Speech Therapy for TH Sound: How to Improve Your Speech
Do you or your child have trouble saying the /th/ sound? Lots of people do!
The /th/ sound is one of the hardest sounds to make in the English language, along with /r/, /s/, /l/, /ch/, and /sh/. When a person continues to make speech errors after the age when peers typically learn the sound, it is referred to as an "articulation disorder."
Articulation disorders can be the result of a speech delay. You may have difficulty producing certain sounds correctly if you have an articulation disorder. Speaking with a pronunciation issue can make it difficult for others to understand you when you talk.
This blog post will discuss speech exercises for the /th/ sound and how to improve your speech. We will also provide tips and advice on how to get the most out of speech therapy.
How to Correctly Say the /Th/ Sound
When Should You Start Working on the /Th/ Sound?
What Can Cause an Articulation Problem With the /Th/ Sound?
How Long Will it Take to See an Improvement?
What Is Involved in a Speech Evaluation?
How Can You Learn to Say the /Th/ Speech Sound Correctly?
What Are Some General Tips For Improving the /Th/ Sound at Home?
How to Correctly Say the /Th/ Sound
Interdental /Th/
There are two different ways to produce the /th/ sound. To accurately articulate the /th/ sound, you will want to place your tongue between your top and bottom teeth and blow air. The tip of your tongue should be touching your upper teeth while the rest of your tongue is behind your bottom teeth. This is called the "interdental" method.
Dentalized /Th/
You can also make the /th/ sound by placing the tip of your tongue behind your top front teeth and blowing out air. This is called the "dentalized" method.
Voiced /Th/
/Th/ makes two different sounds, "voiced" and "unvoiced." For both versions of /th/, the tongue remains in the same mouth position. In the voiced /th/, the vocal cords vibrate and make a noisy sound. The voiced /th/ occurs in words like "them," "bathe," and "other."
Voiceless /Th/
In the voiceless /th/, the vocal cords do not touch, and the resulting sound is quiet. Voiceless /th/ occurs in words like "think," "thumb," or "three."
When Should You Start Working on the /Th/ Sound?
Most children begin learning the /th/ sound sometime around the age of 4 years old. While the age of mastery varies, the sound is typically learned by 7-8 years old. A speech-language pathologist should assess a child who has not learned to develop the /th/ sound by this age.
If you notice an articulation issue in your child, the key is to seek help immediately. Early intervention is best!
If you are an adult seeking remediation for the /th/ sound, speech therapy can help by teaching you correct pronunciation and proper tongue placement. Adults tend to do very well with articulation therapy because /th/ is one of the most visual sounds, making it easy to follow the therapist's model and instructions.
There is no age limit to articulation therapy; you can improve your speech with hard work and dedicated practice.
What Can Cause an Articulation Problem With the /Th/ Sound?
There are many reasons why people have difficulty producing the /th/ sound, but often the cause is unknown. Some possible causes include anatomical changes to the mouth or face, hearing loss, or frequent ear infections. Some have a familial history of speech delay.
No matter what the cause of your difficulty with /th/, speech therapy can help.
How Long Will it Take to See an Improvement?
The amount of time it will take to improve speech quality depends on many factors, including age, the severity of the sound error, and how long the problem has been present.
Most people can expect to see progress within a few months of starting TH words speech therapy. However, some may need speech therapy for a more extended period of time.
What is Involved in a Speech Evaluation?
An evaluation for the /th/ sound will typically involve a speech-language pathologist observing your speech and listening to you produce speech sounds. The speech therapist will listen closely to your speech and assess for correct production or pronunciation issues.
The speech therapist will also ask questions about your medical history and development. The speech-language pathologist will then use this information to make speech therapy recommendations and set goals.
How Can You Learn to Say the /Th/ Speech Sound Correctly?
With speech therapy, you can learn to produce the /th/ sound correctly. Speech therapy for the /th/ sound typically involves working on speech exercises that target the /th/ sound. The speech therapist will also provide feedback and coaching on correctly producing the /th/ sound.
