Troy Said:

Help with speech impediment!?

We Answered:

The /r/ sound is one of the most difficult sounds to acquire. Most kids are able to say it by age 8, but there are some where they are unable to say it past that age (my sister and my mom are examples!). This doesn't mean that you won't be able to ever say it, it just means you need a little extra help.

Ok, so not only is 'r' one of the hardest to learn, it's also one of the hardest to teach, especially over the Internet! So I'll do my best.

When you say 'r', the sides of your tongue should be against the insides of your upper molars. The tip of the tongue should basically be free and not touching any structures inside your mouth, and the top of your mouth shouldn't really be touching anything either. Make your tongue slightly tense, turn 'on' your voice (so you can feel your throat vibrating, this means your vocal folds are vibrating), and make the air come out only over your tongue. Make sure there is a good seal so no air is leaking out the sides of your tongue. An 'r' should come out.

I'm curious as to your 'r' in the beginning of words. You are able to say it then? If my instructions didn't work, try to add onto your 'r' at the beginning of words. So if you say "REN" try to build on with a vowel at the beginning, like "AREN." Then add the consonant "KAREN."

Hope this helps. You can look into speech therapy at places other than your school. Lots of insurance will cover it. Good luck!