OK so DS1's speech problems are not down to his hearing, now what?

[NatalieJane]

DS1 (coming up to 6yo) has problems with his speech, his L's R's and S's all get mixed up and he just finds it impossible to say the letters correctly, as a single letter and as letters within words, e.g. lake becomes lrake care becomes carle size becomes shIze (god it is hard trying to spell out the way he says things lol)

He had a hearing test at school in November which he 'failed' and had to be re-tested at the hospital, this re-test has showed his hearing is perfect.

So what next? Do I take him to GP? Do I let him get on with it? It doesn't seem to bother him in the slightest, and it has only really been the last 12 months that it has become an 'issue'.

Not sure if Health is the right place, but it semmed as good as any!

Well whatever else you do I would give him lots of EFA's/omegas. My DS has verbal and oral dispraxia and they helped him enormously.
You need to get some speech therapist to assess him. There are some on here.

Natalie I had concerns with dd's speech a while ago on here and was advised to go to the GP to be referred to a speech therapist. She was just 5 and about to start school - her issue seems to have ironed itself out without intervention but the consensus was that 5/6 were ages when issues need some help.

Good luck

If it were my child, I would take him to gp and ask for referral. It might be that he has a specific learning difficulty to do with speech and language. My niece has something like that and has benefitted from speech therapy.

OK thanks everyone, I thought it would end up going down this road.

He is doing very well with his reading and writing, so it doesn't seem to be affecting his learning capabilities at all, it is just his speech.

hello Natallie how are you?

You need moondog, she is a SALT so will be able to give you some further advice.

bumping as have just seen moondog on another thread. will also put a call out.

Yes,you could refer to a salt,either yourself (some palces let you do that-ours does) or via a GP or an HV.

Phonology (this stuff) not my specialist area and althoguh not serious, he is getting a little bit old to have such speech diffs.

So sorry, have only just seen this, hiya wannaBe, how are things? We are all a bit up in the air at the moment (see latest thread if at all interested!!) Thanks for bringing it to Moondog's attn. and thanks Moondog for your expert opinion.

I am going to ring the GP's tomorrow, see if I have to take DS1 there or if he will just refer us.

Thanks everyone