s/o of kids reading (speech question)

pitterpatter129 · August 2012

Soooo.... I watched the video below of adorable Miles reading his book. So cute Nicole0012! I was astounded by how clearly Miles speaks though. Nate mumbles most of what he says and certainly doesn't know any of the words said on that video. I'm not sure non-family would understand what my kid is saying at all most of the time. Do your Dec. babies speak as clearly as Nicole's LO? If so, I'm thinking I might need to request a pedi appointment or an EI referal now. I don't want him to get even further behind if he should be speaking much better than he is! I've been wondering and now I'm really worried.

OhSewCrafty · August 2012

He speaks clearly for some words, but for most he's still saying major sound of the word only (cuh instead of cup, for instance).

FWIW, C is in EI for physical delays, so they're watching him closely for all those areas and his therapist said he's excelling in speech simply because he uses consistent words. Before the age of 2, its not so much about 100% correct pronunciation as much as it is to use the words correctly/consistently.

If every time he wants a ball, he says something different or doesn't have a word for something he commonly uses/wants/needs, that's a problem. Even if he calls a ball a duck, its still a consistent use of a word.

Also, does Nate understand words you say? If you tell him to get something for you or do something simple, does he understand? That is equally important as the words he says. :-)

Nicole0012 · August 2012

Oh gosh, I didn't want to AW just to make you (or anyone!) feel like their kiddo is behind! We spend a LOT of time on animal words/sounds, but there are other things (most other things, actually) that are not anywhere NEAR as clear as his animal sounds and words. I would NOT worry AT ALL!

EarsToYou · August 2012

OhSewCrafty:

He speaks clearly for some words, but for most he's still saying major sound of the word only (cuh instead of cup, for instance).

FWIW, C is in EI for physical delays, so they're watching him closely for all those areas and his therapist said he's excelling in speech simply because he uses consistent words. Before the age of 2, its not so much about 100% correct pronunciation as much as it is to use the words correctly/consistently.

If every time he wants a ball, he says something different or doesn't have a word for something he commonly uses/wants/needs, that's a problem. Even if he calls a ball a duck, its still a consistent use of a word.

Also, does Nate understand words you say? If you tell him to get something for you or do something simple, does he understand? That is equally important as the words he says. :-)

All of this! It's not my area of specialty, but I did have a lot of child development and speech pathology classes, and I remember this for sure.

lswivel · August 2012

Carter says some things clearly, like dog, milk, car, no, ball, mine, etc., but most everything else is not not clear. He hasn't started putting words together yet either. He understands what we say to him so I'm not too worried.

pitterpatter129 · August 2012

Nicole0012:
Oh gosh, I didn't want to AW just to make you (or anyone!) feel like their kiddo is behind! We spend a LOT of time on animal words/sounds, but there are other things (most other things, actually) that are not anywhere NEAR as clear as his animal sounds and words. I would NOT worry AT ALL!

Oh, no worries! Your kiddo is absolutely adorable!!! I'm so glad you posted that cute video! I've been worried about Nate's speech for a little while now, but I'm never around kids his exact age and I'm not sure if he's behind or not. He had tubes put in about 6 months ago and couldn't hear from his right ear at all before that, so if he's behind, I want to get him help before he ends up further behind. Strangely, it honestly doesn't really bother me if my kid is behind! As a teacher, I see kids who are behind all the time and they are still cute perfect little humans. I just don't want to be the parent who didn't notice an issue and didn't do anything about it!

pitterpatter129 · August 2012

Okay, well Nate definitely has some words down. He can clearly shout NO at me. Argh. And he has about 40 other words that we at least can recognize, even if no one else would be able to. He is stringing words together sometimes. For example, he clearly said "Not throw cup," after throwing his cup at me the other day. Our house is fun. And he definitely has good receptive language. He understands everything we say and will butt into conversations to bring you things you were talking about or point to things you were talking about. I'm just not sure what's normal vs. behind because I'm never around other kids the exact same age as Nate. I might still have him evaluated for my own reassurance. I guess I'm that mom. I don't want to miss something that is wrong and then have him go to PreK and the teacher ask why on earth he's not getting help in speech!

OhSewCrafty · August 2012

pitterpatter129:
Okay, well Nate definitely has some words down. He can clearly shout NO at me. Argh. And he has about 40 other words that we at least can recognize, even if no one else would be able to. He is stringing words together sometimes. For example, he clearly said "Not throw cup," after throwing his cup at me the other day. Our house is fun. And he definitely has good receptive language. He understands everything we say and will butt into conversations to bring you things you were talking about or point to things you were talking about. I'm just not sure what's normal vs. behind because I'm never around other kids the exact same age as Nate. I might still have him evaluated for my own reassurance. I guess I'm that mom. I don't want to miss something that is wrong and then have him go to PreK and the teacher ask why on earth he's not getting help in speech!

