4yr old can't blow out candles

[Weaselmustdie]

My friends DD is repeatedly ill and has really unclear speech. Friend is always taking her DD to the GPs and has seen various specialists re. illness. Friend thinks it is just a little quirk that her DD can't blow (eg. Candles, party blowers) but it struck me as odd for her age, so a quick Google search brings up inability to blow as a sign of apraxia. Not sure if I should share this with my friend? It might not even be what she's got, but if it was you, would you rather hear this from a friend, or health professional? Anyone with experience of apraxia, could it explain the constant illness, or is that a separate issue?

I'm not convinced my 5 yr old could reliably blow out birthday candles! I also wouldn't be at all surprised to see a 4 yr old struggling to blow out candles. For some reason small children are often a bit rubbish at it. On its own, that doesn't seem like any cause for concern to me.

I really wouldn't bother sharing a google diagnosis.

OK, it's not just that she can't blow but there are a few issues. I read that a one year old would struggle to blow out a candle but age 2 onwards it should be possible.

As your friend is seeing health professionals regularly I would leave it to them. Google is notoriously unreliable when it comes to medical issues.

Are they under a Speech and Language Therapist? They'd pick up on a problem there pretty quick and refer on, in my experience.

The dd needs a proper assessment by a speech therapist.
School will flag it up if it hasn't been already.
What kind of illness has she been tested for coeliac ?

She's about to start school so I did think that might be the time it gets picked up. Not coeliac, its more ear, nose and throat for repeated infections in that area. Speech and Language therapist hasn't been mentioned, but hopefully school will get that sorted.

Yes you can share it. It will do no harm to point it out at all. I found out long after my DD1 was diagnosed with her SN that someone thought she had SN and didn't say anything and I was very upset.

Have they checked for tongue and lip tie. My son's pronounciatiom was unclear and he couldn't Eat properly until we got them revised. He also couldn't like a lolly, blow out candles or kiss.

Thanks for your response lougle, it helps to hear it from your perspective. And that's interesting Kohi, pretty sure she was checked as a baby due to feeding problems but might mention that to my friend. I know I might sound like a nosy meddler, but she's a good friend and so worried.

From my experience I'd say that the front mouth muscles are weak and need strengthening.

Does she have a dummy?

She was a big fan of the dummy, but that's gone now. But she has been known to have a go on little sisters dummy.

For 2 years we were told my son didn't have a tongue and lip tie by all kinds of specialists as he was very premature. It wasn't until I did my own research and took him to a pediatric dentist that it was confirmed that he was tied and they were causing major problems. Most doctors aren't trained in identifying them unless they are the obvious anterior ties. My sons tie was posterior. Improvements were immediate after the surgery

My son has motor oral dyspraxia
Severe oral dyspraxia
Dyspraxia
Hyper mobility syndrome
And just been diagnosed with autism

He didn't get his dyspraxia diagnosis until he was 4.
He can now speak even though we still sometimes struggle to understand him, he still can't blow out candles or blow but bubbles but can now catch a ball (sometimes)
Best tell your friends of what you think as if the child does have a form of dyspraxia then treatment early can start.
I think you are a nice friend to have xx