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Guess the Veggie

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Written by: Natanael Dobra
Category: English
Hits: 142

Guess the Veggie!

Guess the Veggie! is a vibrant, engaging game that brings vegetable identification to life through two exciting formats:
• A lively offline group activity for kids and adults
• A captivating solo online challenge

In the offline group version, one child or adult selects a vegetable by drawing a card from a colorful, downloadable PDF flashcard set (designed for printing and laminating to ensure durability and reusability). The guesser(s) ask clever yes-or-no questions about color, shape, taste, or texture to deduce the vegetable’s identity, earning one token per correct guess. The player with the most tokens wins. In team play, a facilitator selects a card, and each team gets one chance to guess. The team with the most correct guesses is declared the winner.

The solo online version, playable on smartphones or tablets, challenges players to identify the vegetable’s name using up to 10 descriptive clues. If the player does not guess correctly by the 10th clue, the vegetable’s name is revealed. The player must then type the name and press a check button to view the image before continuing to the next challenge.

Designed with simple, kid-friendly questions in mind, the offline version of Guess the Veggie! fosters curiosity, collaboration, and critical thinking—making it ideal for family gatherings, classrooms, or therapy sessions. The solo online version encourages independent focus and problem-solving for young players.

In educational settings, the offline game—featuring flexible, flashcard-based formats—enriches lessons on nutrition, plant science, and logical reasoning. Kids work together or create new games to expand their vocabulary. The online version reinforces solo learning through clue-based deduction.

In speech therapy, the offline version helps children build expressive and receptive language skills through structured question-asking and answering. The online version supports individual practice with clear, descriptive clues.

For children or adults with aphasia, the offline game’s vivid flashcards and the online version’s accessible clues and visual reveals provide engaging ways to practice word retrieval, sentence construction, and comprehension in a fun, supportive environment.

Whether played offline with laminated flashcards or solo online via the app, Guess the Veggie! invites players to explore a colorful world of vegetables—igniting curiosity and building joyful connections with every guess.

Vegetables

For Kids (Easy to Guess):
Potato, Carrot, Onion, Cucumber, Tomato, Bell Pepper, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Mushroom, Spinach, Corn, Pumpkin, Radish, Garlic, Celery, Lettuce

For Adults (Additional Challenges):
Zucchini, Green Beans, Peas, Eggplant, Beet, Kale, Asparagus, Turnip, Butternut Squash, Chili Pepper, Oregano

Approach

Kids’ Question Set (Offline Group Play):
Questions are straightforward and focus on observable traits like color, size, shape, texture (e.g., smooth, bumpy, leafy), taste, and whether the vegetable is eaten raw or cooked—tailored for young players.

Offline Gameplay Mechanics:
One player holds a flashcard and answers yes-or-no questions from the guesser(s), who use deduction to identify the vegetable. Correct guesses earn one token. The player or team with the most tokens wins.
In team play, a facilitator selects the card, and teams take turns guessing with one chance each per round. Players can also create variants such as timed speed rounds, acting out the vegetable, or matching flashcards to descriptions for added fun.

Online Solo Gameplay Mechanics:
The app provides up to 10 clues (e.g., “I am crunchy when raw” or “I grow underground”). Players can guess at any time. If no correct guess is made after the 10th clue, the name is revealed. The player must type it and press the check button to view the image and continue.

Creative Flexibility:
The flashcard set’s versatility allows players to invent new games like vegetable memory match or category sorting (e.g., group by color or growth type), making it adaptable for various settings and skill levels.

Therapeutic Value:
Both versions support language and cognitive development. Offline play encourages social interaction through customizable gameplay, while online play promotes independent focus and structured thinking.

Children’s Question Set – Examples (Offline Group Play)

  • Is it green? – Identifies cucumber, spinach, broccoli, lettuce.
  • Is it red? – Points to tomato, radish.
  • Is it round? – Applies to potato, onion, tomato, cabbage, radish.
  • Is it long? – Describes carrot, celery.
  • Is it small? – Covers radish, garlic cloves.
  • Is it bigger than your hand? – Includes pumpkin, cabbage.
  • Is it leafy? – Identifies lettuce, spinach, cabbage.
  • Is the skin smooth? – Applies to tomato, cucumber, bell pepper.
  • Is the skin rough or bumpy? – Points to potato, broccoli.
  • Is the skin edible? – Includes cucumber, tomato, bell pepper.
  • Is it crunchy? – Describes carrot, celery, bell pepper, radish.
  • Is it soft when cooked? – Applies to potato.
  • Is it spicy? – Points to chili pepper.
  • Is it sweet? – Includes corn, carrot.
  • Is it bitter? – Suggests turnip.
  • Does it grow underground? – Covers potato, carrot, onion, garlic, radish.
  • Does it grow on a vine? – Includes tomato, cucumber.
  • Does it grow on a stalk? – Applies to corn, celery.
  • Is it used in salads? – Points to lettuce, cucumber, tomato, bell pepper.
  • Is it used in soups? – Includes potato, carrot, onion, celery.
  • Does it smell strong? – Suggests onion, garlic.
  • Is it eaten raw? – Applies to carrot, cucumber, lettuce, bell pepper.
  • Is it an herb? – Identifies oregano.

Vegetable Identification Example (Offline Group Play)

Potato – Sample Questions and Answers:

  • Is it round? – Yes
  • Does it grow above the ground? – No
  • Does it grow underground? – Yes
  • Is it white or yellow inside? – Yes
  • Is the skin rough? – Yes
  • Is it soft when cooked? – Yes
  • Is it used in soups? – Yes
  • Can you fry it? – Yes
  • Is it a potato? – Yes
  • …

Download “Guess the Veggie! – Flashcard set” to print and laminate for endless offline group fun with creative game variants, or dive into the solo online challenge with the “Guess the Veggie!”

Guess the Veggie 1

 

Guess the Veggie! - Solo Play --- Tap the picture to start playing!

Guess the Veggie

 

 

Practical Insights MSD

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Written by: Natanael Dobra
Category: English
Hits: 152

Practical Insights for Motor Speech Disorders MSD

Download the full article " Practical Insights for Motor Speech Disorders (MSD) ".

 

Practical Insights for Motor Speech Disorders (MSD)

  1. Use Non-Speech Gestures as Cues to Support (Facilitate) Speech Sounds

Non-speech gestures such as “blowing out a candle” can help transfer motor patterns to speech production, especially for rounded vowels like /u/. For example, after or while practicing blowing, encourages the client to produce the vowel /u/ or moo (as in “moon”), which shares similar lip rounding and oral posture.
Hand opens like a pop – to cue plosive sounds like /p/, /b/, etc. (e.g., "pop")
Hands pressed together then burst apart – cue for stop (plosive) sounds like /p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, /g/ (e.g., "cup").
Finger to lips – to cue lip closure for bilabials like /m/, /p/, /b/ (e.g., "mom")
Index placed vertically in front of the lips, mimicking the “shh” silence gesture – to cue long fricatives like /ʃ/ in "shoe"
Finger to throat – to increase awareness of voicing in voiced sounds (e.g., /b/ vs. /p/)
"Snake" motion with hand – continuous movement to cue /s/ (e.g., "sun")
Finger to nose – cue for nasal consonants like /m/, /n/ (e.g., "no")
Fingers “walking” backward – cue for back-of-mouth sounds like /k/ or /g/ (e.g., "go")
Fingers “walking” forward – cue for front-of-mouth sounds like /t/, /d/ (e.g., "top")
Hands spreading wide – to model wide oral opening for low vowels (e.g., /ɑ/ in "sock")

  1. Consider Manner of Articulation When Choosing Target Sounds

Stops (/p/, /t/, /k/) are generally easier to produce than fricatives (/s/, /f/), and fricatives are easier than affricates (/ʧ/, /ʤ/), especially when respiratory support is reduced.
Nasals (/m/, /n/) tend to be easier than fricatives and affricates if palatal closure is weak or inconsistent.

  1. Target Easier Sounds Based on Palatal Closure and Word Shape, Not Isolated Sounds

When palatal closure is weak, nasals, vowels, and glides are easier to produce than consonants requiring intraoral pressure. However, these target sounds should be practiced within syllables and words, not just in isolation, because motor planning depends on co-articulation and word shape. Articulation drills should emphasize movement and syllable transitions, not fixed tongue or lip positions.

  1. Use Phonetic Context to Facilitate or Challenge Articulation

The sounds surrounding a target (phonetic environment) influence accuracy through co-articulation effects. For example, alveolar consonants (/t/, /d/, /n/) are easier next to high vowels like /i/ (“tea”) because the tongue is already raised forward. Conversely, jaw-open vowels (/ɑ/) may retract the tongue, making alveolar sounds harder.
Always consider phonetic context and word shape when selecting stimuli.

  1. Be Aware That Syntactic Complexity Impacts Motor Performance

Speech production is both motor and cognitive. Increased linguistic complexity (longer or more complex sentences) requires more cognitive resources for word retrieval and syntax, which can detract from motor planning. Clients with CAS or AOS might say a word correctly in isolation but struggle in sentences due to sequencing demands.This is why the approach begins not with isolated sounds but with target sounds in monosyllabic words, then gradually increases complexity through disyllabic and polysyllabic words, increasing linguistic load as motor control improves.

  1. Address Morphological Complexity Gradually

Morphologically complex words (e.g., 'jumping' or 'reopening') contain more morphemes, often resulting in additional syllables and phonemes, which increases motor planning demands. Introduce morphological elements step by step—from simple root words to words with prefixes or suffixes—to gradually build motor planning skills.

