Speech therapy: Issues with pronouncing the letter R

Since I haven't been able to dig up much substantial information online, I find myself wondering—is there actually a way to treat this condition? Furthermore, are there specific subtypes involved—perhaps some versions are manageable while others remain entirely uncorrectable?

If any of you have firsthand experience dealing with this, I would truly appreciate it if you could share your insights.

(For those who might be unfamiliar, we are discussing the disorder where an individual is unable to pronounce the letter "r".)

I'm 17 years old now, and I still can't quite nail my "R" sounds. It’s been an ongoing battle—ever since I was a little kid around four or five, I was seeing speech therapists. Before that, if memory serves, I even struggled with my "V" and "P" sounds. I went through all those various tongue exercises—which actually helped me fix other letters, mind you—but the "R"? That remains stubbornly out of reach. Throughout this brief stretch of life, I've dealt with my fair share of psychological hurdles; for instance, I could never truly find my voice in school because of this constant, gnawing fear... the dread that everyone would stare or judge me the moment I opened my mouth. It’s a weight I’ve carried since childhood. Even now, when I'm in a group, I tend to stay silent as a tomb—even though, believe me, I have plenty to say. I've been reading online that these issues can stem from both physical and psychological roots—is there any truth to that? Because, honestly, the way I pronounce my "R" feels incredibly bizarre—at least to me. When I try to force it, my lips instinctively start vibrating instead of my tongue... it's as if my tongue just goes completely paralyzed.

Hi there,

I'm 16 years old and I'm struggling with my pronunciation of the letter R. I have what people call a "French R"—it comes from the back of the throat rather than the tip of my tongue hitting the roof of my mouth. It isn't always super obvious, but whenever I try to tackle a complex word—especially ones containing G or K sounds, which are formed similarly—people often have a hard time understanding me.

I've had this issue since I was an infant; I was born with a tongue-tie (where the tissue under the tongue is too short). My parents took me to the hospital (Mayo Clinic), but it seems they didn't remove enough of it. Unfortunately, they never followed up with a speech therapist, and I honestly resent them for that because of all the teasing and bullying I dealt with in school. I feel like it's high time I finally fix this.

Word on the street is that I might need another surgery to release the tie so I can properly pronounce my Rs. However, as far as I know, the R sound is produced similarly to L or D, and I don't have any trouble at all with those letters. Plus, my tongue feels mobile enough—I can stick it out and move it around quite easily. I really want to avoid going under the knife again, especially if it involves someone using surgical tools to cut the connection between my tongue and my mouth, unless it's absolutely necessary. Before I commit to seeing a speech therapist for potential therapy, I wanted to ask if there's any way to resolve this without surgery.

I'm also wondering how much hope there actually is for speech therapy at my age. Since I'm 16, retraining my speech won't be nearly as simple as it would have been when I was a little kid. The thought of being mocked for this for the rest of my life is honestly overwhelming. 😢 I'd probably just move to the USA to avoid having to deal with the R sound altogether. 😕

P.S. Look, I get that some people might think it's charming or whatever, but the reality is that it bothers me deeply. It tanks my confidence, makes me come across as less serious, and I face mockery quite frequently. I'm still in high school.

Thanks for any advice you can give. 🙂

Edward Harris2 said:Hey there!

I’m 16 and I’ve been struggling with my "R" sounds lately. It’s basically like I have a French accent where the sound comes from the back of my throat instead of that crisp tip-of-the-tongue flick we're supposed to do. Most of the time, people don't even notice, but man, once I hit a complicated word? Total disaster. Especially if there's a "G" or a "K" in there since they all kind of come from the same spot in my throat. Then people just look at me like I'm speaking gibberish! Anyone else dealt with this?

So, I’ve actually dealt with this since I was a literal baby—I was born with a heavy tongue-tie under my lower lip. My parents took me to the hospital back then, but honestly? I don't think they cut enough away to actually fix it. To make matters worse, they never ended up taking me to a speech therapist, which is something I really hold against them. It led to so much teasing and bullying when I was in school, you know? It’s been rough. Honestly, I think it’s finally high time I get this sorted out once and for all!

