So, yesterday my HV phoned me WRT DD's speech and said....

[LilRedWG]

That DD's speech was most likely slightly delayed and her dribbling (she only started dribbling after she got all her teeth) caused by:

a) Her having a dummy when she sleeps (she has it at no other time), and,

b) Drinking her morning and evening milk from a bottle still.

Yes, I know at 2.5 DD shouldn't really be having a bottle, but she loves it and I'm loath to give it up. She has a cup throughout the day but wants her milk from a bottle.

With regards to the dummy, we have already said that she needs to leave it out for Father Christmas to take and give to the little babies, so we're on the case there.

Can anyone please explain to me why her drinking a bottle twice a day would cause such "poor muscle tone" and "laziness"? It made sense when I spoke to the HV but then when I tried to explain to DH I came all unravelled.

Thanks in advance guys.

I have no idea.
But if I had a child with speech delay ( which I have ) I would be not be getting explanations about it from my HV.
No no no indeedy.

Who else are you seeing?

It sound like you need to be asked to be refferred to a speech therapist either way. Has the dr checked her tonsils and adenoids?

I only ask because my ds (nearly 3) although not speech delayed has trouble with pronunciation and dribbles constantly. I've heard it can be symptomatic of enlarged tonsils and adenoids , this can also effect speech. I'm going to the gp tommorrow afternoon to have them checked.

My hv told me to take dd's dummy away as it stops her talking, i don't see a problem with her having it at night.

Not sure about the bottle, dd still has hers at night but HV said there was nothing wrong with this. The only problem would be if she was walking around with it in her mouth (like she would a dummy).

Dd2 is 2.8 and has no speech but does have sn (ASD).

agree with Pag and ledodgy. plenty of children have dummies and night bottles of milk at 2 without having "poor muscle tone" - which would suggest that your HV might be taking a slightly simplistic view.

She is not massively delayed - I don't think. She has many many words but doesn't tend to put more than two or maybe three words together, whereas her friends are talking in sentences. She does not speak particularly clearly either and doesn't always finish words, iykwim.

Her nursery are not concerned but DH is and this is making me worry slightly.

TBH, since her birth she has had a paediatrician, a physio and will be under a dietician for life. I know my little girl and I think she is just being a little laid back. She was like this with walking/sitting/rolling - took her time and watched the others and then did it perfectly.

So - do I request a SALT review or not? Am confused. Thanks guys.

I would just to cover all bases so to speak. Bless her she sounds like Ruby in the book Ruby flew too she does everything in her own time but she gets there eventually. I love that book!

I thought the theory with bottles was that it required more muscle effort for a small baby to drink from the breast than from a bottle, which shouldn't make a difference now your DD is 2.5.

When DD was 2.5, and not talking (well not infront of HV anyway ) we were first sent to have here hearing checked (which I knew would be fine) and then refered to the SALT - although there is a long waiting list; DD is now 3.5, has had 2 assesments with the SALT and is on an icreadible long waiting list for regualr sessions.

So my point is that it might be worth pushing the HV (or GP)after Christmas, once you can tell her the dummy has gone for a referal.

I would just have a quick word with paed next time she has an appointment. speech sounds OK for that age - the vague rule of thumb is one word at one, two words together at two, three words together at 3.

:0 thank you so much for your responses. Who do I request I SALT review from? HV or GP?

She is no longer under the paed - we have been discharged to GP care. She was under him for constipation and familial hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol). I think I will hold off until after Christmas and then speak to the new HV (mine called yesterday as she was updating notes because she leaves tomorrow).

Thanks again.

LeDodgy - never heard of that book. I think I may have to get it.