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How to make the /CH/ sound

The /ch/ sound is made by combining the /t/ and /sh/ sounds. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help teach and practice the /ch/ sound:

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  1. Make a /t/ and /sh/ at the same time: The /ch/ sound is produced by blending the /t/ and /sh/ sounds.
  2. Locate the alveolar ridge: Use your finger to feel directly behind your two front teeth. If you slowly move your finger back and forth, you'll feel a bump, which is the alveolar ridge.
  3. Raise your tongue: Position the sides of your tongue to lightly touch the upper molars on each side of your mouth.
  4. Press your tongue to the alveolar ridge: Similar to when you make the /t/ sound, press your tongue lightly against the alveolar ridge.
  5. Close your teeth: Gently close your teeth together.
  6. Pucker your lips and explode the air out: Quickly release the air in a swift movement while lowering your tongue. This should create a burst of air, similar to the /ch/ sound.

Give it a try!

Helpful Tips for Teaching the /CH/ Sound:

  • Isolate the sound: When practicing, avoid adding an ‘uh’ sound after the /ch/ (e.g., /ch/ vs. /chuh/). Adding the 'uh' can confuse the child. This practice of focusing on the clean /ch/ sound is called isolating the sound.
  • Demonstrate airflow differences: Use a tissue to show the difference in airflow between the /sh/ and the /ch/ sounds. You should notice the tissue rising and falling quickly for /ch/, whereas the airflow for /sh/ is more continuous.
  • Practice blending: Have the child say /t/ - /sh/ slowly at first, then gradually increase the speed until the two sounds blend together into the /ch/ sound.
  • Imitate a sneeze: Tell the child to imitate the sound of a sneeze, saying “achoo!” This can help them understand the explosive nature of the /ch/ sound.
  • Voice box comparison: /ch/ and /j/ are similar sounds. For both, the teeth placement and airflow are the same. However, when producing the /ch/ sound, the voice box is turned off (e.g., "chair," "watching," "much"). In contrast, when making the /j/ sound, the voice box is turned on (e.g., "jar," "pajamas," "page"). Have the child place their hand lightly on their throat while saying these words to feel the difference.

Common Errors:

  • If you hear a /t/ sound: This means the child is not closing their teeth or puckering their lips enough. Remind them to close their teeth gently and pucker their lips like “kissy lips.”
  • If you hear a /sh/ sound: This suggests that the child may not be quickly pulling their tongue away from the alveolar ridge. Remind them to release the tongue swiftly while exploding the air out.
  • If you hear a “slushy” sound: Sometimes, the child may lateralize the /ch/ sound, meaning the airflow is directed out the sides of the mouth instead of the front. If you notice this "slushy" sound (like Sid the Sloth from Ice Age), stop the practice and contact a speech-language pathologist for assistance.

 

 

Important Note:

Do not practice the sound incorrectly! If, after a few attempts, the child continues to say the sound incorrectly, stop and reach out to a speech-language pathologist for help. These tips are intended to support learning, but they are not a substitute for professional guidance. Practicing a sound incorrectly may lead to further difficulties in mastering the sound.

 

References:

Secord, W. A., Boyce, S. E., Donohue, J. S., Fox, R. A., & Shine, R. E. (2007). Eliciting Sounds: Techniques and Strategies for Clinicians (2nd ed.). Delmar, Cengage Learning.

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