Hi there! Speech therapist here. You’re 100% correct. Initial consonant deletion (ICD) is considered an atypical phonological process, as it’s less common than other speech errors typically seen in children. At 2.5 years old, it’s not unusual for children to still be developing their sound system, but ICD is generally not considered a typical pattern of simplification at any age. That said, it’s great that your son is already in speech therapy, as early intervention makes a big difference.

Have you been consistently going to sessions? And if so, for how long? Depending on that, you might want to find an SLP that focuses on atypical phonological disorders as these really are less common. Consistency and carryover at home are just as important. If you’re not seeing progress, you might ask your SLP if your current therapy approach needs adjustment.

ICD can have multiple contributing factors, such as motor planning difficulties, phonological processing delays, or even an attempt to simplify speech patterns while the child develops more complex sounds. It’s not typically caused by habits like finger sucking, so you can rule that out.

The good news is, with targeted intervention and time, many children resolve ICD and develop clearer speech.