3 year old unclear speech

[BlueCanaryInTheOuthouse]

My almost 3 year old has speech that is still quite unclear. His vocabulary is amazing, as is his understanding. He speaks in sentences and is very chatty generally, very interested in the world and asks lots of questions. He also loves improvising songs!

However sometimes his speech is very unclear and especially so around people he doesn't know well. We were advised to read more to him but he has absolutely no interest in any books, he just throws them at us, unlike his brother who loved books. We talk to him loads and label things so he knows that they are.

He's 3 in January and I'm wondering whether I need to contact SLT now? Has anyone else been in this situation?

I wouldn't have thought that was unusual for a small child who is not yet three. They often babble away. He also sounds quite bright and entertaining.

You will be surprised what a difference a few months will make. Don't worry too much about it right now.

Could you ask his nursery or GP for their opinion? With waiting lists very long, if he needs help, getting him referred quick as possible is important. Unless you can afford private.

Hello

My DS is just over three with the same issue, just started preschool and they have said it is fairly usual and don’t recommend intervention unless it’s not improving which I think it is. However in the summer I was worried & arranged to see the health visitor, their opinion was that he was fine but she did give me details of a drop in speech and language clinic - may be worth seeing if you can contact HV with your concerns if you can, for another opinion?

we have also found talking tots classes useful, it may be worth looking up similar in your area? I found it reassuring to go and see that DS is in the same ballpark as many other children of the same age.

He's not in nursery, so noone to really ask! He's at home with his dad.

We can self-refer so I might just give them a ring and see what they say.

Talking Tots sounds great but none near us!

I didn't know you could ask GPs, ill do that. Yes he is very entertaining, he's brilliant ☺️

My 3 (and 2 months if it makes a difference) year old didn't talk using more than one word until he was 2.5, and now he won't shut up. But parts of his speech are still very unclear to those who don't know him well or spend a lot of time with him! He's also at home full time with his dad and loves books - we read multiple times a day.

I'm not particularly worried - he'll get there. He's gradually improved with lots of his pronunciations - from ga to grandma, and he can say his brother's name properly now! It's just a waiting game I think - they're still so young

Have you had his hearing checked? My son was the same at that age, went to Speech and Language drop in session who referred him to audiology. He had glue ear and ended up having grommets put in. His speech improved within weeks. Worth a check.

Is it unclear to you or only to others? We hasn’t noticed that my daughter struggled pronouncing certain things until she got to school and we had a referral pretty quickly for something that was actually quite minor. If you notice it yourselves I’d be more concerned as it’s quite common for parents to tune in and be able to understand clearly even if others can’t. I can now tell looking back at videos of her at 3 but at the time wouldn’t have been able to. With hindsight I can also now see that my youngest does speak much clearer at the same age.

Ah. If he’s just at home with his dad then he isn’t getting the appropriate socialisation to help with that.

Dyspraxia runs in my family - my mum, myself, my first born. Sometimes it causes problem with speech- you can find more on Dyspraxia Foundation. Intelligence not affected- just motor skills. My son is in the top set for everything in the secondary school.

Self refer , he’ll prob wait 12 months for an appointment to assess his speech!!

He goes to toddler groups 4 times a week and has a big brother!