The speech Banana

Why it matters to a speech pathologist:

As a speech pathologist, I often use a tool called the “speech banana” to help explain to parents how even mild or moderate hearing loss can impact their child’s ability to develop some speech sounds. This is because if a child cannot hear a sound, they cannot learn to say it properly.

What is it?

• A visual area on a hearing test graph (called an audiogram).

• It maps out where human speech sounds sit in relation to common everyday sounds.

• It gets its name from the approximate banana shape these sounds make on the graph.

Why it matters for speech development?

• it helps to identify missing sounds

• explains speech errors

• guides therapy and recommendation

The speech banana on an audiogram of familiar sounds

Listen to see if you think your child may be having trouble hearing some of the sounds they are saying in error.

Book in with an audiologist if you have any concerns.

Express Yourself Speech Therapy is always happy to help if you have any questions about this blog. Connect via the contact page.