So, apparently I’m supposed to go back under the knife to get that tie between my tongue and my lip snipped just so I can fix my R sound. But honestly? As far as I can tell, the R sounds pretty much like an L or a D anyway, and I don't have any issues pronouncing anything else! Plus, my tongue is super mobile—I can stick it out or flip it up 90 degrees no problem. I really, really don't want to deal with surgery if I can help it. I mean, who actually wants someone shoving surgical scissors into their mouth to cut some "connection" between their tongue and lip? Not me! So, before I head to a speech therapist for advice (or maybe some therapy), does anyone know if there's a way to fix this without going under the knife?

Also, I’m really wondering—what are the actual odds that speech therapy will even work? I’m sixteen now, so trying to learn how to pronounce letters isn't going to be nearly as easy as it was when I was a little kid. Honestly, just thinking about the possibility of being teased my whole life because of this makes me feel totally hopeless. 😢 I’d probably pack my bags and move to the States just so I wouldn't have to deal with R. Quote anymore! Honestly, who can blame me? 😕

P.S. Look, I get it—you guys might think it’s cute or whatever, but honestly? It really gets to me. It totally kills my confidence and makes me look like a joke. I feel like people aren't taking me seriously at all and I end up getting mocked way too often. And hey, I'm still just in high school!

Thanks so much for all the advice! Seriously, you guys are the best! 🙂

Hey! So, I’m a speech therapist, and I’ve gotta tell you—in my experience, adults actually find it way easier to fix articulation issues than kids do. Especially when it comes to mastering that tricky "R" sound, particularly with that guttural style you've got going on. Don't let that discourage you, though! I just want you to be prepared so you aren't expecting a quick two-week fix and calling it a day. Why do I think adults have the edge? It all comes down to motivation. Fixing this takes a ton of practice, and you need serious drive to stick with it. Little kids? They honestly don't care how they sound! They'll do thirty minutes of exercises with their therapist, head home, and then completely forget about it until their next appointment. That makes progress nearly impossible. But adults who are actually motivated? Those folks hit the exercises at the clinic AND follow through with the homework at home? The results are absolutely killer!🙂🙂 Honestly, it all comes down to motivation, and man, you’ve definitely got plenty of that! As for those little sub-phonetic quirks, here's my two cents: if you can nail the "L" sound without any trouble, then you're already halfway there. A speech therapist will give you the final verdict once they check you out, but I really don't think it'll be a major hurdle. Think about it—an "R" is basically just an "L" with some extra vibration added in, right? So, if your tongue is mobile enough to hit the "L," you just need to find that sweet spot and add the buzz!

I'm rooting for you! Sending all the good vibes your way!🙂

I’ll just throw this out there—you’re probably talking about a guttural or pharyngeal R, whereas that thing connecting your tongue to the bottom of your lip that needs cutting is just the frenulum, you know, the lingual frenum 🙂

But look, if you already had surgery once, I don't see any reason why it wouldn't have been done right—I mean, it's not like some insanely complicated procedure where they could just mess everything up easily... 🤷 Since you have an L issue too, maybe the tip of your tongue just isn't flexible enough, like it's kind of numb or sluggish, making it super hard or even impossible to get those vibrations going for the R sound.

Honestly, the odds of speech therapy actually working are 100%! Just like Megan Smith2 said, it's way easier for an adult than it is for little kids. If you've got the drive and the grit, and you stick to proper speech therapy, you're gonna get there! 😉

Sending love, Megan Smith2, from a future speech pathologist. 😍

Megan Smith2 said:Hey, I’m actually a speech therapist, and I wanted to share my perspective: I find that adults often find it easier to correct articulation issues than children do. This is especially true when you're working on an "R" sound—which is notoriously tricky—particularly since yours has that guttural quality. I’m not saying this to discourage you; I just want you to be prepared that this won't be solved with just two weeks of practice. Why do I think adults have the edge? It really comes down to the sheer amount of practice required, which demands high motivation. Little kids often don't care how they sound; they might go through a thirty-minute session with a therapist and then completely forget about it the moment they walk out the door. That makes progress nearly impossible. Adults, however, who are motivated to work with their therapist and follow through with home exercises, tend to see great results.🙂🙂 As long as there's motivation, and it looks like you definitely have that. Regarding the frenulum issue: in my opinion, if you can pronounce your "L" normally, that shouldn't be a major hurdle... a therapist will confirm that once they evaluate you, but I don't think it should cause much trouble. Think of the "R" as essentially an "L" with vibration; if your tongue is mobile enough for the "L"... you just need to add that vibration.

