A child with a speech sound disorder may understand words and phrases and use them to talk. However, if a child's speech sounds different from his peers who are the same age, gender or ethnic group, or if he/she frequently avoids talking because he/she is hard to understand, this child may have a speech sound disorder. In this article, the author provides guidelines on what to look for if there is a concern that a child might have a speech sound disorder. Activities to help an adult sharpen a child's ability to hear and make sounds come alive are also provided. Tips are also given for when to seek professional help with a speech therapist.