Atypical pattern
Backing
Sounds made at the front of the mouth get replaced by sounds made at the back.
- Resolves
- Not a typical developmental pattern at any age
- Sounds affected
- t, d
- Word pairs
- 9
- Picture pairs
- 6
What it sounds like
- "tea" becomes "key"
- "dough" becomes "go"
- "top" becomes "cop"
- "bad" becomes "bag"
Also called: Velar backing
What is going on
Backing is the mirror image of fronting: the child replaces tongue-tip sounds like /t/ and /d/ with back-of-the-tongue sounds like /k/ and /g/. "Tea" comes out as "key," and "Daddy" becomes "Gaggy."
Backing is the one pattern on this list that is not part of typical development. Unlike fronting or stopping, no stage of normal speech includes it. It is more often seen alongside other atypical patterns, and it is worth a full evaluation rather than home practice, and it tends to be more resistant to treatment than the typical processes.
What to do
When to refer
Minimal pairs
6 picture pairsThese pairs have two distinct picture subjects. Put both pictures on the table and take turns asking for one. If the two words sound alike, slow down and compare the sounds together. The printable word list has additional listening contrasts. Tap any pair to open it full screen and score each turn with Yes! or Not quite.