Wishing you the best of luck🙂

Thanks, you didn't discourage me at all. If it really just boils down to motivation and hard work, I know I can do it. I wasn't expecting a quick fix anyway. An orthodontist told me that my "R" is definitely tied to my frenulum and suggested surgery, but I'd much rather get a second opinion from a speech therapist first. It also makes sense to me that if I can hit the "L," I should be able to hit the "R."

Amanda Sanders44 said:Just to add, what you're describing is a guttural rhotacism, and the tissue connecting your tongue to the bottom of your mouth that might need trimming is called the frenulum.🙂

But honestly, if you've already had that procedure done once, I don't see why it wouldn't have been done correctly—it's not exactly a complicated surgery to get right...🤷 Since you can say "L," it might just be that the tip of your tongue isn't quite mobile enough yet; if it's a bit sluggish, it might struggle to create those necessary vibrations for the "R."

The chances of speech therapy working are 100%! Like Megan Smith2 mentioned, it's actually easier for an adult than for a kid. With your drive and persistence, plus the right therapy, you'll get there! 😉

Best, Megan Smith2, future speech therapist.😍

Thanks for the info. Interestingly, that same orthodontist who suggested surgery also mentioned that this hospital has had issues with improper frenulotomies before. That sounds a bit strange to me, but I can't say for sure. The best move is probably to go see a specialist.

I don't think I'm too sluggish for that, because I can actually "perform" a trilled French R—well, it’s not quite the perfect version, but I know my tongue is definitely capable of that vibration 🙂

I’d love it if one of you two could point me in the right direction. I really want to avoid ending up with some high-strung speech therapist 🙂 Gregory Martinez13, especially if you happen to know a clinic that uses that specific probe 🙂
Thanks so much!

Edward Harris2 said:Thanks, you didn't discourage me at all! If it's just about motivation and practice, I know I can nail it. I wasn't expecting a quick fix anyway. One orthodontist told me my R issue is definitely linked to my frenulum and that I might need surgery, but I’d much rather get a speech therapist's take first. To me, it just makes sense—if I can hit my L sounds, why can't I do the R?

Thanks for the heads-up. Honestly, that same orthodontist who suggested surgery also mentioned this isn't the first time they've had sloppy results at that hospital. Seems a little sketchy to me, right? But hey, what can you do? Best bet is to go see a specialist.

I don't think I'm too slow with it, though, because I can actually pull off a trilled French R. It's not quite perfect, but I know my tongue is totally capable of that vibration!🙂

I'd love it if one of you two could recommend a good spot. I really don't want to end up with some high-strung speech therapist!🙂 Gregory Martinez13, especially if you know a place that uses that specific probe.🙂
Thanks guys!

Pretty much every speech therapist has a probe, but the tool itself doesn't mean much. It's basically just used to help the therapist trigger that R sound so you can see if you're actually capable of doing it...

Anyway, are you looking for a private specialist or going through your insurance?

Megan Smith2 said:Almost every speech therapist has a probe, but the tool itself doesn't really matter. I think it’s mainly used so the therapist can help you work on your R pronunciation, just to see if you can actually pull it off...

Anyway, are you seeing a private specialist or going through your insurance?

Well, I’d love to have a clear idea of what kind of results I should be expecting.🙂
Through my insurance.

I mean, I know they don't even touch a probe over at Suvag because those guys strictly stick to using their specialized machines and headsets.
Honestly, if I were you, I’d just go see a private specialist if you can swing it, because staying here means you're just going to be sitting around waiting forever. At least, that's my take on it... though I guess Megan Smith2 would probably have a better handle on the situation than I do!

Amanda Sanders44 said:I know they don't use that kind of probe at Suvag because they strictly stick to specialized equipment and hearing aids.
If I were you, I’d just hit up a private clinic if you can swing it. Otherwise, be prepared to wait forever. At least, that's my take. > probably knows better than me!