  1. Use Minimal Contrast Pairs to Reduce Motor Demands Early On

Begin with minimal or near-minimal pairs that differ by just one phonological feature (e.g., 'pea' vs. 'bee') to support early motor planning. Then progress to pairs like 'top' vs. 'cop,' which differ by both place and voicing. Once consistent control is established, introduce maximal oppositions—word pairs that differ by multiple phonological features (e.g., ship" vs. "lip,' differing in place, manner, and voicing)—to further challenge and expand the child's motor speech repertoire.

  1. Use Words Differing by One Sound to Build Complexity

For example, target /st/ cluster starting from the word “top” by adding /s/ “stop” to help transition from monosyllabic words without clusters to those with consonant clusters, gradually increasing motor complexity.

  1. Incorporate Right-Hand Movements to Support Speech Motor Planning

Moving the right hand during speech practice may improve articulation because, in most individuals, the left hemisphere—which predominantly controls language functions—also controls the right hand. Crucially, brain areas such as Broca’s area and the premotor cortex are involved in both speech motor planning and hand movement coordination. Engaging the right hand during speech exercises activates these overlapping regions simultaneously, strengthening neural connections and supporting more precise motor planning and production. Sensorimotor integration theories suggest that coupling speech with hand movements facilitates motor learning by engaging shared neural circuits, which may enhance articulation skills.

Note: Broca’s area is usually in the left hemisphere for ~95% of right-handed and ~70% of left-handed people. For others, brain organization varies.

  1. Encourage Mental Practice Outside Therapy Sessions

Ask clients to imagine producing target sounds before sleep or during quiet times. Although this mental rehearsal does not involve physically producing speech, it activates many of the same brain regions responsible for motor planning, such as the premotor cortex and supplementary motor area. By mentally simulating the movements required for speech, these motor planning areas are engaged and reinforced without actual execution. This activation helps strengthen neural connections involved in planning and coordinating speech movements, supporting motor learning and improving speech production over time. Combining mental rehearsal with visualization of articulator movements—such as imagining the tongue, lips, or jaw moving to produce the sound—can further engage sensory and motor regions, enhancing the precision and effectiveness of the motor plan. Mental rehearsal, paired with vivid articulatory imagery, leverages the brain’s ability to simulate and refine speech actions internally, making it a valuable adjunct to active speech practice, especially when physical practice is limited

  1. Prefer Meaningful Stimuli Over Nonsense Syllables for CAS/AOS

Meaningful words and phrases are more motivating and effective for motor planning practice in CAS/AOS than nonsense syllables, which are more common in articulation disorder therapy.

  1. Use Compensatory Strategies for Motor Limitations

When a specific articulator (like the tongue tip) has limited control, encourage alternative strategies that enable clearer speech production. For example, for the /s/ sound, if tongue tip control is weak, the speaker can produce /s/ with the tongue tip down—sometimes even touching the lower front teeth—while raising the tongue blade to create the necessary airflow and sound clarity. Being creative and flexible in identifying such compensations can help improve clarity across multiple speech sounds, not just one. Tailoring compensatory approaches to each individual's motor abilities supports functional communication despite underlying limitations

  1. Use Over-Enunciation and Exaggerated Mouth Movements

Exaggerated movements enhance sensory feedback by increasing visual cues, tactile sensations, and proprioceptive input. This heightened feedback helps clients better see and feel the precise articulatory targets they need to achieve, which is critical for refining their speech movements. Such amplified sensory information supports motor learning by reinforcing accurate motor plans and correcting errors. This approach is especially beneficial for individuals with poor internal models of movement—common in conditions like Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) and Apraxia of Speech (AOS)—where the brain’s ability to predict and monitor speech movements is impaired

  1. Slow Speech Rate to Support Motor Planning and Accuracy

Slower, controlled speech gives more time for planning and executing movements and allows focus on accurate transitions between sounds and syllables, which are often impaired in CAS and AOS.

  1. Base Therapy on Phonetic Syllables, Not Written Syllables

In Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) and Apraxia of Speech (AOS), syllables are fundamental motor units that are planned and executed in real time based on how speech sounds are physically produced, rather than how they are written or divided by orthographic or morphological rules. This distinction is important because orthographic syllabification (how words are split in writing) often does not align with actual articulatory patterns in spoken language. For example, written syllable breaks may separate consonants that function as onsets in natural speech, causing confusion when used in therapy. Therefore, speech therapy should focus on phonetic syllable structures—such as consonant-vowel (CV) or consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC)—which reflect the real motor demands of producing sounds. This approach simplifies motor planning by targeting syllable shapes as they naturally occur in speech, making it especially effective for clients with CAS/AOS who struggle with sequencing and timing of speech movements. Using phonetic rather than orthographic syllabification helps therapists create clearer, more accurate, and developmentally appropriate targets for speech motor learning.

Note: For more detail, see my article “Why I Chose Phonetic Syllabification for Speech Therapy.”

  1. Adjust Targets for Clients with Atypical Sound Acquisition Patterns

Some clients produce later-acquired sounds like /s/ or /l/ before earlier-developing sounds such as /p/ or /n/. This unexpected pattern does not always reflect true underlying motor ability but may instead relate to differences in sensorimotor access, compensatory strategies, or individual variations in how the speech system is organized and recruited. In these cases, it’s essential to look beyond typical developmental norms and consider how accurately and consistently each sound is produced in the child’s current speech system. A sound that is traditionally labeled as “complex” may, in practice, be more stable and accessible for a given client. For example, if /s/ is consistently produced clearly and with minimal effort, it can be treated as an “easy” sound for therapy purposes—even if it is typically considered a late-acquired, high-complexity sound. This individualized, performance-based approach allows for more effective and tailored treatment planning.For more detail and examples, see my article Oral Motor Complexity Score.

 

  1. Focus on Underlying Motor Planning, Not Just Articulation of Individual Sounds

In motor speech disorders like Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) and Apraxia of Speech (AOS), progress hinges on improving the child’s overall motor planning abilities—not simply achieving correct production of individual speech sounds. These disorders involve difficulty in programming and sequencing the movements needed for fluent, accurate speech, which means that even sounds a child can produce correctly in isolation may break down in longer utterances or varied contexts. If therapy focuses only on isolated phonemes without systematically addressing the underlying motor planning deficit, progress will often be slow, inconsistent, or plateau prematurely. Targeting the root cause—motor planning and the smooth transition between speech movements—is essential for meaningful, lasting improvement in functional communication.

 

 

Apraxia of speech

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Written by: Natanael Dobra
Category: English
Hits: 134

Childhood Apraxia of Speech: Understanding and Practicing with Our Resources

Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is a motor speech disorder where children struggle to plan and coordinate the movements needed for clear speech, despite normal muscle strength. Children with CAS may produce inconsistent speech errors, struggle with sequencing sounds, or have difficulty imitating words. They often start with simple word shapes (e.g., “bee”) and progress to complex ones (e.g., “brick”). In adults, Apraxia of Speech (AOS), typically caused by stroke or brain injury, involves similar challenges in coordinating speech movements.

Our website is developing a dedicated section for CAS and AOS, featuring evidence-based tools to support speech practice and progress. Currently under construction, this section will include structured speech therapy worksheets organized by articulatory complexity, starting with simple words like “bee” and advancing to complex words like “brick.” You’ll also find interactive flashcards to reinforce learning and online apps for flexible, at-home practice. Designed for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and caregivers, these resources aim to make therapy engaging and effective.

Check back weekly for updates as we build this section. Explore these tools to support your CAS or AOS therapy journey with confidence!

Motor Speech Disorders

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Written by: Natanael Dobra
Category: English
Hits: 125

Motor Speech Disorders: Understanding and Practicing with Our Resources

Motor speech disorders affect the ability to plan, coordinate, and execute the movements needed for clear speech. These disorders, caused by neurological conditions, impact muscle control for speaking, leading to challenges in articulation, fluency, or voice. Common examples include Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), where children struggle to plan precise speech movements, resulting in inconsistent errors, and dysarthria, often seen in adults or children with conditions like cerebral palsy or stroke, causing slurred or unclear speech due to muscle weakness or poor coordination.

Our website is developing a dedicated section to support individuals with motor speech disorders, featuring evidence-based tools to practice and improve speech. This section, currently under construction, will include structured speech therapy worksheets, organized by articulatory complexity, to target specific sounds and skills, from simple words like “bee” to complex ones like “brick.” You’ll also find interactive flashcards to reinforce learning, online apps for flexible, at-home practice, and additional resources to guide speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and caregivers. These tools are designed to make therapy engaging and effective, empowering users to progress at their own pace.

The motor speech disorders section is still being built, so check back weekly for new resources and updates. Visit regularly to access these tools, practice with confidence, and support your speech therapy journey!

Oral Motor Complexity Score

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Written by: Natanael Dobra
Category: English
Hits: 182

Oral Motor Complexity Score

Download the full article "Oral Motor Complexity Score: Organizing Speech Therapy Targets by Difficulty".

 

Oral Motor Complexity Score: Organizing Speech Therapy Targets by Difficulty

Structured speech therapy worksheets with items selected and organized based on the complexity of oral movements required to produce each word or syllable.

Introduction

These speech therapy worksheets are designed to support individuals with a range of speech and language difficulties. They are especially helpful for young children (ages 3–6) with developmental speech disorders such as Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), as well as for adults with motor speech impairments like dysarthria or other speech production and expressive language challenges. Unlike the general word banks available on my website, which are sorted by individual speech sounds for each consonant, these new worksheets contain monosyllabic words and syllables organized using a structured, multi-factor scoring system. This system increases clinical relevance by allowing words to be selected based on their complexity and the client’s current skill level. Some words also appear in the general word banks, but these therapy worksheets are arranged to enable gradual progression from simpler to more complex speech targets.

