My Son is 2 1/2 and right on target developmentally. The problem is he cannot say certain words... like snake (he says nake) or play, (he says lay)... He just had a "speech therapist" screen him and again, he is doing above average developmentally, it seems that because he has chewed on his blanket as his mouth was growing, his tongue has gotten lazy. (or something to that effect). She said I should bring it up with the pediatrician.. (he was the one who gave the OK on the speech therapist). Anyway, my question is... "Does anyone have any exercises or a website they can suggest with skills for speech??" He knows plenty of words, he just cant say them very well... and he gets soooo frustrated when we misunderstand him... mainly because he is "right" and using the "right word". He never used a pacifier or sucked his thumb... just the darn blanket thing. Thanks Mommas!!
Wow! Thanks so much for all the different opinions, advice and insight! Blessings to you all! oxoxo
I am a little confused. Did you have him evaluated by Early Intervention and he didn't qualify because really, his issue is an articulation issue? You can get speech therapy at any point, but you probably have to pay for it. Actually though, what you are describing is pretty common at his age. You can take him to a speech therapist if this is truly distressing but you can also work with him on those sounds.
Having worked with kids who have had speech delays, among other delays, and having a 3 and 6 year old I can say with complete confidence that your son sounds completely normal at this point. Not saying S's, R's, L's, Th's, is developmentally normal until about age 5-6. Relax. My 6 year old didn't say any of those sounds at age 2 1/2 either and now speaks perfectly clearly.
The Speech Therapist... should have given you more information/resources to help. That is her job.
My son had a speech therapist... that is what they did.
It was via the Early Childhood Intervention organization, in our State.
THEN, once a child is 3... the services are done with. Since they service kids up until 3 years old. BUT... if the child needs more speech help/therapy... they are supposed to give you resources/organizations/schools... that can help and the then enroll the child into that chosen program. Per the parent's request... PRIOR to when services ends for your child.
But enunciation of words... is also age related.
My son was advanced developmentally in many areas.... except he was speech delayed. AND the Speech Therapist clearly explains to the parent... all about developmental age-related stages of enunciation and sounds of words and what word sounds are developed at what ages.....
and they work with the child... on it.
Since your son had a Speech Therapist screen him again... well didn't she/he have anything helpful to you and your son? Besides just saying his mouth is growing and his tongue is lazy?
Does not seem like a good Speech Therapist...
AND the Pediatrician is NOT a Speech Therapist, so he/she would NOT know how to help your son's speech.
Your son is young... I don't know of any kid that age, that speaks perfectly or enunciates every sound... perfectly.
It is not the blanket.
all the best,
Susan
this is pretty normal, the words are going through their heads faster than they can form them so the miss a few letters, really it is normal. Soon his mouth will catch his brain and all will be right with your world
Your child sounds very normal, maybe if you relax, he will relax. Research what is the typical range for kids to aquire certain sounds. you dont want to stress him out trying to get him to say things are too hard for him developmentally.
I am not a speech therapist but I can tell you my experience.
My son had trouble with words too, and I am remembering when he was about 3 years old. He now has a job that includes public speaking. We didn't do anything but let him grow up.
Just speak clearly and distinctly to model good speech to him.
Instead of thinking of him as 2-1/2, remember that he's just
one thousand days old. More or less.
He'll get better with time and practice.
When you don't understand him,
ask him some questions to clarify his intended meaning.
When you read picture books together,
have him say the names of things with you, after you, independently.
Normal, normal, normal. Relax- my godson embarrassed all of us with a word for truck that started w/ an f- yikes- for a long time- just normal- pls relax.
What a bunch of bunk about a lazy tongue, etc- just normal- pls relax and enjoy.
best,k
My son is 2.5 and doesn't say many words correctly either. His c's are t's, l's are d's and many words just are kind of a jumble. That said, per our dr, this is all normal for this age. I'm surprised that he had a speech evaluation and she didn't give you any home exercises or other resources. Perhaps you can give a call back and ask for some info?
8-2
http://www.speech-therapy-on-video.com/oralmotor.html
Maybe these will help. I'm totally surprised your SpTher didnt give you a handout or anything! Personally, I would consider locating a different practice.
have a happy day!
First of all the SLP should be the one giving you an oral motor program!! DUH! Fire her and find a new one. There are tons of things to be done at home for this issue. There are many sounds that don't developmentally come in until he gets older so don't worry too much about that. DO NOT bring it to his attention or correct his articulation because that leads to stuttering. The tongue doesn't just "get lazy" LOL. There may be underlying causes like low muscle tone, motor coordination issues or other things. Look at it from a whole body perspective, not just a mouth thing. Have an OT evaluation as well just to make sure. Take him to a private SLP and OT because the ones from the state are not experienced and they can only accept kids if they are really really bad off. Kids like yours fall through the cracks all the time.
If this was a free evaluation from ECI, go to a private speech therapist and get an evaluation, not a screen. I would do so ASAP, not just because he needs it, but because many insurance companies refuse speech benefits after age three, so if you have benefits like this, you want to get it now.
Articulation responds well to short term therapy, but is usually not a need as far as public services go.
M.
get another speech therapist my oldest did that at that age and did 6 months of speech therapy sounds like a lame excuse to me
You don't say, but have you had his ears checked for fluid?
Now if it's a lazy tongue you can do exercises with him. My daugther took speach for a few years. She didn't have a lazy tongue but this is a practice that the therapist did with all the kids. Put him in front of a mirror and stick your tongue out then have him copy you. Do this several times. Then move your tongue to the left, then right, then top and then bottom and do this several times with him. Once you get him doing it he will do it on his own. Then look in the mirror with him and say a word he is having trouble with and have him watch you say it and then have him watch his mouth and practice. But honestly at 2 1/2 I wouldn't worry to much about it as speach doesn't always fully develope until they are older. Write down the words that you notice he is having problems with and keep track. Then work on one word at a time. The speach therapist would send a word home each week for my daughter to work on. You don't change words until he gets the one you are working on right. If you do it will just confuse him. World was my daughters biggest word she had problems with. Hers was due to being part deaf in her left ear. Once the doctor figured it out and I got her a hearing aide her speach improved very quick. Take him to a ENT if you are really concerned just to be safe.
