When a child begins making clicking sounds with their mouth, it often causes immediate concern for parents. This sound, which may resemble a “tsk” or a quick pop, indicates varied oral-motor activity whose significance changes with the child’s age. For an infant, clicking relates to the mechanics of sucking and swallowing. In a toddler, it typically signals a phase in the complex process of learning to speak. Understanding the context of the sound—whether it happens during feeding, while talking, or when the child is quiet—is the first step in determining if it is a benign developmental habit or a functional issue that requires attention.
Clicking Sounds Related to Infant Feeding Mechanics
In newborns and young infants, a clicking sound during feeding indicates a temporary loss of intraoral suction. The click occurs when the vacuum seal breaks, allowing air to rapidly rush into the mouth cavity. This air intake is noisy and can lead to the infant swallowing excess air, potentially causing gas, discomfort, or disrupting the feeding pattern.
A common cause for this broken seal is a poor latch or incorrect positioning, preventing the tongue from maintaining consistent contact with the hard palate. The tongue plays a crucial role in feeding, as its wave-like motion extracts milk and maintains the vacuum. If the tongue’s mobility is restricted, such as by a short lingual frenulum (ankyloglossia or tongue tie), the baby may be unable to cup the nipple effectively. This causes the tongue to snap back with a click as suction is lost.
Parents can try immediate adjustments, such as ensuring the infant’s head and neck are aligned or changing the angle of the bottle. Persistent clicking, even with minor positional changes, suggests a more fundamental issue with oral motor coordination or anatomy. This requires a deeper assessment, as the clicking can be a symptom of inefficient milk transfer, which may compromise the infant’s weight gain.
Clicking Sounds Related to Speech Development
As a child grows and begins to use their mouth for language, the clicking sound can evolve into an articulation error. In toddlers and preschoolers, clicking frequently substitutes for sibilant sounds like “S,” “Z,” “Sh,” or “Ch.” This is classified as a lateral articulation error, commonly known as a lateral lisp. It occurs when the tongue directs the stream of air over the sides instead of centrally, producing a “slushy” or “wet” sound.
While children experience normal, temporary mispronunciations as they learn to coordinate their articulators, a lateral lisp is generally not considered a typical developmental phase. This error is caused by a failure to anchor the sides of the tongue against the upper molars during sound production. Since the mechanism for the sound is incorrect, the child will not typically outgrow a lateral lisp without specific intervention.
If the clicking or slushy sound persists past the age of five, when most children have mastered the complex /s/ and /z/ sounds, professional support is required. The error is rooted in motor planning for speech. Correction involves teaching the child a precise placement for the tongue to redirect the airflow forward and eliminate the lateral escape.
Other Non-Functional and Habitual Clicking
Beyond feeding and speech, children may produce oral clicks for exploratory or habitual reasons. Young children often experiment with their oral anatomy, creating various noises by manipulating their tongue against the palate or teeth, a form of oral motor play. This non-functional clicking is often transient and results from the child entertaining themselves.
Another source of clicking is the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which connects the lower jaw to the skull. A jaw joint click or “pop” may be heard when a child chews, yawns, or opens their mouth wide, usually signaling slight disc displacement within the joint. Persistent TMJ clicking accompanied by pain or limited jaw movement warrants dental or medical evaluation.
Clicking can also manifest as a simple motor habit or tic. This may involve rapid, repetitive contractions of the soft palate muscles (palatal myoclonus), or it can be a learned behavior performed unconsciously when bored or focused. Unlike functional sounds, habitual clicking is often random, not tied to specific activities, and typically ceases during sleep.
When to Consult a Pediatric Specialist
The need for professional consultation depends on whether the clicking causes functional difficulty or persists past developmental norms.
Infant Feeding Concerns
For infants, immediate evaluation is necessary if clicking impacts feeding efficiency and growth. Red flags include poor or slow weight gain, signs of distress during feeding, or the feeder experiencing significant pain or inability to maintain a seal. A lactation consultant (IBCLC) or pediatrician should assess the latch and oral anatomy.
Speech and Articulation Concerns
For toddlers and older children, the primary concern shifts to speech clarity and developmental timing. If the child’s clicking or slushy speech persists past age five, or if the child’s overall speech is difficult for unfamiliar listeners to understand (low speech intelligibility), intervention is recommended. A Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) diagnoses and treats lateral lisps and other articulation errors.
Jaw Joint Concerns
If the clicking relates to the jaw joint, a pediatric dentist or orthodontist should be consulted, especially if the child reports pain, headaches, or stiffness when opening their mouth. Any clicking noise that causes distress, interferes with eating or communication, or persists past the typical window for resolution should be brought to the attention of a healthcare provider.