The worksheets focus on monosyllabic words and syllables containing a target consonant sound used in therapy (e.g., /b/). Scoring applies only to the target consonant and its immediate context, allowing focused practice on specific articulatory goals. By organizing words and syllables from easiest to most challenging based on five factors—consonant sound acquisition, place of articulation, vowel placement, consonant clusters, and word shape—the worksheets provide clinicians and caregivers with a practical tool to select therapy targets that align with a client’s current abilities, supporting steady and effective progress in speech-language intervention.

Scoring System

  1. Consonant Sound Acquisition
    Consonants are scored based on the typical age of acquisition in children:
Score 1: Early sounds (ages 2–3), e.g., /b/, /p/, /m/, /n/, /w/, /h/
Score 2: Mid sounds (ages 3–4), e.g., /t/, /d/, /k/, /g/, /f/, /ŋ/, /j/ (“y”)
Score 3: Later sounds (age 5), e.g., /v/, /s/, /z/, /ʧ/ (“ch”), /ʤ/ (“j”)
Score 4: Latest sounds (age 6+), e.g., /l/, /r/, /ʃ/ (“sh”), /ʒ/ (“measure”), /θ/ (“voiceless th”), /ð/ (“voiced th”)
The scores of all consonants in a word are summed to calculate the total consonant score.
  1. Place of Articulation
    When consonant scores are equal, this factor determines relative difficulty. Consonants produced at the front of the mouth are simpler:
Score 1: Front sounds (lip-based, bilabial), e.g., /b/, /p/, /m/
Score 2: Middle sounds (tongue-tip, alveolar, labio- or interdental), e.g., /t/, /d/, /n/, /s/, /z/, /l/, /r/, /f/, /v/, /θ/, /ð/
Score 3: Back sounds (post-alveolar, palatal, velar, glottal, labiovelar), e.g., /k/, /g/, /ŋ/, /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /ʧ/, /ʤ/, /j/, /w/, /h/
Scores for all consonants are summed.
  1. Vowel Placement
    Vowels are scored based on tongue position, with front vowels being easier:
Score 1: Front vowels, e.g., /i/ (“see”), /ɪ/ (“sit”), /e/ (“say”), /æ/ (“cat”)
Score 2: Middle vowels, e.g., /ʌ/ (“cup”), /ə/ (“sofa”)
Score 3: Back vowels, e.g., /u/ (“too”), /ʊ/ (“book”), /ɑ/ (“father”), /ɔ/ (“law”), /o/
Score 3: Diphthongs, e.g., /aɪ/ (“buy”), /aʊ/ (“cow”), /ɔɪ/ (“boy”), /eɪ/ (“say”), /oʊ/ (“go”)
  1. Consonant Cluster Rule
    Words are divided into two groups based on the target consonant /b/:
Group 1: /b/ is adjacent to a vowel or diphthong (e.g., “bee,” “boil”), simpler to articulate.
Group 2: /b/ is part of a consonant cluster (e.g., “bulb,” “brick”), more complex.
Group 1 words are prioritized as easier targets.
  1. Word Shape
    When other scores are equal, word shape determines order:
Simpler shapes (e.g., CV: “bee”; CVC: “bin”) precede complex shapes (e.g., CCVC: “brick”; CVCC: “bulb”).
Shorter words are prioritized over longer ones to reduce initial complexity.

 

Word Examples and Therapeutic Rationale

The following table summarizes the scoring for four example words containing /b/, ordered from easiest to most complex, based on the five criteria. Detailed explanations follow, illustrating how each word’s scores contribute to its therapeutic value.

 

Word

Consonant Score

Place Score

Vowel Score

Cluster Group

Word Shape

Total Score

Bee

1 (/b/)

1 (/b/)

1 (/i/)

Group 1

CV

3

Bin

2 (/b/, /n/)

3 (/b/, /n/)

1 (/ɪ/)

Group 1

CVC

6

Bulb

6 (/b/, /l/)

4 (/b/, /l/)

2 (/ʌ/)

Group 2

CVCC

12

Brick

7 (/b/, /r/, /k/)

6 (/b/, /r/, /k/)

1 (/ɪ/)

Group 2

CCVC

14

 

Bee 

  1. Consonant Sound Acquisition:

One consonant, /b/ (score 1, acquired ages 2–3). Total: 1.

Early-acquired sounds allow beginners to succeed, building confidence.

  1. Place of Articulation:

/b/ is a bilabial stop consonant (score 1), produced by closing both lips to stop airflow.

Bilabial articulation is simple, ideal for early learners.

  1. Vowel Placement:

/i/ (“see”) is a high front vowel (score 1), with the tongue positioned high and forward, requiring minimal movement for ease of production.

  1. Consonant Cluster Rule:

Group 1 (no cluster), reducing articulatory demands.

  1. Word Shape:

CV (consonant-vowel), the simplest shape, minimizing motor planning

 

Total Score: 3

Therapeutic Value: “Bee” is easy because it uses an early-acquired bilabial stop consonant, a high front vowel, no consonant cluster, and a simple CV shape. It is ideal for beginners, allowing focused practice on /b/ with minimal motor planning demands, promoting early success in therapy.

 

Bin 

  1. Consonant Sound Acquisition:

Two consonants, /b/ (score 1, acquired ages 2–3) and /n/ (score 1, acquired ages 2–3). Total: 2.

Early-acquired sounds keep the word accessible for beginners.

  1. Place of Articulation:

/b/ is a bilabial stop consonant (score 1), produced by closing both lips to stop airflow;

/n/ is an alveolar nasal consonant (score 2), produced with the tongue tip at the alveolar ridge and nasal airflow. Total: 3.

The alveolar articulation adds slight complexity.

  1. Vowel Placement:

/ɪ/ (“sit”) is a near-high front vowel (score 1), with the tongue positioned forward and slightly below the high position, simplifying articulation.

  1. Consonant Cluster Rule:

Group 1 (no cluster), maintaining ease of articulation.

  1. Word Shape:

CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant), requiring coordination for the final consonant

 

Total Score: 6

Therapeutic Value: “Bin” is slightly more challenging than “bee” due to its second early-acquired consonant (/n/) and CVC shape, which requires sequencing a final consonant. The bilabial stop and alveolar nasal consonants, paired with a near-high front vowel, keep articulation manageable while promoting fluency and motor planning skills for beginners.

 

Bulb 

  1. Consonant Sound Acquisition:

Two consonants, /b/ (score 1, acquired ages 2–3) and /l/ (score 3, acquired age 5). Total: 4.

The later-acquired /l/ increases difficulty. 

  1. Place of Articulation:

/b/ is a bilabial stop consonant (score 1), produced by closing both lips to stop airflow;

/l/ is an alveolar lateral approximant (score 2), produced with the tongue tip at the alveolar ridge and air passing laterally. Total: 3.

Combining bilabial and alveolar articulation requires more coordination. 

  1. Vowel Placement:

/ʌ/ (“cup”) is a mid central vowel (score 2), with the tongue positioned centrally at mid height, adding moderate articulatory complexity.

  1. Consonant Cluster Rule: 

Group 2 (/lb/ cluster), increasing articulatory complexity.

  1. Word Shape:

CVCC (consonant-vowel-consonant-consonant), demanding advanced sequencing.

 

Total Score: 9

Therapeutic Value: “Bulb” is more challenging than “bee” or “bin” due to its later-acquired alveolar lateral approximant (/l/), mid central vowel, consonant cluster, and complex CVCC shape. It is suitable for intermediate clients ready to work on harder sounds and structures, enhancing articulatory precision and motor planning skills.

 

Brick 

  1. Consonant Sound Acquisition:

Three consonants, /b/ (score 1, acquired ages 2–3), /r/ (score 4, acquired age 6+), and /k/ (score 2, acquired ages 3–4). Total: 7. The late-acquired /r/ significantly increases difficulty. 

  1. Place of Articulation:

/b/ is a bilabial stop consonant (score 1), produced by closing both lips to stop airflow;

/r/ is an alveolar approximant (score 2), produced with the tongue tip near the alveolar ridge;

/k/ is a velar stop consonant (score 3), produced with the tongue back at the velum to stop airflow.

Total: 6; The velar articulation with alveolar approximant requires sophisticated tongue and velum control. 

  1. Vowel Placement:

/ɪ/ (“sit”) is a near-high front vowel (score 1), with the tongue positioned forward and slightly below the high position, balancing complexity with simpler articulation. 

  1. Consonant Cluster Rule:

Group 2 (/br/ cluster), requiring precise timing. 

  1. Word Shape:

CCVC (consonant-consonant-vowel-consonant), a complex shape demanding advanced sequencing.

 

Total Score: 14

Therapeutic Value: The velar stop (/k/) demands precise coordination of the tongue and velum to fully stop airflow, while the alveolar approximant (/r/) requires intricate tongue shaping and fine control of airflow. Additionally, the co-articulation of all sounds in the word (/brɪk/) involves complex motor planning, making the word especially challenging to produce.

  

Therapeutic Benefits of the Scoring System

Each factor ensures therapy targets are tailored to a client’s abilities, supporting incremental progress:

  • Consonant Sound Acquisition:

Early sounds (e.g., /b/, /n/ in “bee,” “bin”) are easier for young children or those with significant speech challenges, enabling early success and confidence. Later sounds (e.g., /l/, /r/ in “bulb,” “brick”) challenge clients as they progress.

  • Place of Articulation:

Front sounds (e.g., /b/ in all words) are simple, requiring only lip movement, ideal for beginners. Middle (e.g., /n/, /l/ in “bin,” “bulb”) and back sounds (e.g., /k/ in “brick”) introduce more complex tongue movements, fostering articulatory growth.

