Sound Detective Slides
Sound Awareness & Listening Clinic
Speech Articulation Practice
Sound Detective Club!
Put on your detective ears! Today we train our brains to notice, compare, and catch speech sounds hiding in words.
Super Ears
Listen for tiny sound differences
Watch the Lips
Notice tooth & tongue positions
Sound Match
Decide: same sound or different?
Therapist Prompt: Have the learner tap their ears and check in before opening the first sound box! Slide 1 / 8
Listening Skill #1
How Does the Sound Move?
Sound Airflow
Long Sounds
The air keeps flowing and doesn't stop!
/ s / • / f / • / m /
"Hissing Snake & Wind"
Short Pop Sounds
Quick burst of air that stops right away!
/ p / • / t / • / k /
"Popcorn & Fireworks"
Buzzing Voice
Touch your throat—does your motor hum?
/ z / • / v / • / b /
"Bumblebee Motor ON"
Clinician Tip: Model a sound and ask student: "Was that a long sound or a pop sound?" Slide 2 / 8
Listening Skill #2
Same Sound or Different Sound?
Listen Closely
SAME!
Both sounds match like twins!
Example: / s / ... / s / • MATCH!
DIFFERENT!
The sounds are not the same!
Example: / s / ... / ʃ / (sh) • NOT A MATCH!
Practice Pairs: 1. /t/ vs /t/ | 2. /f/ vs /θ/ | 3. /p/ vs /b/ Slide 3 / 8
Target Sound Spotlight
The Snake Sound: / s /
Mouth Map
1. Smile & Close Teeth
Gently pull the corners of your lips back into a smile. Let your teeth come together like a gate.
Teeth Cage Closed!
2. Hide the Tongue
The tongue tip hides right behind the top front teeth on the bumpy ridge. Do not let it peek through!
No Tongue Peeking!
3. Cool Air Blast
Blow a skinny stream of cool air straight forward down the center line. Put your hand in front to feel it!
Feel the Cool Breeze!
Sound Imposter Alert: If tongue slips out between teeth, it turns into / θ / ("th")! Keep it inside!
Slide 4 / 8
Active Listening Challenge
Thumbs Up! Did You Hear / s /?
YES! NO SOUND
☀️
SUN
Listen to the start...
/ s / Sound!
🐟
FISH
Listen to the end...
Quiet "sh" sound!
🧦
SOCK
Listen to the start...
/ s / Sound!
🚗
CAR
Listen all the way...
No / s / here!
Therapist Instruction: Say each target word clearly. Wait 2 seconds before student shows their signal! Slide 5 / 8
Sound Position Tracking
Where Does the Sound Hide?
Sound Location
ENGINE
Beginning
The very first sound your mouth makes!
SEED
SOAP
SAND
BOXCAR
Middle
Tucked right inside the middle of the word!
BASKET
PISTACHIO
FOSSIL
CABOOSE
Ending
The caboose sound at the very finish!
BUS
GLASS
HOUSE
Train Challenge: Point to the engine, boxcar, or caboose when you hear the snake sound! Slide 6 / 8
Minimal Pair Showdown
Which Word Did the Clinician Say?
Sound Twins
Pair 1: Long vs Tap
🌊
SEA
/ s /
🍵
TEA
/ t /
"Did it hiss or tap?"
Pair 2: Inside vs Peek
🚰
SINK
/ s /
💭
THINK
/ θ /
"Did the tongue hide or peek?"
Pair 3: Smile vs Round
🧦
SOCK
/ s /
⚡
SHOCK
/ ʃ /
"Smiling lips or circle lips?"
Clinician Tip: Cover your mouth on round 2 so student relies 100% on auditory discrimination! Slide 7 / 8
Mission Accomplished!
Sound Awareness Check-in
Master Sound Detective
Ear Training Level 1 Complete!
Super Listener Status ⭐
What We Mastered Today:
Spotted Sound Families
Identified long hissing sounds vs. quick popping sounds.
Same vs. Different Discriminations
Heard tiny differences between tricky sound twins like /s/ and /θ/.
Sound Position Tracking
Found target sounds at the beginning, middle, and end of words.
Next Step: Ready to warm up our own speech voices for sound production! Slide 8 / 8
