At which age is spontaneous recovery from a phonological disorder considered rare?

Spontaneous recovery from a phonological disorder is generally observed in younger children, particularly those under the age of 6. As children age, their language development becomes more complex, and the likelihood of naturally resolving phonological disorders without intervention decreases.

By the age of 8, the majority of phonological processes that are common in younger children should have resolved, if they were going to resolve on their own. At this age, children are typically expected to articulate speech sounds correctly and exhibit more advanced language skills. Thus, spontaneous recovery becomes rare by this age, as persistent phonological disorders may indicate the need for targeted speech therapy to address underlying issues.

As children approach and reach the age of 10, the complexity of language and communication skills increases further, making spontaneous recovery even less likely. Therefore, the assertion that spontaneous recovery is considered rare by the age of 8 is well-founded in developmental milestones in speech and language.