Three and a half year old still dribbling

[BoysAreLikeDogs]

I am getting a bit concerned - speech is also unclear.

Cannot says hard 'k' sound - cat, car, bike comes out as tat, tar, bite.

The child mumbles, I can understand because I spend a lot of time with the child, but others less familiar have difficulties understanding, so frustrating for the child

The dribbling is constant, and there is alot of it, too.

DO I flag up to parents as a concern?

The child starts school next September, does not go to any nursery/pre-school so onus is on me, I feel; I would normally discuss this with nursery/pre-school SENCO.

WWYD ?

My DS was still dribbling a lot at that age. He saw a speech therapist who recommended some exercises (blowing bubbles etc). Do you have any concerns over the child's hearing?

I did have concerns over the child's hearing, yes, but nothing recently was concerning me about the hearing.

Thank you for replying.

Have the parents shown any concern themselves?
My ds drooled enough to soak several t shirts a day at that age - he also had speech problems..he was in day nursery at the time and one of the reasons I was laid back about it was that none of the nursery staff commented on it being 'unusual'..as it was when we eventually got it investigated he had enlarged tonsils and adenoids, a continually blocked nose (so he was mouth breating making it harder for him to swallow) and glue ear. He was a lot better after having tonsils and adenoids out and grommets put in at age 3.

Parents are not concerned, but they have nothing to measure the child against - is their first.

Mouth breathing, and snores too when asleep.

I think I am going to mention to parents, to get checked out with HV.

Thanks for your input.

I am glad you brought this up, i too have a child that has same symptoms as yours, I may mention it to parents aswell.

Mentioning it to our HV was our first port-of-call. She was the first person to confirm that it wasn't normal and she got us a referral to speech and language and audiology ..our GP (who we went to after HV said it was not normal) was a bit useless and it took us months to get ds to a peadiatrician - the SALT diagnosed him ages before he finally got to see an ENT specialist.
So...yup - try and kindly suggest that they mention it to their HV (especially if there are also sleep problems - my ds also had sleep apnea (stopped breathing when asleep as tonsils/adenoids blocked his airway) which can be dangerous (and makes the child tired and grumpy all day long))

My ds1 is the same and i'm going to take him to get his tonsils and adenoids checked. Mine were the same when I was little and he has all the other symptoms so i'm 99% sure this is the problem. I must go soon because he starts nursery next September and I don't want him still dribbling then.

My son is the same age he dribbles constantly, all the time even at night but unlike yours speaks very well and clearly. However he does have a lisp, it has never worried us and to be honest I wouldnt think about doing anything about it.

Good luck tho' let us know how you get on.

DS1 was like this. He had probems with his speech which hs nursery tesacher brought up and he had one session of therapy and then a few more when he went to school.

I got him to drink through a straw (thanks to a MN tip!) and that really helped him suck up all the dribble.

He is six now and his speech is fine and he doesn't dribble at all!

My DD did this until recently (she's now seven) she also had hearing problems, speach problems, used to snore and mouth breath and also constantly has a runny nose and sneeze alot as in every morning without fail. Most of these have now cleared up due to grommits (two lots)and adenoids out. If one of the children in my care presented with these problems I would deffo approach the parents.

Hi.I have 3 and half year old twins, both are dribbling like small babies! Health is fine, hearing etc. I use bibs when at home as otherwise I would have to change their tops about every hour!Mentioned it often to doc etc but don't get very far. So long as its ok am not too bothered bout it,but would hate to think I should be doing something for them and am not?? They always dribbled alot and NEVER once cried when they were getting their teeth,have slept through the night since they were about 4 months old,so I had always seen the dribbling as a positive thing but I do hope they wont still be doing it in their forties?!

My dribbly boy at the same age had a speech delay.

Blow bubbles, pull silly faces, get him to copy you sticking your tongue out and waving i around.

tell the parents if his speech doesn't pick up soon though.

Thanks for all these replies

I have flagged up to parents and I hope that HV can clarify if there is a problem

i mind a 5 year old (6 in Feb) who dribbles lots and lots too. his speech is great, very intelligent, G&T in science and maths, but dribble non stop!

I would raise this with mum save that there is another issue more pressing imo, and that is that he vomits very easily ie cries too hard, vomits, jumps around after eating, vomits, sees something yucky, vomits. his mum puts it down to that "being in the family" so never thought much of it. but she has agreed to see doctor about it.

i reckon raising matter of dribbling may be a bit too much, but will mention the bubbles and straw drinking exercises. some parents are far more receptive to such input than others, aren't they?