the final sounds in words (“do” for “dog”). These are rule-based errors where a child’s brain is simplifying speech in ways that make it harder to understand.

Both types of errors can affect how clearly your child is understood, and both are treatable with speech therapy.

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Common Red Flags by Age

While every child develops at their own pace, there are general milestones for speech clarity:

  • By Age 2: Strangers should understand about 50% of what your child says.

  • By Age 3: Strangers should understand about 75% of what your child says.

  • By Age 4: Children should be mostly understood by strangers, even if they still make a few sound errors.

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Red flags to watch for:

  • Your child leaves off many sounds at the ends of words.

  • They substitute one sound for another often (e.g., “tat” for “cat,” “wuv” for “love”).

  • You, as a parent, understand them, but teachers, peers, or extended family members often don’t.

  • Their frustration grows when others can’t understand them.

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When to Seek Therapy

It may be time to consider an evaluation with a speech-language pathologist if:

  • Your child is older than 3 and is very hard to understand.

  • Their speech errors don’t seem to be improving over time.

  • They avoid talking in class, at playdates, or with unfamiliar people.

  • Their communication struggles are affecting confidence, social relationships, or school success.

Therapy can make a world of difference. With structured practice, fun activities, and caregiver involvement, children can make steady progress toward clearer, more confident communication.

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A Personal Note from Vanessa

My passion for helping children communicate clearly comes from my own experiences. Growing up in a Haitian household, I often helped my parents navigate English pronunciation and vocabulary. I saw firsthand how difficult it can be when others don’t understand you — and how life-changing it is when communication becomes easier.

Today, as the founder of HomeBridge Therapy, I bring that same dedication to my clients. Every child deserves to be heard and understood. Helping families bridge that gap is why I do this work.

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Final Thoughts

If you’re worried that your child’s speech is harder to understand than it should be, trust your instincts. Early support can make a huge difference in your child’s confidence, social life, and academic success.

📧 Ready to take the next step? Contact me at vsaintil@homebridgetherapy.com or complete the Pre-Evaluation Intake Form to schedule a consultation.

Vanessa Saintil