Many children get confused while differentiating the “shhh” and “echhh” sounds. This is very common in early speech development because both sounds involve airflow and require specific lip or tongue movements. With the simple steps in this blog, you can help your child understand the difference clearly and practice with confidence.
Why Children Get Confused Between These Two Sounds
1. Both sounds involve airflow coming out of the mouth.
2. Both are strong, long, and continuous sounds.
3. Children may not yet understand how tongue or lip positions change the sound.
Step-by-Step Guide to Teach “Shhh” vs “Echhh”
Step 1: Teaching the “Shhh” Sound
This is the sound we use when telling someone to “be quiet,” or when imitating a snake.
Example to explain : Tell your child, “Let’s pretend we are a snake! Snakes say shhhhh.”
Mouth position : Ask your child to round their lips and push the air out gently. Exaggerate your lip shape to help them understand.
Practice :
1. Slowly: “shhhhhhh”
2. Short and repeated: “shhh… shhh”
Step 2: Teaching the “Echhh” Sound
This sound is stronger and requires the tongue to be lifted.
Example to explain : Tell your child, “Let’s pretend we are superheroes pushing out power with a strong breath — echhhhh!”
Mouth position : Ask them to raise their tongue close to the roof of the mouth and release the air with force.
Practice :
1. Slowly: “echhhhh”
2. Short and strong: “echhh!”
Step 3: Comparing Both Sounds
Help your child notice the differences:
1. “Shhh” → Lips rounded, soft airflow, like a snake sound.
2. “Echhh” → Tongue lifted, stronger air push, like blowing out forcefully.
Conclusion
Consistent practice helps children improve sound clarity over time. Try these simple steps regularly to strengthen their understanding of the “shhh” and “echhh” sounds. If your child still struggles, a speech therapist can guide you with structured sound-training techniques.
