At what percentage should children's speech sounds normalize before they are removed from therapy?

The normalization of children's speech sounds is typically considered to occur when they achieve 85% accuracy in connected speech contexts. This benchmark indicates that the child is demonstrating adequate mastery of the target sounds, as they are able to produce them correctly the majority of the time during spontaneous speech. An 85% accuracy level suggests that the child is capable of using the learned speech patterns in everyday communication settings, which is crucial for functional speech. This level provides a strong foundation for effective communication, ensuring that the likelihood of speech disorders impacting social and academic interactions is minimized.

A higher percentage, such as 90% or 95%, may imply an unnecessarily stringent criterion for dismissal, as achieving near-perfect accuracy might not be realistic or necessary for children in everyday communication. A standard of 75% may indicate that the child is still struggling significantly with articulation, making it premature to conclude that therapy is no longer required. Therefore, 85% serves as a balanced target where children can be considered for discharge from therapy while still allowing for continued growth and practice in real-life contexts.