How to Teach the L Sound
The L sound should be developed by age 6, according to the Iowa-Nebraska Norms. However, it is not uncommon for this sound to not emerge by the expected age. If that happens, a child is often referred to a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) for an evaluation and therapy. Below are a few tips on how to teach the L sound and ideas for practice activities ⬇️
The L Sound
While L does have oral landmarks unlike the R sound, it can be difficult to hear in words, especially in medial and final positions. Brains fill in the blanks with what they think they heard, which is why errors typically occur more in the medial and final position of words than initial position. This sound can be colored by vowels, just like vocalic R. There are even some languages that interchange R for L without changing the meaning of the word (e.g., rice/lice).
For words containing L blends, such as “slide” or “blink,” it’s best to address L individually in the initial, medial, and final position of words before having clients practice blends.
Teaching the L Sound
The L sound is voiced and is produced by touching the tip of the tongue to the roof of the mouth, where the top teeth meet the gums. This is called the alveolar ridge. L is an easy sound to teach because it is visible.
The easiest way to teach the L sound is to model the mouth position. Show the client where the tongue goes and have them imitate you. If the client has difficulty with tongue placement (i.e., their tongue is either too far forward or too far back), you can use candy, a popsicle stick, or peanut butter as a tactile cue to feel where their tongue goes.
If the client produces an interdental L, which means their tongue comes out between their top and bottom teeth, have the client close their jaw more to prevent the tongue from escaping the oral cavity. You can also use a mirror so the client can see their mouth.
For tricky words, view my post on Articulation Therapy Techniques for Tricky Words.
Activities for Practicing the L Sound
When first teaching a sound, stick with words or phrases that are easy for the client and that they can say over and over. A few examples are below to teach the L sound.
- Play a board game and have the client say “Let’s go” before taking a turn
- Play Snakes and Ladders and have the client say “left” when moving to the left or “ladder” when moving up
- Play Hot Lava and have the client say “lava” or “leap” when taking a turn
- Make a MadLibs and have the client fill in the blanks with target words that contain L
View my articulation cards for L HERE. What elicitation techniques do you use for L? What are your favorite activities for L? Let us know below ⬇️