They actually do use them at Suvag (they just keep it low-key so nobody notices😉), but it doesn't really fit their whole vibe.

Anyway, I'm not sure where you're located. But honestly? If you try to go through your insurance, you're looking at a massive waiting list, just like my friend here said. Plus, you won't get any say in who you see. You'll likely end up at Suvag and just pray you get a great speech therapist instead of a mediocre one. If you go private, it's definitely gonna cost you more upfront. So yeah, it all really comes down to what you can afford right now...

I’m based near Washington, D.C., so I’m really hoping I don't end up having to go all the way out to Suvag, since that's quite a trek for me (I'm balancing two different high schools right now, and I live about an hour away from them). At this point, I'm just crossing my fingers that I don't get stuck with a bad one. If things actually turn out that way, I'll just find a private specialist, regardless of what the bill looks like.

Megan Smith2 said:They’re even pulling that stunt over in Suvag, though they make sure to keep it under the table so nobody catches them in the act.😉)

Oh, please... hahaha... they didn't show us a single thing.🙂

Yeah, honestly, what kind of policy is it that actually bans probes? 😕

Edward Harris2 said:Seriously though, what kind of policy is that? Since when do they ban using probes? 😕

Basically, Suvag uses this strict verbotonal method where they pretty much forbid using any extra tools to help get the right vocal pronunciation. We're talking things like probes, mirrors, you name it. But honestly? Most speech therapists over at Suvag have a little mirror or something similar tucked away under their desk anyway. It’s just way easier that way! 🙂

Amanda Sanders44 said:Oh, really? haha... they didn't show us anything...🙂

Man, if only word would get out!🤣🤣

Megan Smith2 said:Basically, Suvag follows a verbotonal method where they strictly discourage using external tools to help achieve correct pronunciation. Things like probes or mirrors, for example. Though, if I'm being honest, most therapists at Suvag probably have a small mirror tucked away under the table anyway. It’s just much easier to work that way.🙂

haha, I don't really see the point of such a strict policy, especially if it actually makes the speech therapists' jobs easier to use those tools 🙂 but alright, I'll just steer clear of Suvag 🙂

Edward Harris2 said:Haha, I don't see the problem with that kind of policy, especially if it makes things easier for speech therapists using tools 🙂 but fine, I guess I'll just stay away from Suvag 🙂

Whoa, hold on! You don't need to dodge Suvag. How can I even put this... think about it like conventional medicine versus alternative medicine. It's the same deal in speech therapy—there are all sorts of different approaches and methods out there. It’s not that one is "better" than the other, they're just different paths to the same goal...
Honestly, the specific method someone uses is actually the least important part, as long as you find a therapist who is genuinely good and actually cares. I've seen therapists with offices packed with high-tech tools and fancy equipment who don't get any results at all. On the flip side, I've seen therapists pull off absolute miracles using basically nothing but a pencil and paper! Of course, you can't pick your provider ahead of time, but you really don't need to avoid a specific clinic. Every place has its superstars and its flops. That's true for every single profession, right? For you, the only thing that 🙂 matters is staying motivated. If you feel like things aren't clicking with the therapist you're seeing, just move on and find someone else...

Thanks so much, Megan Smith2. Suvag is a bit of a trek for me, so I’ll probably end up looking at some other options instead. I'm really hoping I can avoid surgery altogether 🙂

Hey there.
I’m 19 and I struggle with my R and L sounds, plus a bit with some other blends.
I’ve never actually seen a speech therapist or anything like that.
I'm wondering if it's too late to fix this, because it feels like the issue is just getting more obvious as I get older.
It’s especially awkward since my name is ALen, so you can probably imagine the struggle.
If anyone here has dealt with something similar or has any advice, I’d love to hear it.
I'm fully committed to fixing this no matter what, so the motivation is definitely there.
Thanks a lot. 🙂

Hey there. I’m dealing with the exact same issue regarding my R pronunciation. It causes so much tension in everyday situations... honestly, it’s becoming a real struggle. Does one need a referral from a doctor to see a private speech pathologist? I'd much prefer if I didn't need one, because, frankly, it's getting pretty embarrassing...