Help with speech therapy

[LeonardoAcropolis]

Hello, after some advice.

My ds2 is three and has a speech delay and disordered speech. He is having slt and after three sessions is already making slight progress, which is brilliant.

However, this week's exercise is to try and coax his tongue to the front of his mouth to practice 'd' and 't', as he currently attempts these at the back of his mouth. Easier said than done! We have sat infront of a mirror and fulled some silly faces, but he won't poke his tongue between his teeth (he can stick his tongue out, just won't do the exercise).

It is early days, and his slt said not to panic if he doesn't pick it up quickly, but has anyone else been through this? can anyone suggest some fun ideas? I have tried to put honey on his teeth, but he then sucks it off!

Oh! the joys of stubborn toddlers!

Eating ice cream?
Licking something?

You could hold a lolly/ sweet thing just out of reach and see if he can get it with his tongue.

Dd has the opposite problem - we need to practice c/ g at the front of her mouth.

Look at 'mommyspeechtherapy' she has good suggestions of how to elicit a sound. :)

I'd keep it simple and just get him to practise making the sound by encouraging him to touch the back of his top teeth - T. It took my little one about 6 months to get it. I think D is easier because it's the loud sound of the pairing. T is quiet and D is loud. Understanding that helps. SLT told us that on average once the sound is achieved it takes 3 months to be integrated into everyday speech. A long haul but well worth it!

Thank you for your help, yes it will be a long haul but I need to keep trying to make it fun for him. Three weeks in, we have great progress with the letter p! Apart from pronunciation, his speech is coming along nicely, otherwise, I am hoping it will all slot together in time.

But right now, when I hold him infront of the mirror to make faces, he enthusiastically shouts "No!" Three year olds!

If you Google Mr Tongue Story (seriously) there is a children's story to help practise tongue movements.

There is also an good app but the name escapes me in which you copy movements.

You could look on the ican website for more ideas.