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Original poster

Surprised at speech therapy recommendation for 4 yr old

24 replies

KeepingItReal2017 · 04/11/2022 21:23

I was completely surprised when my daughter’s teacher said they recommend speech therapy for my 4 year old.

they said they’d noticed she struggles with her Ls & some other sounds. I was SO surprised as to me she speakers so clearly. So I took the sheet from school on what they’d found & listened tonight, and yes, she pronounces some Ls as Ws (wion, not lion) and says “buttoms” not buttons. But my goodness I just thought she was moving from preschool language & it was normal,

The teacher isn’t overly worried & says it’s just some sounds. But im going along with the session so that they can help us with activities so she can improve her pronouncing of these sounds,

I guess im writing for 2 reasons…

has anyone had similar experience or kids with mispronounced sounds & did they improve by themselves or with therapy?

also, god, I feel shit for not realising it’s a potential problem. :( I pride myself on being the best mum and feeling a bit crappy right now.

OP posts:
BookwormButNoTime · 05/11/2022 07:17

My DC also mispronounced sounds - mainly the endings of words. SLT said no problems. Turns out she has spatial processing disorder which affects hearing. It’s good to get things checked out.

Don’t beat yourself up about it. You live with her and these things really aren’t as obvious as to someone who sees her less frequently.

Motherhubbardscupboard · 05/11/2022 07:39

One of mine had speech therapy from when she was 3 through to about 5 1/2. It was also pointed out to me by pre school staff. It was obvious really but when you're used to how they speak you don't notice. Anyway, it got resolved fairly easily although we did pay for private sessions on top of the NHS ones as there was such a wait for the NHS, and many years later she is at a top uni after getting perfect A levels. Also, just to reassure you, I remember her Reception teacher telling me several children in the class were having speech therapy, so it's pretty common.

spiderontheceiling · 05/11/2022 07:42

But can she actually say "lion"? If not, the it sounds as though speech therapy might be helpful. You'll probably only need it for a few weeks.

WoolyMammoth55 · 05/11/2022 07:51

Honestly OP I'd be grateful that they are offering the help... My DS is 5 now, in Year 1, and he's had a lisp throughout nursery and reception. I always raised it and was told no problem, he'll grow out of it. Now the GPs advice is that at 5 he WON'T grow out of it, but the SLT service is over-subscribed so he doesn't meet the bar. Just spent £195 on a private assessment and some practice to do at home! So you're really lucky that school are being proactive. I'm sure it will improve really quickly with the right support. x

MikeWozniaksMohawk · 05/11/2022 07:57

This is interesting. I’ve only recently realised that my 3.5yo DS struggles with the s sound. I’ve been trying to encourage him to pronounce it but he tends to “swallow” it for want if a better explanation. OP I hope the SLT sessions resolve things for your DD quickly.

NancyJoan · 05/11/2022 07:57

She’s your only four year old. With no one to compare her to, it’s not surprising you haven’t noticed, whereas the teacher has a class full.

imnotwhoyouthinkiam · 05/11/2022 08:00

I had speech therapy from age 4-6 ish maybe. Apparently my speech was so bad people didn't understand me. Only my mum and the friends we saw regularly did so none of them picked up the problem. It was only when I went to nursery that the teachers mentioned it to mum.

She said it was a mistake because I haven't shut up since Shock

Obviously I can't say whether I would have outgrown it or not, but I loved going to my speech therapy sessions. Except the one which clashed with us eating sunflower seeds in reception class one day.
My niece used to have awful speech too. Apparently her teachers weren't concerned and at 7 it's almost perfect.

And you have nothing to feel shit about.

Mymoneydontjigglejiggle · 05/11/2022 08:05

I noticed my 4yo pronounced some words oddly although no one else ever said anything. Anyway, following a bout of ear ache and a few comments from school about him not listening, yet generally being very well behaved, we took him to the GP who referred us to audiology and turns out he has glue ear! In the hearing test he scored really poorly so no wonder the poor thing says some words funnily! Might be worth checking her ears (I too felt shit when we realised he couldn't hear!!).

CoodleMoodle · 05/11/2022 08:05

My DS is also 4 and struggles with his Ls as well. Which is a shame as his name begins with L! He pronounces lion as "wion" or "yion". But I just asked him to say "leg" (normally "weg") and he said it perfectly. Sometimes he can and sometimes he can't. For a long time he struggled with R words (DD's name included), but this has got a lot better.

