Using the “SH” Sound to Help Elicit “R”

The /r/ sound can be one of the trickiest speech sounds to teach however a great facilitation trick is starting with /ʃ/ (“sh”).

Why does this work? Both /sh/ and /r/ share similar tongue features: the tongue is lifted, slightly retracted, and the sides of the tongue engage with the molars. This makes /sh/ a helpful bridge sound for clients who struggle to find the correct tongue placement for /r/.

How to Use It in Therapy

1. Establish a strong “sh.”
   Make sure the client can produce a clear, sustained “shhh” with lips slightly rounded and the tongue lifted.

2. Add voicing and lip tension.
   Have the client slowly turn “shhh” into a voiced sound by adding their voice and gently tightening the lips. This often naturally shifts toward an /r/-like quality.

3. Shape into syllables.
   Try moving from “shhh” → “shr” blends (like shred or shrug), then fade the /sh/ until /r/ is produced independently.

4. Fade the support.
   Gradually reduce the /sh/ cue while maintaining tongue retraction and tension needed for /r/.

Why This Strategy Is Helpful

• Encourages tongue retraction without excessive jaw movement

• Reduces tongue bunching or flat tongue postures

• Feels more natural and less forced for many clients

Using /sh/ as a steppingstone can make /r/ feel more accessible and less frustrating, especially for clients who need extra tactile or auditory cues to find that elusive placement.

Author: Brittany Schoellkopf M.S., CCC-SLP