October 18, 2026 · 0:53 · Feedback · Practice
Feedback That Fades
As a new speech movement gets stronger, feedback should change: from every try, right away and about how the movement was made, to fewer, later cues about whether it was right, so the child learns to judge it.
Full transcript
When a child is learning a new movement, the feedback we give should change as the skill gets stronger.
At first, give feedback on every try, right away, and tell them how the movement was made, like, "Your lips came together that time!"
As accuracy grows, start thinning it out, and shift toward telling them whether it was right, like, "That was it!"
Later, give feedback every few tries, and wait a few seconds so the child can judge it first. You might ask, "Did that sound right to you?"
When feedback stays frequent for too long, the child learns to rely on you. Fading it helps them listen to themselves, and that self-monitoring is what helps the skill carry over.
