What is vowels in speech therapy?

Speech sounds made with an open mouth—A, E, I, O, U. Vowels are usually the first sounds babies make and are rarely a concern in speech development. Example: The "ee" in "jeep" or the "oo" in "vroom."

🔊Speech Sounds

Vowels

What is vowels in speech therapy?

Speech sounds made with an open mouth—A, E, I, O, U. Vowels are usually the first sounds babies make and are rarely a concern in speech development.

Example

The "ee" in "jeep" or the "oo" in "vroom."

🔊 The "oo" sound in "vroom"

How can I help my child with vowels?

Vehicle sounds and onomatopoeia like "vroom," "beep," and "honk" practice various vowel sounds.

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About this guide: This glossary is designed to help parents understand speech therapy terminology. Definitions are simplified for clarity and informed by resources from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

Not medical advice: This information is educational only. For concerns about your child's speech development, consult a licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP).Find an SLP near you →

Learn More From Trusted Sources

ASHA: Speech & Language Development Chart— Official milestones by age
ASHA: Late Blooming or Language Problem?— When to seek help
Identify the Signs— ASHA's early intervention resource

Parents Also Ask

Do children have trouble with vowels?▼

Vowel errors are less common than consonant errors. Most children produce vowels correctly early. If your child has significant vowel errors, it may indicate a more complex speech issue—consult an SLP.

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Amy Lauren, The PlaySchool SLP — Speech-Language Pathologist

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Related Terms

Consonants

Speech sounds made by blocking airflow—all letters except A, E, I, O, U. Consonants develop in a predictable order, with some (like TH and R) not mastered until age 6-7.

Phonology

The system of sound patterns in a language—how sounds work together. Different from articulation (physical production). Phonological disorders involve patterns of errors, not just individual sounds.

More Speech Sounds

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Articulation Phonology Phonemic Awareness Fricatives Liquid Sounds R Sound

Learn More About Speech Development

Onomatopoeia in Early Speech Articulation Practice Activities Phoneme Practice Games Eliminating Schwas in Speech

Explore our parent guides for more speech development resources.

Support Your Child's Speech Development

Little Wheels apps use vehicle-based learning to make speech practice engaging and fun. Perfect for home practice between therapy sessions.

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