In early speech development, children often simplify word endings by dropping final consonants. Final consonant deletion is normal up to around age 3 or 4 but becomes a concern if it persists longer. It impacts intelligibility by removing grammatical markers and altering word meaning. SLPs target this process in therapy to improve clarity and promote the development of age-appropriate speech patterns.
Barbara Dodd et al., “Phonological Development: A Normative Study of British English-Speaking Children,” Clinical Linguistics & Phonetics 17, no. 8 (2003).
Wisconsin DPI, Assessment of Speech or Sound Production – Phonology (2012).