Speech Therapy Exercises:
A wide range of speech exercises may be completed during speech therapy. Some of these exercises may include:
Practicing saying the /th/ sound in words
Saying the /th/ sound in different positions in words (e.g., initial position, middle, and final position)
Reading out loud with a speech therapist
Practicing tongue twisters that contain the /th/ sound
Speech Therapy Games:
Many children like to play games during TH words speech therapy. Games are a great way to practice speech sounds while also having fun. Some examples include:
I Spy: Look around the room and spy something that starts with the /th/ sound. Take turns saying, "I spy with my little eye…."
Tongue Twister relay: Say tongue twisters with the /th/ sound as a team. The first person starts by saying one line of the tongue twister. The following person then repeats what the first person said and adds another line. Continue taking turns until the tongue twister is completed.
Simon Says: Simon says to touch your nose, Simon says to touch your toes. But only do it when Simon says! This game can be played with any action and speech sound.
What Are Some General Tips For Improving the /Th/ Sound at Home?
Doing speech therapy exercises at home is a great way to supplement what is being learned in TH words speech therapy.
Here are some general tips for learning the /th/ sound on your own at home:
Practice saying the /th/ sound in words, phrases, and sentences.
Say the /th/ sound slowly at first and then gradually increase your speed.
Listen to yourself say the /th/ sound and ensure you are producing the sound correctly.
Practice saying the /th/ sound in different contexts (e.g., at the beginning of a word, in the middle of a word, at the end of a word).
Use a mirror to help you see how you produce the /th/ sound.
For children, a more playful approach works best. Reward your child for all correct productions. Here are some at-home speech therapy exercises for the /th/ sound for children:
Practice the /th/ sound in words by breaking them down into simple syllables. For example, for the word "bath," you would say /b/-/a/-/th/.
Read books out loud that contain the /th/ sound.
Make a list of words containing the /th/ sound and practice saying them aloud.
Regular practice of speech therapy exercises will help to improve your speech. With time and practice, you can produce the /th/ sound correctly. Remember to be patient with yourself and keep practicing!
/Th/ Practice Words
The following are examples of words that contain the /th/ sound for you to use to practice at home:
Voiced /Th/
In these example words, the vocal cords vibrate and make a noisy sound:
them
bathe
therefore
that
though
they
Voiceless /Th/
In these example words, the vocal cords do not touch, and the resulting sound is quiet:
thing
think
third
thirsty
Thursday
bathtub
If you are having difficulty producing the /th/ sound, consider seeking help from a speech-language pathologist. Practice and guidance can teach you to correctly make the /th/ sound!
How to Find Professional Speech Therapy Services
If you are having difficulty pronouncing the /th/ sound, speech therapy can help. There are many speech exercises for /th/ sound that you can do in speech therapy, and with practice, you will be able to improve your speech.
Stay positive and believe in yourself - with time and practice, you will be able to pronounce /th/ words correctly!
At Connected Speech Pathology, our speech pathologists are highly trained and experienced in treating articulation and speech sound disorders. We can help you or your child improve speech clarity and confidence. We provide services remotely so that you can receive your speech therapy right from the comfort of your home.
We understand that every individual is unique, so we tailor our therapy programs to each person's specific needs.
If you are interested in TH sound speech therapy, don't hesitate to book a free phone consultation. We would be happy to help you or your child improve speech clarity and confidently communicate!
About the Author
Allison Geller is a speech-language pathologist (SLP) and the owner of Connected Speech Pathology. She obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Florida in Speech-Language Pathology. Allison has practiced speech therapy in a number of settings including telepractice, acute care, outpatient rehabilitation, and private practice. She has worked extensively with individuals across the lifespan including toddlers, preschoolers, school-aged children, and adults. She specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of a variety of communication disorders including receptive/expressive language disorders, articulation disorders, voice disorders, fluency disorders, brain injury, and swallowing disorders.
Allison served as the clinical coordinator of research in aphasia in the Neurological Institute at Columbia University Medical Center in New York. She is on the Board of Directors for the Corporate Speech Pathology Network (CORSPAN), a Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) certified clinician, and a proud Family Empowerment Scholarship/Step-Up For Students provider. Allison is passionate about delivering high quality-effective treatment remotely because it’s convenient and easy to access. What sets us apart from other online speech therapy options is—Allison takes great care to hire the very best SLPs from all over the country.