  • Vowel Placement:

Front vowels (e.g., /i/, /ɪ/ in “bee,” “bin,” “brick”) minimize tongue movement, suitable for early learners. Middle vowels (e.g., /ʌ/ in “bulb”) require more tongue control, supporting skill development.

  • Consonant Cluster Rule:

Group 1 words (e.g., “bee,” “bin”) are easier, as they lack clusters, ideal for early therapy.

Group 2 words (e.g., “bulb,” “brick”) challenge clients to blend consonants, enhancing sequencing skills.

  • Word Shape:

Simple CV and CVC shapes (e.g., “bee,” “bin”) are easy for beginners, while complex CVCC and CCVC shapes (e.g., “bulb,” “brick”) require advanced coordination, improving motor planning.

 

Using the Worksheets in Speech Therapy

The scoring system enables speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and caregivers to select words tailored to a client’s needs, grounded in evidence-based principles of speech sound development and motor planning. For example, a young child with speech sound disorders or an adult with dysarthria may start with simpler words like “bee” or “bin” to practice foundational phonemes and articulatory shapes. These early targets are ideal for building confidence and skills, regardless of age. For adults, age-appropriate words are chosen to ensure relevance, but the same principles of articulatory simplicity apply as for children. This structured approach is particularly valuable for parents and caregivers, who may lack deep clinical knowledge but can use the system’s clear progression to support therapy at home. Future iterations will include additional consonants to enhance applicability for clients with diverse articulation challenges.

 

Development and Practical Application

The scoring system was developed to provide a systematic, evidence-informed method for selecting therapy targets based on articulatory complexity. Drawing on clinical research in speech sound acquisition and motor planning, it offers a practical tool for SLPs to plan therapy and track progress while making the process accessible to caregivers. Unlike intuitive word selection often used by experienced SLPs, this framework quantifies word difficulty, bridging the gap for parents and non-experts. It fills a void in standardized tools for motor planning-based word selection and is designed to evolve through clinical use and research.

 

Limitations and Future Directions

Grounded in established principles of speech sound development, articulatory complexity, and motor planning, this scoring system is a novel tool that requires further validation through research and clinical application to confirm its effectiveness across diverse populations with speech and motor speech disorders. It complements clinical judgment and individualized assessment, serving as a flexible guide for therapy planning. Ongoing use and feedback will refine its utility for both SLPs and caregivers.

 

Adjust Targets for Clients with Atypical Sound Acquisition Patterns

Some clients produce later-acquired sounds like /s/ or /l/ before earlier-developing sounds such as /p/ or /n/. This unexpected pattern does not always reflect true underlying motor ability but may instead relate to differences in sensorimotor access, compensatory strategies, or individual variations in how the speech system is organized and recruited. In these cases, it’s essential to look beyond typical developmental norms and consider how accurately and consistently each sound is produced in the child’s current speech system. A sound that is traditionally labeled as “complex” may, in practice, be more stable and accessible for a given client. For example, if /s/ is consistently produced clearly and with minimal effort, it can be treated as an “easy” sound for therapy purposes—even if it is typically considered a late-acquired, high-complexity sound. This individualized, performance-based approach allows for more effective and tailored treatment planning.For more detail and examples, see my article Oral Motor Complexity Score... read more.

 

Contact and Collaboration

We welcome feedback, questions, or collaboration from clinicians, researchers, and caregivers. Please use the contact form on our website to discuss the system, share experiences, or contribute to its development.

 

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The following words are examples of varying articulatory difficulty, as calculated using the Oral Motor Complexity Score.

Words starting with 'b' + vowel/diphthong:

bee, bay, beau, boo, bough, bow, boy, buy, by, bye, bam, beam, beep, bib, ban, bean, Ben, bin, bum, bad, balm, bat, bead, bed, beef, beet, bet, bid, biff, bit, bob, bomb, boob, boom, bop, bun, back, bag, bane, bang, bass, beak, beck, bees, beg, big, biz, bon, bone, boon, bud, but, butt, bump, badge, bait, batch, bath, beach, bear, beech, beer, bell, bide, bier, bill, bite, boat, boot, bought, bout, bowed, buck, bug, bus, buss, buzz, byte, bake, base, bike, bog, book, booze, boss, budge, band, bend, bent, bail, bale, ball, bar, bathe, bawl, boil, boll, booth, botch, both, bowl, bull, beans, beige, bosh, bush, beast, bench, best, bind, bond, bound, bulb, backs, bank, beard, belt, billed, bisque, bounce, build, built, burn, bust, barn, based, bears, bird, boost, born, bunk, bald, barf, bold, bolt, bored, box, bark, birch, birth, bourse, burl, barge, burst

Group 1 (non-clusters):

bee:        Total Score=3, Consonant Score=1, Place Score=1, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CV, IPA=bi

bay:        Total Score=5, Consonant Score=1, Place Score=1, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CV, IPA=beɪ

beau:      Total Score=5, Consonant Score=1, Place Score=1, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CV, IPA=boʊ

boo:        Total Score=5, Consonant Score=1, Place Score=1, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CV, IPA=bu

bough:   Total Score=5, Consonant Score=1, Place Score=1, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CV, IPA=baʊ

bow:       Total Score=5, Consonant Score=1, Place Score=1, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CV, IPA=boʊ

boy:        Total Score=5, Consonant Score=1, Place Score=1, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CV, IPA=bɔɪ

buy:        Total Score=5, Consonant Score=1, Place Score=1, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CV, IPA=baɪ

by:          Total Score=5, Consonant Score=1, Place Score=1, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CV, IPA=baɪ

bye:        Total Score=5, Consonant Score=1, Place Score=1, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CV, IPA=baɪ

bam:      Total Score=5, Consonant Score=2, Place Score=2, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bæm

beam:    Total Score=5, Consonant Score=2, Place Score=2, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bim

beep:      Total Score=5, Consonant Score=2, Place Score=2, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bip

bib:         Total Score=5, Consonant Score=2, Place Score=2, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bɪb

ban:        Total Score=6, Consonant Score=2, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bæn

bean:      Total Score=6, Consonant Score=2, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bin

Ben:       Total Score=6, Consonant Score=2, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bɛn

bin:         Total Score=6, Consonant Score=2, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bɪn

bum:      Total Score=6, Consonant Score=2, Place Score=2, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bəm

bad:        Total Score=7, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bæd

balm:     Total Score=7, Consonant Score=2, Place Score=2, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bɑm

bat:         Total Score=7, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bæt

bead:      Total Score=7, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bid

bed:        Total Score=7, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bɛd

beef:       Total Score=7, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bif

beet:       Total Score=7, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bit

bet:         Total Score=7, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bɛt

bid:         Total Score=7, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bɪd

biff:        Total Score=7, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bɪf

bit:          Total Score=7, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bɪt

bob:        Total Score=7, Consonant Score=2, Place Score=2, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bɑb

bomb:    Total Score=7, Consonant Score=2, Place Score=2, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bɔm

boob:     Total Score=7, Consonant Score=2, Place Score=2, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bub

boom:    Total Score=7, Consonant Score=2, Place Score=2, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bum

bop:        Total Score=7, Consonant Score=2, Place Score=2, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bɑp

bun:        Total Score=7, Consonant Score=2, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bən

back:      Total Score=8, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bæk

bag:        Total Score=8, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bæg

bane:      Total Score=8, Consonant Score=2, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=beɪn

bang:      Total Score=8, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bæŋ

bass:       Total Score=8, Consonant Score=4, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bæs

beak:      Total Score=8, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bik

beck:      Total Score=8, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bɛk

bees:       Total Score=8, Consonant Score=4, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=biz

beg:        Total Score=8, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bɛg

big:         Total Score=8, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bɪg

biz:         Total Score=8, Consonant Score=4, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bɪz

bon:        Total Score=8, Consonant Score=2, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bɑn

bone:      Total Score=8, Consonant Score=2, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=boʊn

boon:     Total Score=8, Consonant Score=2, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bun

bud:        Total Score=8, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bəd

but:         Total Score=8, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bət

butt:       Total Score=8, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bət

bump:    Total Score=8, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bəmp

badge:    Total Score=9, Consonant Score=4, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bæʤ

bait:        Total Score=9, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=beɪt

batch:    Total Score=9, Consonant Score=4, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bæʧ

bath:      Total Score=9, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bæθ

beach:    Total Score=9, Consonant Score=4, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=biʧ

bear:       Total Score=9, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bɛr

beech:    Total Score=9, Consonant Score=4, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=biʧ

beer:       Total Score=9, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bɪr

bell:        Total Score=9, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bɛl

bide:       Total Score=9, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=baɪd

bier:        Total Score=9, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bir

bill:         Total Score=9, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bɪl

bite:        Total Score=9, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=baɪt

boat:      Total Score=9, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=boʊt

boot:      Total Score=9, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=but

bought: Total Score=9, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bɔt

bout:      Total Score=9, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=baʊt

bowed:   Total Score=9, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=boʊd

buck:      Total Score=9, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bək

bug:        Total Score=9, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bəg

bus:        Total Score=9, Consonant Score=4, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bəs

buss:       Total Score=9, Consonant Score=4, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bəs

buzz:      Total Score=9, Consonant Score=4, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bəz

byte:       Total Score=9, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=baɪt

bake:      Total Score=10, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=beɪk

base:      Total Score=10, Consonant Score=4, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=beɪs

bike:       Total Score=10, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=baɪk

bog:        Total Score=10, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bɔg

book:     Total Score=10, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bʊk

booze:    Total Score=10, Consonant Score=4, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=buz

boss:       Total Score=10, Consonant Score=4, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bɔs

budge:    Total Score=10, Consonant Score=4, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bəʤ

