What is Cluster Reduction?

Cluster Reduction (CR), also called Cluster Simplification or Consonant Sequence Reduction, is a phonological process typically lasting up to the age of 4 years.

This process involves the simplification of a consonant cluster by omitting, substituting, or altering one or more of the sounds within that cluster (usually the later developing sound).

Examples:

• snack = sack or nack

• frog = rog, fog, or flog

• bridge = bidge, ridge, or blidge

• plate = pate, late, or pate

• drive = dive, rive, or dwive

A subset of CR, called Coalescence also involves changing a cluster - by replacing the entire cluster with a consonant sound outside of the original sequence of sounds or cluster.

Examples:

• spoon = foon

• free = tee

• green = ween

• drum = gum

• clear = dear

Please note: CR may also be present in a person’s speech as a dialectical difference rather than a phonological process.