The fabulous thing about EI is that you can self refer without talking to a pediatrician and the evaluation/therapy is free. No harm, no foul. If it leaves you wondering, I say get him checked out! Even if he doesn't qualify for therapy, they can give you an idea of where he is and how you can help him advance. :-D Once they turn three, they are no longer eligible for the free services, so I'd say go with your gut on what ever you decide.

pitterpatter129 · August 2012

OhSewCrafty:
pitterpatter129:

Okay, well Nate definitely has some words down. He can clearly shout NO at me. Argh. And he has about 40 other words that we at least can recognize, even if no one else would be able to. He is stringing words together sometimes. For example, he clearly said "Not throw cup," after throwing his cup at me the other day. Our house is fun. And he definitely has good receptive language. He understands everything we say and will butt into conversations to bring you things you were talking about or point to things you were talking about. I'm just not sure what's normal vs. behind because I'm never around other kids the exact same age as Nate. I might still have him evaluated for my own reassurance. I guess I'm that mom. I don't want to miss something that is wrong and then have him go to PreK and the teacher ask why on earth he's not getting help in speech!

The fabulous thing about EI is that you can self refer without talking to a pediatrician and the evaluation/therapy is free. No harm, no foul. If it leaves you wondering, I say get him checked out! Even if he doesn't qualify for therapy, they can give you an idea of where he is and how you can help him advance. :-D Once they turn three, they are no longer eligible for the free services, so I'd say go with your gut on what ever you decide.

Awesome information! Thanks! I think I will give them a call and just see what they have to say.

bosha711 · August 2012

We have a mix of clearly spoken words & others that are still in "baby talk" that only a few people can understand.

In regards to Nicole's video, DS says most of the animals' names clearly. I don't think he knows "chicken", though & for duck, he says "quack-quack". He just started recently saying "dog". Up till now, he'd scrunch his nose & make a sniffing noise instead, lol.

Also, I realized that it takes him longer now to learn the correct word for things that he had previously associated sounds or signs to. Dog is one example, and another is airplane. He loves airplanes. He has toys, points them out on TV & in the sky outside. But for a long time (since last fall), he'd imitate a plane by passing his hand over his head & making an airplane noise. But when we'd ask him to say airplane, he wouldn't/couldn't. He just finally started saying airplane like a week ago. It was frustrating b/c we would say the word to him probably 15-20 times a day, but yet it took him forever to actually say it.

jillybean800 · August 2012

I would say that half of his words are very clear, and the other ones are just parts of the sounds. Ones that he has been saying for awhile are more clear, like doggie and ball and mama, etc. But new ones he is still refining...kiwi is wee wee, mango is geego, coffee is afee. (All of his words are food words, haha!) I think the more they use it the more refined it iwill get!

enjoylife · August 2012

Most of A's words are partial of the right words but he only started speaking in July instead of just using sign language.

A doesn't care much for animals or their sounds. His clear words are up, more, ow, all done (his only 2 word combo), and mama dada , no and his new favorite which is driving me batty: "this" he uses it for EVERYTHING right now. He still relies pretty heavily on his signs so I think for him it may just be a slower transition to full on speech. An EI eval can't hurt and might ease your concerns but I think Nate sounds pretty normal toddler to me.

lrn327 · August 2012

I'd say about half of C's words are fairly clear, but that's to me of course. I don't think our family or friends can really understand him.

kj07 · August 2012

B only has a few clear words - ball, car (caahh - he's a new englander at heart), nana (for banana), moah (for more). And he has a bajillion words that sound almost alike - ba-ba could be his name, bicycle, bye-bye... But day by day I do hear some words become more clear.

I saw an article (maybe on babycenter...) and it said something along the lines of - at 18 months you'll be able to understand 50% of what your kid says and strangers will be able to understand 10%.

Now I really want to find that article again. It was reassuring to me.

ETA - I found it! Here's the link. It wasn't quite as I remember it, but still, it was reassuring to me.

EVM1216 · August 2012

DD would probably sound a lot like Miles did in that video if she were explaining her favorite book. She loves animals and the sounds they make, so she can say those fairly clearly. Day-to-day it is a bit more hit or miss. She has some words and phrases that she says very clearly and others that are a bite more mumbly and sketchy.

Kellina · August 2012

Haven't watched the video, but no one can understand what DS2 says except me & DH! And DH still cant understand our 3.5 yr old sometimes... I really wouldn't worry.

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