band:     Total Score=10, Consonant Score=4, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bænd

bend:      Total Score=10, Consonant Score=4, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bɛnd

bent:       Total Score=10, Consonant Score=4, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bɛnt

bail:        Total Score=11, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=beɪl

bale:       Total Score=11, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=beɪl

ball:        Total Score=11, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bɔl

bar:         Total Score=11, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bɑr

bathe:    Total Score=11, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=beɪð

bawl:      Total Score=11, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bɔl

boil:        Total Score=11, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bɔɪl

boll:        Total Score=11, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=boʊl

booth:    Total Score=11, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=buθ

botch:    Total Score=11, Consonant Score=4, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bɑʧ

both:      Total Score=11, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=boʊθ

bowl:      Total Score=11, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=boʊl

bull:        Total Score=11, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bʊl

beans:    Total Score=11, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=binz

beige:     Total Score=12, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=beɪʒ

bosh:      Total Score=12, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bɑʃ

bush:      Total Score=12, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVC, IPA=bʊʃ

beast:     Total Score=12, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bist

bench:    Total Score=12, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bɛnʧ

best:       Total Score=12, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bɛst

bind:       Total Score=12, Consonant Score=4, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=baɪnd

bond:     Total Score=12, Consonant Score=4, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bɑnd

bound:   Total Score=12, Consonant Score=4, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=baʊnd

bulb:       Total Score=12, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bəlb

backs:    Total Score=13, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bæks

bank:     Total Score=13, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bæŋk

beard:    Total Score=13, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bɪrd

belt:        Total Score=13, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bɛlt

billed:     Total Score=13, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bɪld

bisque:   Total Score=13, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bɪsk

bounce:  Total Score=13, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=baʊns

build:      Total Score=13, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bɪld

built:       Total Score=13, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bɪlt

burn:      Total Score=13, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bərn

bust:       Total Score=13, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bəst

barn:      Total Score=14, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bɑrn

based:    Total Score=14, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=beɪst

bears:     Total Score=14, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bɛrz

bird:        Total Score=14, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bərd

boost:     Total Score=14, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bust

born:      Total Score=14, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bɔrn

bunk:     Total Score=14, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bəŋk

bald:       Total Score=15, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bɔld

barf:       Total Score=15, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bɑrf

bold:       Total Score=15, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=boʊld

bolt:        Total Score=15, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=boʊlt

bored:    Total Score=15, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bɔrd

box:        Total Score=15, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bɑks

bark:      Total Score=16, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bɑrk

birch:      Total Score=16, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bərʧ

birth:      Total Score=16, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bərθ

bourse:   Total Score=16, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bɔrs

burl:        Total Score=16, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bərl

barge:     Total Score=17, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCC, IPA=bɑrʤ

burst:      Total Score=19, Consonant Score=10, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=Other, IPA=bərst

Words starting with 'b' + consonant:

bleep, blip, blow, blue, bra, brow, blame, bleed, blob, bloom, brat, bread, bred, breed, brief, broom, blimp, black, bleak, bless, bliss, blood, bluff, brag, brain, brass, breeze, brick, brig, brine, bring, brown, blade, bleach, braid, breach, breath, breathe, breech, bride, bridge, bright, Broad, brood, brought, brute, brail, blaze, block, bloke, blouse, blues, blur, brace, brake, brave, break, broke, brook, bruise, bland, blend, brand, blithe,, Braille, broach, broil, broth, brush, blunt, blanch, blast, blessed, blest, blind, blond, blonde, branch, breast, browned, blacks, blank, blink, bricks, brink, brisk, brunch, blurred, brusque, blocks

Group 2 (clusters):

bleep:        Total Score=11, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=blip

blip:           Total Score=11, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=blɪp

blow:         Total Score=11, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=Other, IPA=bloʊ

blue:          Total Score=11, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=Other, IPA=blu

bra:            Total Score=11, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=Other, IPA=brɑ

brow:         Total Score=11, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=Other, IPA=braʊ

blame:      Total Score=13, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=bleɪm

bleed:        Total Score=13, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=blid

blob:          Total Score=13, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=blɑb

bloom:      Total Score=13, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=blum

brat:          Total Score=13, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=bræt

bread:       Total Score=13, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=brɛd

bred:          Total Score=13, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=brɛd

breed:        Total Score=13, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=brid

brief:         Total Score=13, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=brif

broom:      Total Score=13, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=brum

blimp:       Total Score=13, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVCC, IPA=blɪmp

black:        Total Score=14, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=blæk

bleak:        Total Score=14, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=blik

bless:         Total Score=14, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=blɛs

bliss:          Total Score=14, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=blɪs

blood:       Total Score=14, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=bləd

bluff:         Total Score=14, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=bləf

brag:          Total Score=14, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=bræg

brain:        Total Score=14, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=breɪn

brass:        Total Score=14, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=bræs

breeze:      Total Score=14, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=briz

brick:         Total Score=14, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=brɪk

brig:           Total Score=14, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=brɪg

brine:         Total Score=14, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=braɪn

bring:         Total Score=14, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=brɪŋ

brown:      Total Score=14, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=braʊn

blade:        Total Score=15, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=bleɪd

bleach:      Total Score=15, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=bliʧ

braid:        Total Score=15, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=breɪd

breach:     Total Score=15, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=briʧ

breath:      Total Score=15, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=brɛθ

breathe:    Total Score=15, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=brið

breech:      Total Score=15, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=briʧ

bride:         Total Score=15, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=braɪd

bridge:       Total Score=15, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=brɪʤ

bright:       Total Score=15, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=braɪt

Broad:      Total Score=15, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=brɔd

brood:       Total Score=15, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=brud

brought:    Total Score=15, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=brɔt

brute:        Total Score=15, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=brut

brail:          Total Score=15, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=Other, IPA=bræɪl

blaze:        Total Score=16, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=bleɪz

block:        Total Score=16, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=blɑk

bloke:        Total Score=16, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=bloʊk

blouse:      Total Score=16, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=blaʊs

blues:        Total Score=16, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=bluz

blur:           Total Score=16, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=blər

brace:        Total Score=16, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=breɪs

brake:       Total Score=16, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=breɪk

brave:       Total Score=16, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=breɪv

break:       Total Score=16, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=breɪk

broke:       Total Score=16, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=broʊk

brook:       Total Score=16, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=brʊk

bruise:       Total Score=16, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=bruz

bland:       Total Score=16, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVCC, IPA=blænd

blend:        Total Score=16, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVCC, IPA=blɛnd

brand:       Total Score=16, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVCC, IPA=brænd

blithe,:       Total Score=17, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=blaɪð,

Braille:      Total Score=17, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=breɪl

broach:     Total Score=17, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=broʊʧ

broil:          Total Score=17, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=brɔɪl

broth:        Total Score=17, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=brɔθ

brush:        Total Score=17, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CCVC, IPA=brəʃ

blunt:        Total Score=17, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CCVCC, IPA=blənt

blanch:     Total Score=18, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVCC, IPA=blænʧ

blast:         Total Score=18, Consonant Score=10, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVCC, IPA=blæst

blessed:     Total Score=18, Consonant Score=10, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVCC, IPA=blɛst

blest:         Total Score=18, Consonant Score=10, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVCC, IPA=blɛst

blind:         Total Score=18, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVCC, IPA=blaɪnd

blond:       Total Score=18, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVCC, IPA=blɑnd

blonde:     Total Score=18, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVCC, IPA=blɑnd

branch:     Total Score=18, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVCC, IPA=brænʧ

breast:       Total Score=18, Consonant Score=10, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVCC, IPA=brɛst

browned:  Total Score=18, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVCC, IPA=braʊnd

blacks:      Total Score=19, Consonant Score=10, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVCC, IPA=blæks

blank:       Total Score=19, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=9, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVCC, IPA=blæŋk

blink:         Total Score=19, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=9, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVCC, IPA=blɪŋk

bricks:       Total Score=19, Consonant Score=10, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVCC, IPA=brɪks

brink:        Total Score=19, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=9, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVCC, IPA=brɪŋk

brisk:         Total Score=19, Consonant Score=10, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=1, Word Shape=CCVCC, IPA=brɪsk

brunch:     Total Score=19, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CCVCC, IPA=brənʧ

blurred:     Total Score=20, Consonant Score=11, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CCVCC, IPA=blərd

brusque:   Total Score=20, Consonant Score=10, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CCVCC, IPA=brəsk

blocks:   Total Score=21, Consonant Score=10, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CCVCC, IPA=blɑks

 

 

For more complex word shapes, here is an example of how I sorted and scored them within the therapy framework. I assigned a score to the overall word complexity after analyzing all the sounds that make up the entire word—not just the first syllable or the syllable containing the target sound.

Why? Because in practice, at more advanced stages of therapy when multisyllabic words are introduced, I wanted the selected words to be as simple as possible in terms of overall motoric complexity. However, since a complex word is built from its syllables, I preserved phonological syllabification for consistency.

All words in these cases are divided using phonetic syllabification. For example, the word "blubber" is shown as blu-bber based on how it’s pronounced, rather than blub-ber, which reflects its spelling.

This hyphenation reflects phonological syllable boundaries, which are more relevant to speech motor planning. It ensures that syllable shapes (e.g., CV, CVC, CCV) are analyzed based on how the word is actually produced in speech—not how it’s written.

You can read more about this approach in the article “Why I Chose Phonetic Syllabification for Speech Therapy” available on the website.

