Speech {The Ordinary Moments}
Little Man amazes me every day. He’s so clever and he knows so much, learning new things constantly. But, one thing that may be holding him back slightly is his speech. We always knew that, although his vocabulary was amazing for a three year old, his pronunciation wasn’t quite there and he would say the first consonant of each word and then the vowels, rolling the rest of the word into one.
We didn’t really think too much of it though, knowing that he was still young and that as he gets older he’ll learn to say more words the correct way but when he started preschool the teachers mentioned to us that we should probably get a referral for speech therapy – obviously knowing that he wasn’t quite where he should be.
Although he isn’t bothered by his speech, he always communicates well and gets his message across, we didn’t want it to start being an issue for him. Dave and I can understand him probably ninety percent of the time and the other ten percent of the time he’ll repeat a word for us or say something different so we know what he’s talking about. But it isn’t always that easy for other people to understand him – where it could start becoming a problem.
So we’ve taken Little Man to the doctors and they are referring him to speech therapy – as well as a routine hearing test although we are sure there is nothing wrong with his hearing. In the mean time we are working on words one at a time and so far he’s managed to master rubble, bubble, butter and water. He still finds f, sh and sl sounds but he is making good progress – and it still doesn’t seem to bother him too much. Plus, he is so proud of himself when he manages to pronounce a word the right way. He really is trying his best and there isn’t much more we could ask of him.
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I think as a parent you really know best. You spend the majority of the time with them so im so glad to see you aren’t fretting. So many parents get so upset and worried when someone in a “professional” capacity says something. You know him best and know really there’s nothing to worry about xxx
Well done Little Man! I think your last sentence says it all! My Meme has always struggled with he F right up until around 6 months ago (she is now 6) and now my Harri has the same problem some sounds must be really tough for them. #ordinarymoments
Bless him, im sure he will get tgrrr in his own time but it’s nice that he’s so proud to learn new things x
Bless him. I remember you being really impressed when I could understand what he’d said to me when we met up last year. You’re absolutely right not to stress about it or to make it an issue for him. Fingers crossed the speech therapy does the trick x
That is great news. It’s lovely when they are pleased with their achievements. Hope the speech therapy helps. What a happy wee soul he is xx
Bless him. I think you are taking the right approach, not stressing about it and making it just be natural for him. It sounds like he is doing a great job already, thats all credit to you both x
It’s lovely that he is so proud of himself and I hope the speech therapy goes well. My sister had the same when she was younger and it’s amazing how quickly it can make a difference once that are at this age and ready, he sounds like he is already doing so well x
Bless him, it’s great that they’ve intervened so early so that he can get sorted before it becomes an issue. I do wonder whether Lia might have to have a bit of speech therapy at some point too, it sounds like she speaks in a similar way.
Nat.x
Ah well done T, I agree with Laura I think you’re definitely taking the right approach and not worrying about it. He’ll get it in his own time, they learn so quickly xx
I always say as parents we know our own and our gut tells us so much more than others can. I think it’s great you are taking it the right way as he will get there every child is different. Thanks for hosting lovely. It’s good to be back to linkys this year I got lost last year in the blogging world for various reasons and it’s nice to get back to those blogs I miss so much and engaging with everyone again. Happy half term for you all too. #ordinarymoments
Great that they are on it and you have a referral, and that they are being extra cautious with his hearing. He seems such a little cutie, and has his place at home where he is understood, it must be daunting now he is in the big wide world with people that don’t “get him” or “hear him”…hopefully a little speech therapy will give him some tools to communicate with everyone outside of his fam too. x #ordinarymoments
Bless him, it’s so lovely that he’s proud of himself. I hope the speech therapy helps him, but like others have said I am sure he will get there in his own time x
We were referred because of clarity (age 2.5y – turned out because of tongue tie that hadn’t been picked up earlier). As soon as we got the referral through, of course, his clarity improved, and by the time we had the actual speech therapist appt 26 weeks later(!) there was no problem, and some of his sounds were ahead of where he should have been.
Sounds like you’re all taking it the right way – just more talking and conversation and trying different techniques for getting the pronounciation, and he’ll get there in time.
Its been really interesting to read all the comments on your post, we are off to the health visitor this week as Mason barely speaks – he just makes noises and grunts and it is starting to worry me now he is 21 months. I’m hoping it will come in time but it doesn’t seem to be improving.
You are doing the right thing not stressing about it, and I hope the speech therapy helps xx