Slight speech defect - what to do and when?

[DewinDoeth]

My DS is 2.9, and developed speech early; he's pretty good at talking. Also bilingual.
However, he has a slight speech defect - he doesn't roll his r's properly. This is an issue in his first language (Welsh, with a strong rolled r) but also is noticeable when he speaks English too.
Given his age, will he grow out of this? And if not, when should I start making enquiries about speech therapy?

Are you sure it's a defect?... I can't roll my r's and I'm 36. Do you mean saying rrrrrrrrr or do you mean a Jonathan Ross type pronunciation of r's as w's?

I think at 2.9, most speech therapists would advise a 'wait and see' approach, and avoid making him self-concious at all costs. Perhaps in a few months, if it hasn't resolved, you could see if he can hear the difference when you do a proper rolled 'r'? Then once you establish that he can hear a difference, you can try getting him to mimic you - but I wouldn't do this until he's a bit older, TBH (I'm an ex-speech therapist btw)

Meant to ask - does it make it hard to understand him? (in Welsh especially)

Thanks!
Lol Lemur, I think half of all English speakers (i.e. brought up speaking English) can't roll their r's, but I think (Ploppy probably knows more than me - although I do phil&ling, so can't actually do anything useful other than analyze!) all babies can make any sound, but if it's not necessary, the skill is lost.
A strong rolled r is essential in Welsh - it's much like the Spanish r. The slight defect is very common though, the most common defect amongst the Welsh - far more than you'd see with English speakers because it just isn't an issue in English and you can get away with quite a lot (unless you're Jonathan Ross)!

Ploppy he is still understood, it's just the wrong type of r, IYKWIM! The strong rolled r is done with the tongue near the front teeth, but his is (I believe) a trilled r, more like a gurgle done further back in the mouth with the flat of the tongue and roof of mouth. Similar to 'ch' as in Loch.
Incidentally, he uses the same r-sound he makes for 'th' as in 'the', and he also lisps which will probably go of its own accord, so I'm tending towards the wait and see. I don't want to cause phobias either!
Many thanks!

Ah, he's doing a uvular or palatal trill or approximant, rather than an alveolar one (scientific, me, like )

IIRC this is a bit unusual, as most children tend to bring sounds forward - 'fronting' - as part of normal developent, ie 'tar' for 'car') It is technically 'backing'. But these sorts of sounds normally develop later, so at 2.9 I'd not be worried at all.

I do think I'd leave it a while to avoid making an issue, but the slt would probably start with the understanding thing (can he hear the difference?) and then work on getting placement of the tongue a bit further forward and using the front rather than the 'hump' or back/body of the tongue.

I think using a 'r' sound for 'th' is developmentally normal though, so no worries there - he's just using his own version!

You're right about babies having the potential to make any sound; bring on the Swahili lessons for my 18mo DS!