Speech + language therapy and tongue tie.

[3duracellbunnies]

Ds has just turned 3. He is a chatterbox and has a great vocabularly, but there are still a few key sounds which he can't say, e.g. T, d, k, qu, s etc. He has a tongue tie, although now he can stick his tongue out a bit. He also dribbles a lot. GP often can't understand him, dh sometimes can't and there are sometimes when I can't understand him at first. He has just been referred by health visitor for speech and language assessment / therapy.

We already repeat back to him if he says something wrong. If I ask him to look at how I say something he will look and then say it wrong again. E.g. He says Fragon, I will ask him to look at my lips and say 'dragon', he repeats back fragon. I've only done it occassionally as he gets annoyed. Has anyone had any experience or tips for us while we wait for an appointment?

[2muchtimeonmyhands]

My ds does the same, cwock for clock, sebum for seven, and many more aswell as a bit dribbling, my health visitor wasn't at all worried when I mentioned it, was basically told he'd grow out of it and that his pronounciation would improve once he went to school.

He started nusery in september there and I can already see a marked improvement, although there are kids his age with much clearer speech I was relieved when I talked to a few mums who were also worried about their own kids with similar problem.

Hope all goes well with appointment.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

2much, our DD had speech issues. She had Speech Therapy and all was sorted out in 6 short sessions. My advice would be not to wait until school. If it is an issue, please don't wait, let him start school all sorted out. Did you know that you can self refer?

3duracell have a look at this thread where mawbroon mentions a dentist who will deal with TT privately.

Hope it all gets resolved soon.

[3duracellbunnies]

Thank you jilted do you know whether they will refer him on the NHS to have it cut as it was their incompetent MW who missed it initially or will I need to beg/ plead/ go private? How do I know if the speech issues are caused by the tongue tie?

Part of me wants to get someone to cut it asap, but part of me thinks I should wait incase his issues aren't linked with the TT. Will the S+L therapist express an opinion on whether the language is due to the TT?

2much my dd1 was quite late saying v, but it did come. I think the concerning thing with ds is that he can say 'later' sounds such as v, so he can say vulcano, but says frain instead of train, and t is supposed to be an early sound. Having said that I would still go and enquire before he starts school. Once they are in school referrals seem here anyway to go through the school and it depends on the school as to how good they are at picking up on it. Also I had speech therapy later on (8/9), I hated the teasing from friends, the whole process was focussed on younger children, I hated being made to read 'baby' books, still dislike Cat in the Hat just because of that experience. Don't leave it too long.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Not really sure, mawbroon mentions in the thread that she paid, I think she is a good person to ask, maybe you could message her?

[3duracellbunnies]

Thank you have sent her a pm.