What is Backing in Speech Therapy, and Example of Backing

In speech therapy, “backing” refers to a phonological process in which a child substitutes a sound that is produced in the front of the mouth (such as /t/ or /d/) with a sound that is produced in the back of the mouth (such as /k/ or /g/).

For example, a child might say “gog” instead of “dog” or “tup” instead of “cup”. This can make their speech difficult to understand, especially for unfamiliar listeners.

Backed sounds are typically more difficult to produce than front sounds, and this can be a sign of an underlying speech sound disorder. A speech-language pathologist (SLP) can evaluate a child’s speech and provide targeted therapy to help them learn to produce sounds correctly and improve their overall communication abilities.

Here are some more examples of backing

• “kite” becomes “tight”
• “dime” becomes “gime”
• “sun” becomes “gun”
• “zip” becomes “gip”
• “fish” becomes “kish”

These are all instances where a sound produced in the front of the mouth (such as /k/, /d/, /s/, /z/, and /f/) has been replaced with a sound produced in the back of the mouth (such as /t/, /g/, /g/, /g/, and /k/). Backing can occur with various consonant sounds, and it can affect a child’s ability to communicate effectively.

How to improve Backing in Speech Therapy ?

To get better at backing in speech therapy, which means substituting sounds made in the back of your mouth for sounds made in the front, you can try these tips and exercises:

1. Work with a speech therapist: Find a professional who can help you with exercises and activities designed to fix the specific sound substitutions caused by backing. They will show you how to position your tongue and mouth correctly to produce the right sounds.
2. Try tongue and jaw exercises: Strengthening and coordinating the muscles used in speech can be helpful. Your therapist can give you exercises like stretching your tongue, practicing tongue twisters, moving your tongue around, and relaxing your jaw.
3. Use visual and touch cues: Pictures and physical cues can help you become more aware of where the sounds should come from. For example, you can use a mirror to watch your tongue and lips while making sounds, or your therapist can guide you by touching the right spot in your mouth.
4. Practice with similar sounds: Your therapist may give you words that have similar sounds, one of which is made correctly and the other is affected by backing. By practicing these pairs, you can learn to tell the difference and gradually improve your ability to make the right sound.
5. Train your ears: Listening exercises can help you hear and distinguish between different sounds, including the front and back sounds affected by backing. Your therapist can give you tasks to help you train your ear to recognize these differences.
6. Use the sounds in everyday situations: Practice making the target sounds and words in your daily life, not just during therapy. Your therapist can guide you on how to incorporate these sounds into conversations, reading aloud, and other activities to help you use them naturally.
7. Practice at home: It’s important to practice regularly. Ask your therapist for exercises and activities that you can do at home between therapy sessions. Practicing consistently will reinforce what you learn in therapy and help you make progress.

It is crucial to work with a qualified speech therapist who can assess your needs, provide guidance, and support you throughout the process. They will customize the therapy to fit your specific requirements and give you feedback to help you improve.