DD (9) seems to exhale out her nose when she speaks. I'd like a professional opinion. Is it best to go through her school?

[thue]

I wasn't sure where to put this but I'm starting here.

DD is in Y4 and is 9. I've noticed lately that she sounds very nassaly when she is speaking. After doing my own Google-consultation I have ascertained that she breathes out of her nose as she speaks and that's why she sounds nasally. It's highly unlikely she has a physical problem as it would have been something she's always done and would have been picked up on sooner. I suspect it is a bad habit she has picked up and is related to her articulation/breathing or something like that. I said I have noticed it recently, but thinking about it, she's always sounded like this when reading aloud. I've noticed it more recently because I now walk her to school and she spends 20 minutes talking enthusiastically at me Her older sibling is now at secondary school and she relishes our one to one time.

Does anyone have any experience of this? Is there a particular avenue I should go down to get an expert opinion? I was thinking of contacting the school nurse in the first instance.

nasally not nassaly

Suggest you discuss with your GP if you are concerned

Could I talk to the GP without DD present? I don't want to draw attention to her speech and make her self conscious. I thought if it were done through school it would be more subtle.

There are likely to be professionals that can help, either a speech and language therapist or a respiratory physiotherapist specialising in breathing pattern disorders, but you would probably need to go through your gp for a referral. He may want an ENT opinion first though to check there is no structural problem.
Are you sure she is breathing through her nose, sounding nasally when talking can also conversely mean she is not breathing through her nose enough and thus it is blocking up.

You could speak to the GP or alternatively give the school nurse a ring for advice