5 Easy Tips for Mastering the Retroflex R: SLP Podcast Episode
Many Speech-Language Pathologists find treating vocalic r sounds to be tricky. On this podcast episode, you’ll find easy tips for eliciting the retroflex r sound in your speech therapy session. This episode reviews the difference between a bunched r vs a retroflex r. It also reviews why starting with the vocalic ER sound in isolation builds a strong foundation. Finally, you’ll learn high-success strategies and ideas for eliciting the retroflex r.
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Listen to the Retroflex R Podcast
Mastering Retroflex R in Speech Therapy Podcast Episode Summary
In today’s episode, we deep dive into the retroflex r sound.
We start by explaining the differences between a bunched r and a retroflex r.
When a student is using the retroflex r tongue shape, you will see the underside of the tongue.
The tongue tip curls up and slightly back toward the alveolar ridge, but without actually touching it.
This is different than the bunched r, in which the tongue is lifted up and back. The sides of the tongue are touching the back molars.
Both tongue shapes can produce a correct R sound.
I love to have a typodont on hand when teaching this sound.
I purposely have a mouth model on hand that does not include a tongue because I like to use my hand or even play dough to teach lingual placement.
I also recommend having a mirror. When my students are working on R, they tend to shift their jaw from side to side. The mirror provides powerful feedback.
Another tool you might include is something to provide simple auditory feedback, such as a recording app on your iPad or a microphone. And that can help your students listen back.
I always start with the vocalic ER sound in isolation, as this is the foundational skill required for success with all of the vocalic r sounds. For example, “OR” is really “OH” + “ER”.
One method that I love is finding a word that starts with R, something that your student can already say. For example, if your student can say the word ‘rain’, use that to elicit the ER. Have them stretch out the beginning of the word.
Next, you can try the slide or tap back method.
To teach this, you would start from the L sound. Then, have your student slide the tongue tip back toward the retroflex position.
Some of my students can get this right away, but a lot of them do find it confusing, which is why I also like to have that typodont on hand.
To demonstrate using a typodont, I show the “slide” or tap back motion with my finger, moving from just behind the teeth and then tapping or sliding back along the palate. Pam Marshalla discussed this tap back or slide method in her work, and it can be really effective for visual learners.
Next up is my favorite tip, the “pirate hook” analogy. Lay your hand flat, palm down, and then curl your fingers back toward your wrist like you’re making a pirate hook.
That curved motion mimics the way that the tongue curls back for a retroflex R. Pair this with a typodont for an even better visualization.
Recommended Speech Therapy Resources
Here are the recommended resources from this episode:
- Typodont
- Correct that Vocalic R Program
- 5 Minute R Manual (free): https://thepedispeechie.kit.com/6718f5c346
