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Speech...

7 replies

LollsMum · 14/01/2013 18:11

My daughter is 2y10m and her speech is concerning me. She says most words, I can't think of any words that she doesn't use, and she knows the names of things (everything, even quite obscure things). She can name every colour (and the varities, silver, gold and pale pink or pale purple) and she counts numbers when she wants to (using her fingers, so she IS properly counting ? she isn't just repeating the words). She uses only short sentences though, such as 'come with me' or 'Mummy do it'. Her pronunciation isn't great either, so what is clear to us isn't always clear to others. In conversation, she will answer questions and tell you things using a mish mash of single words like ?At playgroup. Paint. Green? to say that she painted a picture with green paint at playgroup. She communicates well, saying 'I'm hungry Mummy' or 'I'm thirsty Mummy' so we don't have many problems with her getting frustrated about not being understood.
I've mentioned it to the staff at her nursery (she goes two mornings a week at the moment) and they have said she is communicating well and grasping words, and that I should wait until she is 3 and moves into pre school (and is mixing with older kids), and if I am still worried then get it checked out at that stage. What do people think, is that reasonable or should I be seeking professional advice at the moment? Are there things I can do to encourage sentences/conversation over and above the usual stuff (like giving her choices, describing things and how they work etc)?
Thank you in advance for any replies.

OP posts:
elizbake · 14/01/2013 22:21

Hi, not much to add but just wanted to say we are in exactly the same situation with our DS, 3 in March. Like your DD,his receptive language is good( I have been testing him for long enough, poor child!),he knows all his colours, (although not as adept as your dd with his shades!) names and recognises his shapes, can recognise his own name and many letters, his counting is disastrous though.. 1,2,1,5 etc! His sentences are rather short, 3 or 4 words in the main, the odd 5 word sentence.. ' I go over there now daddy' which was such a rarity I nearly fell off my chair. Sorry, now the tips!

I have got a private SALT for my DS, because he pronunciation is awful, although getting better with lots of modelling. He has missed all his lip sounds (m, b, p ) due to suspected problems with facial muscles. He also misses consonants off the ends of words.My SALT gave me a really useful table which outlined when sounds develop, most of them ( apart from the ones my DS, for some reason, has missed) are mastered around 3.5 to 5, which is quite reassuring. So lots of modelling, DS loves alphablocks and I play the jolly phonics on my IPAD. In terms of the sentence structure, just keep modelling longer ones back?? I do probably talk too much at him, and ask him far too many questions, which is not the best approach!

I am no expert, and in the thick of it myself, worried and wondering when this magic month will come! Maybe someone with some wise words will come along soon! Hth

thesnootyfox · 14/01/2013 22:28

We have the same with ds he is 2.9. It has improved a lot over the last 5 months. Referrals are no longer made for speech in our area so we are keeping a close eye on it. He has problems with the "o" sound.

elizbake · 14/01/2013 22:51

Forgot to say, NHS very reluctant to put him on their list, after assessment said he was within 'normal range' ( struggle to believe it myself!) but will review in 3 months due to muscle issues.

elizbake · 18/01/2013 10:18

JUst wondering whether anyone else has had experience with speech issues? is starting to get me quite stressed!

lljkk · 19/01/2013 13:28

I've had 3 DC with mild speech delay and none of you sound like you have a worryingly delayed child on your hands. Not compared to my kids at same age -- and their delays were relatively mild So I'm baffled about why so stressed. I have a feeling that's not what y'all want to hear, though.

Middle-DS often missed out connectives in common phrases, Lolls, and put words in odd order. So missed out words like "of" and would speak of "card red" rather than "The red car". He's never going to be very articulate person: lots of people aren't. His SLT said that if we sorted the sounds he couldn't produce then he would learn to fill in the small words for himself, which seems to have happened as predicted (DS now 8yo). His writing is still odd at times, in spite of voracious reading.

There's a lad in DS reception class who I'm lucky if I can understand one word in ten that he says. That's worrisome.

elizbake · 22/01/2013 20:49

Thanks for your reply, Lijkk. You sound like are well versed!When do you feel you DCs ' caught up' ( for want of a better expression) . I am longing for the day I can have more of a conversation with my DS. Also, I am trying so much at home, but he is a bit ' therapy' aware , which frustrates me and him! Would really appreciate any tips.Thanks.

hazeyjane · 22/01/2013 21:52

It really doesn't sound as if there is any problems with either of of your dc's speech, Lollsmum and elizbake - they sound like they are doing really well!

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