Cluster Reduction

Cluster reduction is when one or more consonants from a cluster of sounds in a word is deleted.  An example would be saying "ree" for "tree" or "cown" for "clown."  This is known as a phonological process.  If your child can produce all the sounds in the word, but simply does not, then she is making an "error" known as a "phonological process."  Phonological  processes are patterns of errors.  (If your child is deleting a sound because she cannot produce the sound correctly, this is simply an omission of a sound and falls into the category of an articulation disorder.  To increase articulation skills, please click on the appropriate sound on the right sidebar.)

To treat cluster reduction, I suggest having your child practice saying the names of traditional Pittsburgh foods.  A good cue is to remind her to "make all the sounds in the word."

Practice with these foods below.

"Primanti Brothers;" "French fries;" "coleslaw"

Image retrieved from the word wide web on 1/29/14 from goodfoodstories.com via google search for "pittsburgh foods."

"Chipped ham"

Image retrieved from the world wide web on 1/29/14 from cookiemcgill.blogspot.com via google search for "chipped ham."

"Clark bar"

Image retrieved from the word wide web on 1/29/14 from goodfoodstories.com via google search for "pittsburgh foods."

"Smiley cookies"

 

Image retrieved from the world wide web on 1/29/14 from youngfreefrugal.com via google search fro "smiley cookies pittsburgh."

"Klondike bar"

Image retrieved from the world wide web on 1/20/14 from browneyedbaker.com via google search for images "klondike bar."

"Halusky"

Image retrieved from the world wide web on 1/29/14 from chocolatemoosey.com via google search for images "halusky pittsburgh."

"Cabbage rolls"

Image retrieved from the world wide web on 1/29/14 from mashalloyd.blogspot.com via google search for images "cabbage rolls pittsburgh."

"Oyster bar"

Image retrieved from the world wide web on 1/29/14 from roadfood.com via google search for images "oyster bar pittsburgh."

"Pierogies with sauerkraut"

Image retrieved from the world wide web on 1/29/14 from sweetandsaucy.wordpress.com via google search for images "pierogies with sauerkraut."

"Heinz ketchup"

Image retrieved from the world wide web on 1/29/14 from schools.graniteschools.com via google search for images "heinz ketchup."

"Ice cream;" "Dave and Andy's"

Image retrieved from the world wide web on 1/29/14 from joyofkosher.com via google search for images "ice cream."

If your child needs more cueing, then break up the sounds in the word.  Let us take the word "street," which has three consonants in the cluster.  First have your child say "-eet."  Then, add the /r/ sound and have her say "-reet."  Next, add the /t/ sound and have her say "-treet."  Finally, add the /s/ sound and have her say "street."  Do this slowly. 

An alternative method is to start with the beginning sound.  Again, I will use the example of "street."  Have your child produce the first sound, the /s/ sound.  Then, have her produce the /st/ sound.  Next, have her produce the /str/ sound.  Finally, have her put the sounds together to produce "street."  Making all the sounds slowly at first helps, as does modeling the sounds for her.

What Pittsburgh food words containing clusters did I miss?  Please post below!