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Is this a speech delay?

3 replies

skewiff · 12/02/2012 22:21

First I must mention that DS is almost 5 and has mild cerebral palsy. I shouldn't really be having to ask this question on mumsnet because Speech and Language should be involved - but despite calling them about 3/4 times a year to check if DS's language is OK - they're not involved at all ...

DS did not speak a word until he was 2 - that's when he said his first word - after that he caught up very quickly, but his speech was not at all clear.

Last summer he suddenly became a lot clearer. But, still, there are areas of smudginess. My main concern though is that he cannot say the sound 'th'.

DS is doing really well at reading - and I notice so much that whenever we get to a word that begins with 'th' he knows what it is supposed to sound like, but cannot produce that sound from his mouth. So he always replaces it with a 'f' or 'v'.

When he says the word 'the' he usually just says 'd' instead.

I have mentioned this to Speech and Language many times (last time was in September). They always fob me off. They usually give him a review and then send an unrelated photocopy through the post

Should I push for more?? Is this too late an age to be not able to say 'th'?

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Molehillmountain · 13/02/2012 07:18

On its own, although I'm not an expert, I have read that th is one of the later sounds children develop. Hence generations of children singing "beflehem" in the nativity plays. My own dd, who is very articulate can't pronounce it.

ohbugrit · 13/02/2012 07:25

DS is 4.5 and is the same, but he says 's' for words starting with 'th', and 'f' for words like 'with', but 'r' in 'other'.

I mentioned it to his preschool teacher who is going to discuss it with the SALT next term. She did say that it's one of the last sounds to come, but as his speech is good in general and we know he has a tongue tie it's worth checking out. So I'm not too worried just now.

It's a shame you've had so little support from SALT. If I get anywhere next term I'll come back to you :)

skewiff · 13/02/2012 20:10

Thank you for your replies -

I think I'll trust then that he's OK for now. Every time I've contacted SALT before they fob me off, so if he really is in 'normal' time frames (which they've said to me before) then that's all they'll say now.

thanks again.

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