 

Words starting with 'b' + vowel/diphthong:

bu-oy, bu-nny, ba-by, Be-tty, bo-ney, be-lly, Bi-lly, busy, ban-dy, be-rry, bo-dy, bu-ry, ba-boon, bai-ley, be-gin, be-low, bi-llow, bi-tten, bo-bbin, bow-man, bu-lly, bu-rry, ba-leen, ba-llon, ba-rrow, ba-ton, bat-man, be-ckon, be-neath, be-yond, bea-con, bi-ro, bo-wel, bow tie, bu-tton, ba-guette, ban-ger, be-came, be-long, be-tween, bee-per, bi-llet, bi-son, bin-bag, bin-go, bo-ttom, bo-wer, bou-quet, bow-ling, bu-bble, bun-chy, buyer, ba-llad, ba-llot, ba-ttle, be-lieve, be-side, be-stow, bea-dle, bear paw, bee moth, bee-hive, bee-tle, bo-rrow, boun-cing, bu-cket, bu-ried, ba-ses, ba-sil, ba-tter, bag-pipe, ban-jo, bare-ly, be-cause, be-hind, be-rries, bi-tter, bu-ttock, ba-lance, ba-rrel, back-er, back-pack, be-fore, be-tray, bea-ker, bea-ver, bed-bug, bed-time, bi-ceps, bi-llion, bo-lus, bo-ttle, bu-ckle, bu-tter, bum-per, ba-gel, ban-dage, bap-tize, bath-tub, ben-der, bo-wels, bo-xing, bun-hair, Ba-dger, ba-ker, ba-zaar, ban-ker, bas-ket, bear cub, bed-room, bes-towed, bi-ggest, bike-path, bis-cuit, bow-ler, ba-rrage, bar-bell, base-ball, base-ment, beach-ball, big-foot, bo-ther, bok choy, bore-dom, bu-ttocks, bun-ker, ba-salt, bare-foot, bath-robe, bath-room, buil-der, bur (burr), bus-ter, bike-rack, bob-sled, boo-ster, bus stop, bear claw, bird-bath, bo-xer, book-case, boy-friend, bull-dog, bull-doze, back-ward, bar code, bill-board, birth-day, boar-der, book-worm, bor-der, bill-fold, bus-tard, back-yard, bald-spot, board wood, ball-park, bob-sleigh, book-mark, book-shelf, bank-vault, bench-mark, book-store, back-ground, bird’s nest, bull-frog, bur-glar, barn-yard, birth-mark

Words starting with 'b' + vowel/diphthong:

buo-y, ba-by, Be-tty, bu-nny, bo-ney, bu-sy, be-lly, be-rry, Bi-lly, bo-dy, bu-ry, ban-dy, bu-rry, ba-boon, ba-rrow, bai-ley, be-gin, be-low, bi-llow, bi-ro, bi-tten, bo-bbin, bow tie, bow-man, bu-lly, ba-guette, ba-ton, bat-man, be-came, be-ckon, be-neath, be-yond, bea-con, bee-per, bo-ttom, bo-wel, bo-wer, bou-quet, bu-tton, bu-yer, ba-leen, ba-llon, bear paw, bee moth, bi-llet, bin bag, bo-rrow, bu-bble, bu-cket, bu-ried, bun-chy, ba-llad, ba-llot, ba-tter, ba-ttle, bag-pipe, ban-jo, be-cause, be-lieve, be-rries, be-side, be-stow, be-tween, bea-dle, bee-hive, bee-tle, bi-son, bi-tter, bu-ttock, ba-cker, ba-ses, ba-sil, back-pack, ban-ger, bare-ly, be-fore, be-tray, bea-ker, bea-ver, bed-bug, bed-time, bin-go, bu-tter, bum-per, Ba-dger, ba-rrel, ban-dage, bap-tize, bath-tub, be-hind, be-long, bo-ttle, bow-ling, bu-ckle, ba-gel, ba-ker, ba-zaar, bear cub, bed-room, ben-der, bi-ceps, bo-lus, bo-wels, bun hair, ba-lance, bas-ket, bes-towed, bi-ggest, bi-llion, big-foot, bike path, bis-cuit, bo-ther, bok choy, bore-dom, boun-cing, bow-ler, ba-rrage, bar-bell, bare-foot, bath-robe, bath-room, beach ball, beach ball, bu-ttocks, bur (burr), ban-ker, base-ball, base-ment, bo-xing, buil-der, bus-ter, ba-salt, bike rack, bird-bath, boo-ster, bun-ker, bar code, bear claw, birth-day, bo-xer, boar-der, bob-sled, book-case, bor-der, boy-friend, bull-dog, bull-doze, bus stop, back-ward, bill-board, book-worm, bus-tard, back-yard, bill-fold, board wood, book-mark, ball-park, bench-mark, book-shelf, book-store, back-ground, bald spot, bob-sleigh, bull-frog, bur-glar, bank vault, bird’s nest, barn-yard, birth-mark

Group 1 (non-clusters):

buo-y:               Total Score=6, Consonant Score=1, Place Score=1, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVV, IPA=bui

ba-by:               Total Score=8, Consonant Score=2, Place Score=2, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCV, IPA=beɪbi

Be-tty:               Total Score=8, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVCV, IPA=bɛti

bu-nny:             Total Score=8, Consonant Score=2, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCV, IPA=bəni

bo-ney:             Total Score=9, Consonant Score=2, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCV, IPA=boʊni

bu-sy:                Total Score=9, Consonant Score=4, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVCV, IPA=bɪzi

be-lly:                Total Score=10, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVCV, IPA=bɛli

be-rry:               Total Score=10, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVCV, IPA=bɛri

Bi-lly:                 Total Score=10, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVCV, IPA=bɪli

bo-dy:               Total Score=10, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCV, IPA=bɑdi

bu-ry:                Total Score=10, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVCV, IPA=bɛri

ban-dy:             Total Score=11, Consonant Score=4, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVCCV, IPA=bændi

bu-rry:               Total Score=11, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCV, IPA=bəri

ba-boon:           Total Score=12, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bəbun

ba-rrow:            Total Score=12, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCV, IPA=bɛroʊ

bai-ley:              Total Score=12, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCV, IPA=beɪli

be-gin:              Total Score=12, Consonant Score=4, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bɪgɪn

be-low:              Total Score=12, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCV, IPA=bɪloʊ

bi-llow:              Total Score=12, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCV, IPA=bɪloʊ

bi-ro:                 Total Score=12, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCV, IPA=bɪroʊ

bi-tten:              Total Score=12, Consonant Score=4, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bɪtən

bo-bbin:            Total Score=12, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bɑbən

bow tie:             Total Score=12, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=6, Word Shape=CVCV, IPA=boʊ taɪ

bow-man:         Total Score=12, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=boʊmən

bu-lly:                Total Score=12, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCV, IPA=bʊli

ba-guette:         Total Score=13, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bægɛt

ba-ton:              Total Score=13, Consonant Score=4, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bætɑn

bat-man:           Total Score=13, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bætmæn

be-came:          Total Score=13, Consonant Score=4, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bɪkeɪm

be-ckon:            Total Score=13, Consonant Score=4, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bɛkən

be-neath:          Total Score=13, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bɪniθ

be-yond:           Total Score=13, Consonant Score=4, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVVCC, IPA=bɪɔnd

bea-con:           Total Score=13, Consonant Score=4, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bikən

bee-per:            Total Score=13, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bipər

bo-ttom:            Total Score=13, Consonant Score=4, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bɑtəm

bo-wel:              Total Score=13, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=CVVC, IPA=baʊəl

bo-wer:             Total Score=13, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=CVVC, IPA=baʊər

bou-quet:          Total Score=13, Consonant Score=3, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=6, Word Shape=CVCV, IPA=bukeɪ

bu-tton:             Total Score=13, Consonant Score=4, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bətən

bu-yer:              Total Score=13, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=CVVC, IPA=baɪər

ba-leen:            Total Score=14, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bəlin

ba-llon:              Total Score=14, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bælən

bear paw:         Total Score=14, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCV, IPA=bɛr pɔ

bee moth:         Total Score=14, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bi mɔθ

bi-llet:                Total Score=14, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bɪlɪt

bin bag:             Total Score=14, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bɪn bæg

bo-rrow:            Total Score=14, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=3, Vowel Score=6, Word Shape=CVCV, IPA=bɑroʊ

bu-bble:            Total Score=14, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=4, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bəbəl

bu-cket:             Total Score=14, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bəkɪt

bu-ried:             Total Score=14, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bɛrid

bun-chy:            Total Score=14, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCCV, IPA=bənʧi

ba-llad:              Total Score=15, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bæləd

ba-llot:               Total Score=15, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bælət

ba-tter:              Total Score=15, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bætər

ba-ttle:              Total Score=15, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bætəl

bag-pipe:          Total Score=15, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bægpaɪp

ban-jo:              Total Score=15, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCV, IPA=bænʤoʊ

be-cause:          Total Score=15, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bɪkəz

be-lieve:            Total Score=15, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bɪliv

be-rries:            Total Score=15, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bɛriz

be-side:             Total Score=15, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bisaɪd

be-stow:            Total Score=15, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCV, IPA=bɪstoʊ

be-tween:         Total Score=15, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bɪtwin

bea-dle:            Total Score=15, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bidəl

bee-hive:           Total Score=15, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bihaɪv

bee-tle:             Total Score=15, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bitəl

bi-son:               Total Score=15, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=baɪsən

bi-tter:               Total Score=15, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bɪtər

bu-ttock:            Total Score=15, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bətək

ba-cker:            Total Score=16, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bækər

ba-ses:              Total Score=16, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=beɪsɪz

ba-sil:                Total Score=16, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bæzəl

back-pack:        Total Score=16, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bækpæk

ban-ger:            Total Score=16, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bæŋər

bare-ly:             Total Score=16, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVCCV, IPA=bɛrli

be-fore:             Total Score=16, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bifɔr

be-tray:             Total Score=16, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCV, IPA=bɪtreɪ

bea-ker:            Total Score=16, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bikər

bea-ver:            Total Score=16, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bivər

bed-bug:           Total Score=16, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bɛdbəg

bed-time:          Total Score=16, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bɛdtaɪm

bin-go:              Total Score=16, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCV, IPA=bɪŋgoʊ

bu-tter:              Total Score=16, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bətər

bum-per:           Total Score=16, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bəmpər

