Is this typical for a 2.5 year old's speech?

Jen&Len · April 2011

I feel like DS still does not pronounce a lot of his words correctly and no one other than DH and I ever understands what he's saying. He doesn't seem to be able to pronounce his "L's" (he pronouces them with a Y sound), "R's (pronounces them with a W sound)" and a lot of the combo consonant sounds like "tr", "cr", etc.(he'll skip the second consonant).

Usually, when he learns a new word, he'll try to repeat it, but it sounds nothing like the original word. the syllables are usually said in the wrong order.

jcyahne · April 2011

Yes I think that's normal. Or at least that is normal at my house. I'm always asking DH to interpret what DD#1 is saying.

Mrs.Saxy · April 2011

it was normal for us.

DS is 3.5 now and still says the w sound for r's.

People are telling me now that his speech is much better and it is. Give it time.

KristinKD · April 2011

DD1 is 3.5 and still doesn't pronounce everything clearly. Off the top of my head, I know she has trouble with Ks, Ls, Rs, and Ts, and there may be more. I probably should pay more attention to it, but I guess I take it for granted how well I can understand her since I'm with her all the time.

I remember a year or two ago, someone here posted a breakdown of how well you should be able to understand your kids at various ages, like x% at 1 year, x% at 18 months, and so on. I just wish I had copied it down then!

Anyway, I did find this online:

General Guideline for Sound Production
3-4 years: p, b, m, w, h and all vowels
5-6 years: d, t, n, g, k, f, y, ng
7-8 years: r, l, s, ch, sh, z, j, v, th, sh

https://www.earlyinterventionsupport.com/development/speech/articulation.aspx

cbwm · April 2011

OP - the things you list are VERY normal for a 2 1/2 year old. The breakdown above is the same thing DS's speech therapist gave us a few months ago.

T1andT2 · April 2011

This is similar at our house too. I feel bad when I really have no idea what he is saying! I ask him to say it over and over and he look at me like I am nuts.

Kellina · April 2011

Sounds like my DS. He flip flops the syllables and only says part of the word a lot. like grandpa is "panka", tired is "torrie", etc. Not many people can even make that much out of what he says!

stromtobe · April 2011

My son is 2.75 and I have been struggling to understand him lately. I think he is getting more adventerous in his vocabulary so as he is saying new words I have to figure them out. He has trouble with words starting with S. It took me a long time to figure out Squirrel!

susanmosley · April 2011

What you are describing is perfectly developmentally appropriate and even expected.

Here are a couple of things to look at:

https://www.talkingchild.com/speechchart.html

https://www.speech-language-therapy.com/Table4.htm

https://www.speech-language-therapy.com/intelligibility.htm

https://www.speech-therapy-information-and-resources.com/phonological-processes.html

The third is what a previous poster is/was referring to.

gremxul · April 2011

Even though it is probably normal, if you're concerned, I would make an appointment with your pediatrician so that someone else can hear him speak. Also, you can self-refer to early intervention programs in most states and they will send a speech therapist out to the house to evalutae your child- the free therapy usually runs out at 3, but the eval would be great.

Jen&Len · April 2011

Thanks everyone. Most of the other toddlers DS's age are girls who have been somewhat early talkers...we don't really know many boys his age. It's actually really amusing to watch DS with the girls. they'll have 5 minute monologues, after which DS will say something like, "bus" or "car". haha.

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