Clinical Use of Speech Sound Acquisition Data

If you treat speech sound disorders – you won’t want to miss this! Speech-language pathologists who work with speech sound disorders may hear mixed messages related to how and when to use speech sound acquisition data for clinical decision making. Drs. McLeod and Farquharson are here to help and to talk about Dr. McLeod’s internet-breaking article regarding speech sound acquisition across 27 languages.

Explore Course

The ages at which speech sounds are acquired can be a helpful source of data for clinical decision making. However, these acquisition data should be interpreted with caution and should not be used in isolation to make diagnoses or eligibility decisions.

The importance of clinical phonetics and an understanding of how and where sounds are produced to improve clinical practice and child outcomes will be covered.

Consonant clusters will also be discussed – they develop early and should be a primary target for therapy! The importance of clinical phonetics for speech sound treatment will be focused on.

Plus, Dr. Farquharson will discuss how SLPs can use the vowel quadrilateral to choose the right words for therapy and will highlight the importance of voicing, place, and manner for consonants.

This course was presented live, Oct. 8, 2025, and is now on demand.

Check out the rest of the series.

Presenters

Kelly Farquharson
PhD, CCC-SLP
Dr. Kelly Farquharson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, is an associate professor in the School of Communication Science and Disorders at Florida State University and director of the Children’s Literacy and Speech Sound (CLaSS) Lab. Her research focuses on improving outcomes for children with speech sound disorders and language impairments through school-based implementation science. She is a frequent conference presenter, educator, and creator of the popular Phonetics Friday series on social media, where she brings humor, heart, and expertise to the field of speech-language pathology.
Sharynne McLeod
Ph.D
Sharynne McLeod, Ph.D. is a Distinguished Professor at Charles Sturt University, Australia. She has received Honors of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Life Membership of Speech Pathology Australia, and served as editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology. She has undertaken research into children’s speech across 130 languages and dialects.

Learning Objectives

Explain how speech sound acquisition data is acquired
Describe appropriate and inappropriate uses of speech sound acquisition data for clinical decision making
Discuss the importance of treating clusters
Explain how voicing, place, and manner for consonants is necessary for providing placement cues in therapy

Agenda

5 minutes	Introduction and welcome
15 minutes	What is speech sound acquisition data and how is it acquired?
20 minutes	How are speech sound acquisition data used in clinical settings?
15 minutes	Consonant cluster development and treatment
15 minutes	Considerations for multi-lingual speakers (preview of McLeod recorded session)
15 minutes	Clinical phonetics for word selection in therapy (preview of Farquharson recorded session)
5 minutes	Q & A

Disclosures

Financial Disclosures:	Kelly Farquharson is receiving an honorarium for this presentation. She receives a salary at Florida State University. Kelly is the owner of Literacy Speech, LLC. She have published therapy materials with Bjorem Speech Publications, which will be mentioned in the recorded session Sharynne McLeod is employed by Charles Sturt University and receive royalties from this presentation. Sharynne McLeod receives royalties from books from publishers including Oxford University Press, Paul H. Brookes, Pearson, Plural Publishing, J&R Press, and Multilingual Matters. Sharynne is receiving compensation for this course.
Non-Financial Disclosures:	Kelly Farquharson is an ASHA member and Affiliated Faculty member with Florida Center for Reading Research Sharynne McLeod is the co-author of the Intelligibility in Context Scale Sharynne McLeod are co-authors of the Speech Assessment of Children’s Home Language(s) (SACHL)
Content Disclosures:	Kelly Farquharson will discuss the products that she has developed with Bjorem Speech Publications, but she will include alternative options. Sharynne McLeod receives royalties from books from publishers including Oxford University Press, Paul H. Brookes, Pearson, Plural Publishing, J&R Press, and Multilingual Matters. Sharynne McLeod is the co-author of the Intelligibility in Context Scale Sharynne McLeod are co-authors of the Speech Assessment of Children’s Home Language(s) (SACHL)

ASHA

This course is offered for 0.15 ASHA CEUs, Intermediate Level, Professional Area

To earn ASHA CEUs you must complete the courses by viewing them, provide course feedback, pass the exams with a score of 80 or more, provide your ASHA credentials, and confirm submission.

Speech Sound Disorders Series Bundle 2025: $150.00
The bundle includes the 90-min live replay co-presented by Drs. Sharynne McLeod and Kelly Farquharson, "Clinical Use of Speech Sound Acquisition Data", an 60-min by Dr. Farquharson, "/ɹ/ you frustrated by working on /ɹ/? Try facilitative contexts!", and a 120-min course by Dr. McLeod, "Multilingual Children’s Speech Assessment: A Contemporary Global Update". Includes access to the live replay, 2 recorded courses, and optional ASHA reporting for all 3 courses.

Speech Sound Disorders: Data-Driven Decisions + /ɹ/ Mastery Bundle: $65.00
This bundle includes Drs. Sharynne McLeod and Kelly Farquharson’s 90-min. live replay, "Clinical Use of Speech Sound Acquisition Data", and Dr. Kelly's 60-min course, "/ɹ/ you frustrated by working on /ɹ/? Try facilitative contexts!" Includes access to both recorded courses and optional ASHA reporting.