When to worry? (another speech issue)

lewispm

I know we talk about speech all the time, but I guess I just wanted to ask all of you that have LO in some kind of Speech therapy or EI, when did you worry? How did you know it was needed? Did LO's daycare provider hint at it? Did you call a professional to come observe LO? What happened?

I'm getting worried about K regarding speech lately. He's smart as anything, but really stinks at using his words to communicate and uses the same word to say dozens of things sometimes. Other words sound nothing like the actual word but he still uses them and even when we stress each syllable (we say "eye-sss-creammm" and he repeats "ah-AAAAH" every.single.time.) he acts like he actually thinks he is saying it right. He has about 50 words, but most are unclear and only we would know what he's saying. So, if this sounds like he might need some speech therapy, what's the next step? Do I just look up a speech therapist in the phone book and call one up? Do I even need to be worried?

We switch daycares (to a better one) at the end of the month, so I am kind of hoping they will inform me if they think he needs any intervention. I'm just losing sleep over this lately because I feel so uneducated about it all and I don't want to hinder K by being in the dark.

Thanks!

 

nesenotes

It sounds like he is communicating just fine. Just give him some time...

lewispm

@jfresh, of his 50 or so odd words, he gets all the vowels and then ch, d, b, L, n  and sometimes s, f,  and sh. He mumbles mamamamamama a lot but calls me baba. Tons of his words sound similar, but with different intonations. "dada" or some variation means daddy, zaley, digger, paci, vacuum, and golfcart with differences so slight that sometimes I can't even decipher which one he is saying.

The only clear, unmistakable words he says are Dada, ball, no, uh oh, cheese, bye, hey, nuh uh, choo choo, and boo boo.

lewispm

Thanks, guys. Ya'll have eased my worries a little. I just read all this stuff about kids K's age saying stuff I would drop dead if I heard him say! And then this morning a little boy in his class (turns 2 next week) came up to me, pointed to his shirt and said "animal shirt" and then showed me the "gaff", "zebra", "elfun" and "tiguh". Hearing that (rather than just reading people's stuff on FB) got me worrying.

I'm probably being paranoid, but I will definitely ask at his 2 yr appt. I know my mom claims I was talking in full sentences by 18 months so that worries me. Plus strangers often talk to K and ask him questions as if he could actually answer. I think they think he is older since he's a biggin, but it still bothers me sometimes. Sorry, lady at Walmart, he doesn't know what color his shoes are and even if he did, he cant say it.

aylafsu88

jfresh said:

My non-professional thoughts- No, Kellen doesn't sound like he needs it at all. 50 words is a lot of words. I wouldn't expect enunciation like that at this age. The ability to communicate is the key. How many consonant sounds can you think of off the top of your head that he says? I'm sure you could go to a speech therapist privately through insurance, but I have a feeling they will tell you he doesn't need it.

I agree with this. It sounds like he is picking up new words and making the connections between items and their name which is great. Some syllabus/letters are harder to enunciate than others so it seems normal for him to say some things like dada very easily but others are more difficult. I know it is hard not to worry and wonder if everything is on track. It seems like Kellen is an active boy and developing his motor skills so it is logical that his verbal skills will come along!

grimesk12

This website might be helpful: https://www.speech-language-therapy.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=35:admin&catid=2:uncategorised&Itemid=117. On ASHA.org you can search for a provider and also find info on development. May is better speech and hearing month so some private clinics do free screenings.

britbratjf

lewispm said:

Thanks, guys. Ya'll have eased my worries a little. I just read all this stuff about kids K's age saying stuff I would drop dead if I heard him say! And then this morning a little boy in his class (turns 2 next week) came up to me, pointed to his shirt and said "animal shirt" and then showed me the "gaff", "zebra", "elfun" and "tiguh". Hearing that (rather than just reading people's stuff on FB) got me worrying.

I'm probably being paranoid, but I will definitely ask at his 2 yr appt. I know my mom claims I was talking in full sentences by 18 months so that worries me. Plus strangers often talk to K and ask him questions as if he could actually answer. I think they think he is older since he's a biggin, but it still bothers me sometimes. Sorry, lady at Walmart, he doesn't know what color his shoes are and even if he did, he cant say it.

@lewispm my friends little girl just turned 2 & has been speaking sentences for a good 8-10 months. Dagny will be 2 at the beginning of July & is just starting to occasionally string words together (ex. Mama Up). Kids are different

britbratjf

Oh also I would say that Dagnys enunciation has really improved in the past month although there are certainly words that only I understand (sometimes).