Ba-dger:           Total Score=17, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bæʤər

ba-rrel:              Total Score=17, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bɛrəl

ban-dage:         Total Score=17, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bændɪʤ

bap-tize:            Total Score=17, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bæptaɪz

bath-tub:           Total Score=17, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bæθtəb

be-hind:            Total Score=17, Consonant Score=5, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCVCC, IPA=bɪhaɪnd

be-long:            Total Score=17, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bɪlɔŋ

bo-ttle:              Total Score=17, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bɑtəl

bow-ling:           Total Score=17, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=boʊlɪŋ

bu-ckle:             Total Score=17, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bəkəl

ba-gel:              Total Score=18, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=beɪgəl

ba-ker:              Total Score=18, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=beɪkər

ba-zaar:            Total Score=18, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bəzɑr

bear cub:          Total Score=18, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bɛr kəb

bed-room:         Total Score=18, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bɛdrum

ben-der:            Total Score=18, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bɛndər

bi-ceps:             Total Score=18, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCVCC, IPA=baɪsɛps

bo-lus:               Total Score=18, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=boʊləs

bo-wels:            Total Score=18, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=CVVCC, IPA=baʊəlz

bun hair:           Total Score=18, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bən hɛr

ba-lance:           Total Score=19, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCVCC, IPA=bæləns

bas-ket:             Total Score=19, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bæskət

bes-towed:        Total Score=19, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bɪstoʊd

bi-ggest:            Total Score=19, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCVCC, IPA=bɪgəst

bi-llion:              Total Score=19, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bɪljən

big-foot:            Total Score=19, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bɪgfʊt

bike path:          Total Score=19, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=baɪk pæθ

bis-cuit:             Total Score=19, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bɪskət

bo-ther:             Total Score=19, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bɑðər

bok choy:          Total Score=19, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=6, Word Shape=CVCCV, IPA=bɑk ʧɔɪ

bore-dom:         Total Score=19, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bɔrdəm

boun-cing:         Total Score=19, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=baʊnsɪŋ

bow-ler:            Total Score=19, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=boʊlər

ba-rrage:          Total Score=20, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=CVCVC, IPA=bərɑʒ

bar-bell:            Total Score=20, Consonant Score=10, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bɑrbɛl

bare-foot:          Total Score=20, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bɛrfʊt

bath-robe:         Total Score=20, Consonant Score=10, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bæθroʊb

bath-room:        Total Score=20, Consonant Score=10, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bæθrum

beach ball:        Total Score=20, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=biʧ bɔl

beach ball:        Total Score=20, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=biʧ bɔl

bu-ttocks:          Total Score=20, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCVCC, IPA=bətəks

bur (burr):         Total Score=20, Consonant Score=10, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bər (bər)

ban-ker:            Total Score=21, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=9, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bæŋkər

base-ball:          Total Score=21, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=6, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=beɪsbɔl

base-ment:       Total Score=21, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=CVCCVCC, IPA=beɪsmənt

bo-xing:             Total Score=21, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=9, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bɑksɪŋ

buil-der:            Total Score=21, Consonant Score=11, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bɪldər

bus-ter:             Total Score=21, Consonant Score=10, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bəstər

ba-salt:              Total Score=22, Consonant Score=10, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=CVCVCC, IPA=bəsɔlt

bike rack:          Total Score=22, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=9, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=baɪk ræk

bird-bath:          Total Score=22, Consonant Score=12, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVCCCVC, IPA=bɪrdbæθ

boo-ster:           Total Score=22, Consonant Score=10, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bustər

bun-ker:            Total Score=22, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=9, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bəŋkər

bar code:          Total Score=23, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=6, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bɑr koʊd

bear claw:         Total Score=23, Consonant Score=11, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCCV, IPA=bɛr klɔ

birth-day:          Total Score=23, Consonant Score=11, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=CVCCCV, IPA=bərθdeɪ

bo-xer:              Total Score=23, Consonant Score=10, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bɑksər

boar-der:          Total Score=23, Consonant Score=11, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bɔrdər

bob-sled:           Total Score=23, Consonant Score=11, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCCVC, IPA=bɑbslɛd

book-case:        Total Score=23, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=9, Vowel Score=6, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bʊkkeɪs

bor-der:            Total Score=23, Consonant Score=11, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bɔrdər

boy-friend:        Total Score=23, Consonant Score=10, Place Score=9, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCVCC, IPA=bɔɪfrɛnd

bull-dog:            Total Score=23, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=6, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bʊldɔg

bull-doze:          Total Score=23, Consonant Score=10, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=6, Word Shape=CVCCVC, IPA=bʊldoʊz

bus stop:           Total Score=23, Consonant Score=10, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=CVCCCVC, IPA=bəs stɑp

back-ward:        Total Score=24, Consonant Score=10, Place Score=11, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=CVCCVCC, IPA=bækwərd

bill-board:          Total Score=24, Consonant Score=12, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCVCC, IPA=bɪlbɔrd

book-worm:      Total Score=24, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=10, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=CVCCVCC, IPA=bʊkwərm

bus-tard:           Total Score=25, Consonant Score=12, Place Score=9, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCVCC, IPA=bəstərd

back-yard:         Total Score=26, Consonant Score=11, Place Score=11, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCVCC, IPA=bækjɑrd

bill-fold:             Total Score=26, Consonant Score=13, Place Score=9, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCVCC, IPA=bɪlfoʊld

board wood:     Total Score=26, Consonant Score=10, Place Score=10, Vowel Score=6, Word Shape=CVCCCVC, IPA=bɔrd wʊd

book-mark:       Total Score=26, Consonant Score=10, Place Score=10, Vowel Score=6, Word Shape=CVCCVCC, IPA=bʊkmɑrk

ball-park:           Total Score=27, Consonant Score=12, Place Score=9, Vowel Score=6, Word Shape=CVCCVCC, IPA=bɔlpɑrk

bench-mark:     Total Score=28, Consonant Score=12, Place Score=12, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCCVCC, IPA=bɛnʧmɑrk

book-shelf:        Total Score=28, Consonant Score=13, Place Score=11, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCVCC, IPA=bʊkʃɛlf

book-store:       Total Score=28, Consonant Score=12, Place Score=10, Vowel Score=6, Word Shape=CVCCCVC, IPA=bʊkstɔr

back-ground:    Total Score=29, Consonant Score=12, Place Score=13, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCCVCC, IPA=bækgraʊnd

bald spot:          Total Score=29, Consonant Score=13, Place Score=10, Vowel Score=6, Word Shape=CVCCCCVC, IPA=bɔld spɑt

bob-sleigh:        Total Score=29, Consonant Score=12, Place Score=12, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=CVCCCVVCC, IPA=bobslɛɪgh

bull-frog:           Total Score=29, Consonant Score=13, Place Score=10, Vowel Score=6, Word Shape=CVCCCVC, IPA=bʊlfrɔg

bur-glar:            Total Score=29, Consonant Score=15, Place Score=10, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCCVC, IPA=bərglər

bank vault:        Total Score=31, Consonant Score=14, Place Score=13, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=CVCCCVCC, IPA=bæŋk vɔlt

bird’s nest:        Total Score=31, Consonant Score=16, Place Score=13, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=CVCCCCVCC, IPA=bird’s* nɛst

barn-yard:         Total Score=32, Consonant Score=14, Place Score=12, Vowel Score=6, Word Shape=CVCCCVCC, IPA=bɑrnjɑrd

birth-mark:        Total Score=32, Consonant Score=16, Place Score=11, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=CVCCCVCC, IPA=bərθmɑrk

Words starting with 'b' + consonant:

bloo-dy, brai-ny, brow-nie, blea-ry, blo-wing, blu-rry, bran-dy, blo-wer, bra-cket, bri-ar, bru-nette, bla-zon, black sea, blo-ssom, blu-bber, blue jay, blue-bell, bu-tane, bla-dder, blue jean, bri-quette, bro-ken, bra-ces, Bra-zil, bri-stle, blea-cher, blo-tter, black cat, black sheep, black-ness, blan-ket, blen-der, blin-ker, blo-cker, blue whale, bra-cer, brea-ker, bro-ther, bron-co, brow-ser, blue jays, blue-bird, blun-der, bris-ket, bli-ster, bli-zzard, bread sauce, Brief-case, blue-print, blus-ter, bri-stles, brown sauce, black-smith, blood test, blood-hound, brace-let, broom-stick, black-board, blond hair, break-fast, blow torch, blue-prints, brick-yard

