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Original poster

Chicken pox affected speech in 3yo??

17 replies

Sarman · 19/02/2022 20:00

Hi has anyone please got any advice or had experience of a child having chicken pox in their throat and therefore affecting their speech. Slurring words, dragging words out, stuttering, not pronouncing words properly at all. Please help I’m
Worried sick that this is just a coincidence it’s at the same time an a sudden speech language problem has arised.

OP posts:
Cheekypeach · 19/02/2022 20:01

You need to take him to A&E if he’s suddenly slurring his words & is poorly. Or at least phone 111.

Tittyfilarious81 · 19/02/2022 20:05

I think you should give 111 a call I've not known chicken pox to affect a child's speech and both mine had them .

Original poster
Sarman · 19/02/2022 20:05

We have done that already he’s fine in himself and they wasn’t worried about anything after all the checks etc speech change isn’t to do with the brain or anything but I didn’t get a straight answer whether the speech is affected by chicken pox or not. It might be but I’m worried it’s a speech and language issue.

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3 year olds Behaviour & development Children's health General health
Cheekypeach · 19/02/2022 20:06

Could it be Bells Palsy?

Original poster
Sarman · 19/02/2022 20:08

Nothing else is affected apart from speech.

OP posts:
Crocodileshoes · 19/02/2022 20:32

Has speech production suddenly changed since chicken pox? Dysfluency in children is quite common in 3 year olds (while phonological development is ongoing and lots of changes at this age) but if speech changes are completely new and related to sudden onset of infection then I'd be pushing for more detailed assessment. Chicken pox in itself doesn't account for speech changes

Merriwicks · 19/02/2022 20:41

My 3 year old develops a really bad stutter on occasions which I now think is to do with a learning leap. It will last 1-2 weeks and stop again as quickly as it started. I am not sure if it is a coincidence with chicken pox or if your little one has something else also going on.

Teenylittlefella · 19/02/2022 20:49

Could it be PANS?
Has he started being extra anxious or obsessive, or restricted food intake?

Savvysix1984 · 19/02/2022 20:50

Have you had his hearing checked since he had chicken pox?

Original poster
Sarman · 19/02/2022 21:11

Don’t think it’s pans as nothing else has changed. Do you not think inflamed glands and chicken pox down the throat could be the cause then?

OP posts:
Original poster
Sarman · 19/02/2022 21:13

He has been to a&e so assume hearing was checked although can’t specifically remember this

OP posts:
Original poster
Sarman · 19/02/2022 21:32

How sudden does your little ones stutter come on? X

OP posts:
Duracellbunnywannabe · 19/02/2022 21:35

@Sarman

He has been to a&e so assume hearing was checked although can’t specifically remember this
Hearing test is a very specific assessment and takes about 20/30 in a special room and he would have been asked to do various things with toys when he hears a sound. It’s not something you would have easily forgotten.
Merriwicks · 20/02/2022 00:00

Stutter comes on instantly. Goes to bed at night and wakes up in the morning with it, sort of thing. Takes ages to get the first word out, but once she gets it out the rest of the sentence flows OK. It has happened on 2 different occasions now, for about 2/3 weeks each time. I phoned health visitor to get referral to speech and language and was told that they won't see children that age as they often develop stutters/speech issues as brain development at that age causes the issue. Basically saying that they can't get the words out as quick as their brain is working. I called the health visitor after about a week of the stutter, and was really worried when they wouldn't refer her as I had no idea how she was going to get rid of the stutter and then one day it was just gone.
You could pop his birthday into beyond the wonder weeks to see if it adds up with any major developmental leaps.
It didn't happen my oldest, but she drooled excessively during each leap, up until 4. They are all different

Original poster
Sarman · 20/02/2022 09:27

Thank you! Did stuttering occur at the end of
Words at all dragging words out?

OP posts:
Savvysix1984 · 20/02/2022 19:21

Thinking about it my dc developed a stutter around the same age after perfect speech. We 'ignored' it and it went away after several weeks and didn't return. The reason I asked about hearing is that I know an adult you developed partial deafness after chicken pox. It's rare but worth checking it out properly if their speech doesn't improve.

Merriwicks · 23/02/2022 00:05

Hopefully you are not as worried by now. Came down with covid and only seeing your reply now. Stuttering tended to be at the beginning of first work of sentence. But very severe. I cant specifically remember drawn out words. How is your son now?

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