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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

DD has a lisp- do I need to get her seen by someone?

14 replies

NickNacks · 23/07/2012 14:55

She's very nearly two years old and otherwise a fairly decent talker but im not sure what I need to do if anything in this situation. She lisps with her s, x and th sounds.

OP posts:

Unlurked · 23/07/2012 14:58

I'm by no means an expert but my two year old has a lisp that I've noticed recently has improved quite a bit so it could be something they can grow out of. I've not actually done any kind of research/asked the doctor or anything though!

Lottapianos · 23/07/2012 15:03

Just to be clear - what do you mean by lisping? Do you mean that she says 'th' instead of 's'?

If that's what you mean, the short answer is no, you don't need to worry! The sounds you listed wouldn't be expected to be used clearly until 3 years plus so don't worry. Don't ask her to copy or repeat sounds after you either, just model clear words. For example, if DD shouts out 'thun' when she means 'sun', you might say 'ooh yes it's sunny today'. This will help her (over time) to hear the difference between what she said and what you said and her sounds should come right in time.

Lottapianos · 23/07/2012 15:04

I'm a speech and language therapist by the way

Original poster

NickNacks · 23/07/2012 15:11

No she doesn't say a different sound ie 'th' instead of s, she does say the s soubd but will lisp with her tongue (do I make sense-it's very hard to explain a sound!) and with a word like teeth she'll say tee-s whilst lisping that last 's'.

OP posts:

Lottapianos · 23/07/2012 15:15

'Lisping' means different things to different people, that's why I had to check! Sounds like she's fine NickNacks. The 'th' sound at the end of 'teeth' is one of the very last sounds that children develop, usually about 6-7 years, so all sounds fine for a little one!

Original poster

NickNacks · 23/07/2012 15:30

Thank you! I'm nervy due to her having previous hearing and speech delay (referred at 11months due to no babbling) but I think that was over cautious of them and me! She's fine now :)

OP posts:

Lottapianos · 23/07/2012 15:52

Better to be over cautious than not interested at all! I highly recommend going along to your local Children's Centre and attending some of their groups (if you haven't already) - they will probably have a SLT who comes to visit now and then and they would be a useful contact for you if you have any concerns in the future

Original poster

NickNacks · 23/07/2012 17:20

Ah that's a sore point because I'm a childminder and we are no longer welcome at our children's centre due to 'funding cuts'. I did raise the issue that their decision now prejudices my children for my career choice but they didn't really have an answer for that. :(

OP posts:

RaisinDEtre · 23/07/2012 17:37

You can surely access the CC for your own child?

If not then HV

Original poster

NickNacks · 23/07/2012 18:12

Thing is I work full time so always have extras with me. We have to sign each one in and because each session has a maximum capacity, we have been told we are taking up too many places from needy families. What annoys me is they have a blanket assumption that no CMs are from needy backgrounds and the backgrounds of our mindees are not even considered. Anyway that's another story! I'll try the HV, thanks!

OP posts:

Ozziegirly · 24/07/2012 06:56

Interesting as my nearly 2 year old has developed a slight lisp but seemingly only at the end of words, so he can say "snake" but then says "cat-th" for cats.

He puts his tongue between his lips and teeth when he lisps - it's actually flipppin cute but I am just trying to "model" the right sound. Is that all there is to it at this stage?

Lottapianos · 24/07/2012 07:35

NickNacks, that is such a shame. I would blame the government, rather than the CC, but I know that doesn't help you much.

Ozziegirly, modelling the word with all the correct sounds is exactly the right thing to do. As with NickNacks, I highly recommend accessing your local Children's Centre, if you can!

3duracellbunnies · 24/07/2012 07:57

The other thing which has really helped our now 5yr old is learning phonics. I know it seems like an incredibly long way off, but it will speed around soon, believe me! She only had a mild lisp and could say all the sounds, however for her seeing how the word is broken down into bits has helped her to pronounce each part correctly so t ee th.

Ozziegirly · 24/07/2012 11:32

Thank you very much - I don't think we have health visitors for older children or Children's Centres over here - I have no idea even where I would ask about this, but I'm sure you're right, he'll grow out of it. His language has suddenly exploded in the last couple of months and I think maybe it's a case of just being a little overwhelmed with all the new noises and sounds and things that he's suddenly able to do.

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