Nobody has ever said anything though. No advice but solidarity!

Skyrain · 05/11/2022 08:07

My daughter couldn’t say the k sound properly so we were referred to SLT. It only took a few sessions and some practice and it was resolved. I am so glad I pushed to get her referred as it was an easy fix at that age.
Very common but worth getting the support to resolve it.

Original poster
KeepingItReal2017 · 05/11/2022 10:51

Thanks for the messages of solidarity, reassurance & shared experiences. I’ve spoken to a friend whose a speech and language specialist teacher & shes said that the sounds are still developing at this age, so she’s out my mind at rest. But I agree that it’s best to take the referral as it’s only going to benefit her.

OP posts:
Lulanna · 05/11/2022 10:57

When working with specialist speech therapists I realised that they have a ‘list’ of sounds, graded developmentally, but that these include, those sounds that should be corrected at a particular age and those that without intervention will correct themselves later.
I haven’t access to the list I was given, which was to use as a first step in requesting SALT support, but think that it is a possibility that the therapist is recognising that without intervention now, the sounds your DD is using, are those that will ‘stick’.

Good news that the support is there to change this.

whinetime89 · 05/11/2022 11:00

I am a Speech Pathologist. If you google acquisition of speech sounds you will see when each sound is typically acquired. They did the right thing referring your daughter to therapy based on norms and it's up to you to do what you want with the recommendation.

fearfeardiarrhoea · 05/11/2022 11:02

Yeah had the same with DD5, teacher has said the SALT specialist in the school will be working with her as she struggles with 'v' sounds eg living room is libbin room. I hadn't even noticed.

liveforsummer · 05/11/2022 11:04

Definitely worth using it if it's available- you're lucky. My dd missed out due to delay in referral, long wait lists then covid and now the habits are entrenched and harder to fix. She's coming up 10. It doesn't always naturally resolve and as they get older it's harder to intervene.

cantforthelifeofme · 05/11/2022 11:11

My 4.5 DD also says yion (lion), yeg (leg), omwette (omelette) and also woad (road).

When I tell her correct version and with concentration she gets it so I haven't battered an eyelid really. If of course it doesn't improve we'll take more action.

If I were you I'd just try and correct the words at home and keep an eye on it.

pamplemoussee · 05/11/2022 13:06

I'm a speech therapist I wouldn't be worried about the "L" sound at age 4

Do people understand her speech eg less familiar adults ?

However speech therapy is usually really fun for children so if school want to do some activities with her it wouldn't do any harm

Original poster
KeepingItReal2017 · 06/11/2022 07:31

Yes her speech is intelligible to friends and other adults. Since it’s been flagged I’ve concentrated on listening & its L (wyion) & R (Wed). But not always, if she says it with focus or concentration she will say the sound. I think we take the referral and then an expert can assess to decided if help needed or just normal speech development. Feeling less worried today after all of these wonderful replies.

OP posts:
Original poster
KeepingItReal2017 · 06/11/2022 07:32

Snap! Can correct when needed with concentration. Sounds common.

OP posts:
pamplemoussee · 06/11/2022 13:32

It sounds like she's doing well. Yes I would not be concerned with L and R sounds for her age and would not offer therapy at age 4 for this, rather just continue to model words back clearly and give her more time. It's common for children to still be developing those sounds at this age.

ZebraKid71 · 06/11/2022 20:25

Had a very similar experience with my son - it was just a few sounds he was mixing up, t, c and g - I would never have noticed in a million years so share your shock at the referral. He has loved it though, was just 10 mins during school time 3 times a week throughout reception and he's fine with it now (not that I would have noticed haha)

ChnandlerBong · 07/11/2022 09:35

DD had real problems with sounds when she started school. Had some speech therapy and also had time with the TA practising certain sounds. It took a while but her speech became clearer.

She just got all 9's in her GCSEs - it's no indicator of problems to come HTHxxx

mumof20somethings · 01/02/2023 20:30

Do not panic. I'm sure you're a fantastic Mum. Perhaps see it as a great opportunity to be offered help from a trained specialist.

orangetriangle · 01/02/2023 20:36

my daughter was referred for speech therapy due to delayed sounds I think they call it so sounds at beginning of words would be pronounced wrong so the would be yer and they would be yay she was about 5 I believe she is slightly dyspraxia so maybe this was why but now at 26 she is a primary school teacher !!
def worth having help as if they are hearing the wrong sound they will then say the wrong sound and spell the wrong sound

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