Does Speaking Two Languages Affect My Child’s Speech Sounds?

Written By Alexandra Gonzalez

Many parents raising bilingual children wonder:

“Is my child confused because they speak two languages?”
“Are their speech errors because they hear Spanish and English?”
“Should I stop speaking Spanish at home?”

Research tells us that bilingual children do not simply develop like two monolingual children combined. Instead, children learning two languages develop their own unique speech patterns influenced by both languages.

Spanish and English share many speech sounds, but each language also has sounds that are different. Because of this, bilingual children may develop certain sounds at different times than children who only speak one language.

For example:

  • Some sounds may develop earlier because a child gets practice using that sound across both languages.

  • Some sounds may appear different because of normal language differences between Spanish and English.

  • A speech difference caused by bilingual development is not the same as a speech disorder.

When evaluating bilingual children, it is important to look at the whole child:

  • exposure to each language

  • languages spoken at home and school

  • speech skills in BOTH languages

  • natural communication during everyday activities

Research also supports the value of listening to children during natural conversations, not just testing single words. A child’s everyday speech can provide important information about how they communicate in real life.

The most important message for families:

Speaking Spanish at home does not hurt your child’s speech development. Maintaining your home language helps children stay connected with their family, culture, and community.

If you have concerns about your bilingual child’s speech clarity, a bilingual speech-language evaluation can help determine whether your child is showing typical bilingual development or may benefit from extra support.

At BilinGrow Therapy, we celebrate bilingual communication and help children grow their skills while honoring every language that is part of their story.

Alexandra Gonzalez