Listening to SLPs: how helpful are Australian English acquisition norms for velar stops to the child speech evaluation process?

Varying research methodologies in gathering, analysing and reporting normative data for speech sound acquisition have led to inconsistencies in the reported ages of acquisition for the velar stops /k/ and /g/, while observational accounts from speech language pathologists (SLPs) suggest later mastery than some normative data indicate. Our aim was to explore Australian SLPs’ perspectives on /k/ and /g/ acquisition by monolingual Australian English-speaking children. We used mixed methods to explore the perspectives of 54 SLPs who completed an online survey, and four who participated in a focus group. Of those surveyed, around 50% believed velar stops may be acquired later than normative data suggest, a finding reflected in thematic analysis of focus group discussions. Revised and updated normative data for /k/ and /g/ acquisition in Australian English-speaking children may better guide clinical decision-making for children with speech sound disorders.