Group 2 (clusters):

bloo-dy:             Total Score=15, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=Other--CCVCV, IPA=blədi

brai-ny:             Total Score=15, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=Other--CCVCV, IPA=breɪni

brow-nie:          Total Score=15, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=Other--CCVCV, IPA=braʊni

blea-ry:             Total Score=16, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=Other--CCVCV, IPA=blɪri

blo-wing:           Total Score=17, Consonant Score=7, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=Other--CCVVC, IPA=bloʊɪŋ

blu-rry:              Total Score=17, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=Other--CCVCV, IPA=bləri

bran-dy:            Total Score=17, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=Other--CCVCCV, IPA=brændi

blo-wer:            Total Score=19, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=Other--CCVVC, IPA=bloʊər

bra-cket:           Total Score=19, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=Other--CCVCVC, IPA=brækɪt

bri-ar:                Total Score=19, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=5, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=Other--CCVVC, IPA=braɪər

bru-nette:          Total Score=19, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=Other--CCVCVC, IPA=brunɛt

bla-zon:             Total Score=20, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=Other--CCVCVC, IPA=blæzon

black sea:          Total Score=20, Consonant Score=10, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=Other--CCVCCV, IPA=blæk si

blo-ssom:          Total Score=20, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=Other--CCVCVC, IPA=blɑsəm

blu-bber:           Total Score=20, Consonant Score=10, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=Other--CCVCVC, IPA=bləbər

blue jay:            Total Score=20, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=6, Word Shape=Other--CCVCV, IPA=blu ʤeɪ

blue-bell:           Total Score=20, Consonant Score=10, Place Score=6, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=Other--CCVCVC, IPA=blubɛl

bu-tane:            Total Score=20, Consonant Score=6, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=6, Word Shape=Other--CCVCVC, IPA=bjuteɪn

bla-dder:           Total Score=21, Consonant Score=11, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=Other--CCVCVC, IPA=blædər

blue jean:          Total Score=21, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=Other--CCVCVC, IPA=blu ʤin

bri-quette:         Total Score=21, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=Other--CCVVVCCV, IPA=brɪqʌɛttɛ

bro-ken:            Total Score=21, Consonant Score=8, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=Other--CCVCVC, IPA=broʊkən

bra-ces:            Total Score=22, Consonant Score=11, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=Other--CCVCVC, IPA=breɪsɪz

Bra-zil:              Total Score=22, Consonant Score=12, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=Other--CCVCVC, IPA=brəzɪl

bri-stle:              Total Score=22, Consonant Score=12, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=Other--CCVCVC, IPA=brɪsəl

blea-cher:         Total Score=23, Consonant Score=12, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=Other--CCVCVC, IPA=bliʧər

blo-tter:             Total Score=23, Consonant Score=11, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=Other--CCVCVC, IPA=blɑtər

black cat:           Total Score=24, Consonant Score=11, Place Score=11, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=Other--CCVCCVC, IPA=blæk kæt

black sheep:      Total Score=24, Consonant Score=12, Place Score=10, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=Other--CCVCCVC, IPA=blæk ʃip

black-ness:        Total Score=24, Consonant Score=11, Place Score=10, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=Other--CCVCCVC, IPA=blæknəs

blan-ket:            Total Score=24, Consonant Score=11, Place Score=11, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=Other--CCVCCVC, IPA=blæŋkɪt

blen-der:           Total Score=24, Consonant Score=12, Place Score=9, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=Other--CCVCCVC, IPA=blɛndər

blin-ker:             Total Score=24, Consonant Score=12, Place Score=10, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=Other--CCVCCVC, IPA=blɪnkɛr

blo-cker:            Total Score=24, Consonant Score=11, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=Other--CCVCVC, IPA=blɑkər

blue whale:       Total Score=24, Consonant Score=10, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=6, Word Shape=Other--CCVCVC, IPA=blu weɪl

bra-cer:             Total Score=24, Consonant Score=12, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=Other--CCVCVC, IPA=breɪsər

brea-ker:           Total Score=24, Consonant Score=11, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=Other--CCVCVC, IPA=breɪkər

bro-ther:           Total Score=24, Consonant Score=13, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=Other--CCVCVC, IPA=brəðər

bron-co:            Total Score=24, Consonant Score=9, Place Score=9, Vowel Score=6, Word Shape=Other--CCVCCV, IPA=brɑŋkoʊ

brow-ser:          Total Score=24, Consonant Score=12, Place Score=7, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=Other--CCVCVC, IPA=braʊzər

blue jays:           Total Score=25, Consonant Score=11, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=6, Word Shape=Other--CCVCVC, IPA=blu ʤeɪz

blue-bird:          Total Score=25, Consonant Score=12, Place Score=8, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=Other--CCVCVCC, IPA=blubərd

blun-der:           Total Score=25, Consonant Score=12, Place Score=9, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=Other--CCVCCVC, IPA=bləndər

bris-ket:             Total Score=25, Consonant Score=12, Place Score=10, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=Other--CCVCCVC, IPA=brɪskət

bli-ster:              Total Score=26, Consonant Score=14, Place Score=9, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=Other--CCVCCVC, IPA=blɪstər

bli-zzard:           Total Score=26, Consonant Score=14, Place Score=9, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=Other--CCVCVCC, IPA=blɪzərd

bread sauce:     Total Score=26, Consonant Score=13, Place Score=9, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=Other--CCVCCVC, IPA=brɛd sɔs

Brief-case:        Total Score=26, Consonant Score=12, Place Score=10, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=Other--CCVCCVC, IPA=brifkeɪs

blue-print:         Total Score=27, Consonant Score=13, Place Score=10, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=Other--CCVCCVCC, IPA=bluprɪnt

blus-ter:            Total Score=27, Consonant Score=14, Place Score=9, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=Other--CCVCCVC, IPA=bləstər

bri-stles:            Total Score=27, Consonant Score=15, Place Score=9, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=Other--CCVCVCC, IPA=brɪsəlz

brown sauce:    Total Score=27, Consonant Score=12, Place Score=9, Vowel Score=6, Word Shape=Other--CCVCCVC, IPA=braʊn sɔs

black-smith:       Total Score=28, Consonant Score=15, Place Score=11, Vowel Score=2, Word Shape=Other--CCVCCCVC, IPA=blæksmɪθ

blood test:         Total Score=28, Consonant Score=14, Place Score=11, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=Other--CCVCCVCC, IPA=bləd tɛst

blood-hound:    Total Score=28, Consonant Score=11, Place Score=12, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=Other--CCVCCVCC, IPA=blədhaʊnd

brace-let:          Total Score=28, Consonant Score=14, Place Score=9, Vowel Score=5, Word Shape=Other--CCVCCVC, IPA=breɪslət

broom-stick:      Total Score=28, Consonant Score=13, Place Score=11, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=Other--CCVCCCVC, IPA=brumstɪk

black-board:      Total Score=29, Consonant Score=14, Place Score=11, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=Other--CCVCCVCC, IPA=blækbɔrd

blond hair:         Total Score=29, Consonant Score=13, Place Score=12, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=Other--CCVCCCVC, IPA=blɑnd hɛr

break-fast:        Total Score=29, Consonant Score=14, Place Score=12, Vowel Score=3, Word Shape=Other--CCVCCVCC, IPA=brɛkfəst

blow torch:        Total Score=30, Consonant Score=14, Place Score=10, Vowel Score=6, Word Shape=Other--CCVCVCC, IPA=bloʊ tɔrʧ

blue-prints:        Total Score=32, Consonant Score=16, Place Score=12, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=Other--CCVCCVCCC, IPA=bluprɪnts

brick-yard:         Total Score=32, Consonant Score=15, Place Score=13, Vowel Score=4, Word Shape=Other--CCVCCVCC, IPA=brɪkjɑrd

 

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Note on Cluster Complexity

You may notice in our CAS analysis that some words where the target consonant 'b' is followed by a vowel or diphthong (non-cluster, e.g., "bear" /bɛr/) have complexity scores equal to or higher than words where 'b' is followed by a consonant, forming a cluster (e.g., "brick" /brɪk/). This may seem unexpected, as clusters are more challenging for children with CAS. Below, I explain why this occurs, why 'b' in a cluster is harder, and how our analysis addresses this.

Our scoring system calculates the complexity of the target consonant 'b' combined with other sounds in a word’s IPA transcription. The score is the sum of three components:

  1. Consonant acquisition score (e.g., b = 1, r = 4, based on age of acquisition).
  2. Place of articulation score (e.g., bilabial = 1, tongue-tip = 2).
  3. Vowel placement score (e.g., front vowels = 1, diphthongs = 3).

Then, words are grouped into non-cluster (Group 1, 'b' + vowel/diphthong) and cluster (Group 2, 'b' + consonant) categories and sorted by score within each group, with non-cluster words listed first.

The reason non-cluster and cluster words can have similar scores is that the formula sums individual sound scores without accounting for whether 'b' is in a cluster syllable. For example: • Bear (/bɛr/, non-cluster) has consonants b (1) + r (4) = 5, place b (1) + r (2) = 3, vowel ɛ (1) = 1, totaling 9. • Brick (/brɪk/, cluster) has consonants b (1) + r (4) = 5, place b (1) + r (2) = 3, vowel ɪ (1) = 1, also totaling 9. The score does not reflect the increased difficulty of producing 'b' in the /br/ cluster.

In CAS, producing 'b' in a cluster syllable like /br/ is more challenging because it requires rapid coordination between two consonants, increasing motor planning demands compared to a non-cluster syllable like /bɛ/, where the transition is simpler.

To address this, one could optionally add a penalty of 50 to cluster word scores to reflect the added difficulty of 'b' in a cluster. The formulas would be:

  • Non-cluster: Score = Consonant Acquisition + Place + Vowel (e.g., Bear = 5 + 3 + 1 = 9).
  • Cluster: Score = Consonant Acquisition + Place + Vowel + 50 (e.g., Brick = 5 + 3 + 1 + 50 = 59).

This penalty is not implemented in our analysis but can be applied manually if needed.

Our goal was to order words by difficulty, separating non-cluster (easier) and cluster (harder) words. By listing non-cluster words before cluster words, we align with the increasing motor planning complexity in CAS, supporting effective therapy planning. For questions or further examples, please contact me.

  1. Read This First
  2. Vowels & Diphthongs - Minimal Pairs
  3. Minimal pairs
  4. Voicing minimal pairs

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