Trouble speaking...

Hey howard96h, As a parent I have been in this situation twice. My son, and now my daughter, were diagnosed with sever speech delays. I first noticed my sons delay at 18 months. I asked my family their oppinion and everyone seemed to say the same..he's a boy and boys take longer to talk and potty train etc. So I let it go then when he was 2 I asked the health nurses and they gave me the same answer and reminded me not to compare my child with any other kids. Being a first time mom I just took everyones word. By the time my son was 3, it was obvious to tell there was a problem. He had lots to say but very few words were intellegable. he would talk using only vowels (ee...oh...Ah) and yet he was very bright at 3 years old. Fully potty trained, knew colors, shapes just couldn't talk !! Finally I found a doctor that was willing to help...he ordered a hearing test ( a hearing problem will affect speech) and an MRI (just to rule out anything serious with the brain). Then I was put in touch with an excellent speech therapist...my son is almost 6 and I'm proud to say his teacher tells me he is one of the most well spoken kids in her class. My advice to your friend is .. 1. Follow your gut...you know your kid best and DO NOT let anyone tell you she "will grow out of it" 2. have a hearing test done...they're not painful at all 3. ask your doctor or health nurse to put you in touch with a speech and language pathologist (SLP) for an evaluation. 4. Model good speech for her. for example if she points to the juice and grunts...just smile and say "juice". Ask her questions. If you know she wants a drink don't just get it for her..ask her..Would you like milk or juice? If she answers you but says it wrong, don't "correct" her speech, simply repeat it the correct way. I found a couple websites that were helpful for me....search "childhood apraxia of speech". A speech delay causes frustration for both the child and families/caregivers so the sooner you can the little girl help the better for everyone. Good luck abd best wishes for your friends :)

We're on the same situation. I have a 5 year old girl and an almost 2 year old boy. All the attention now is on our son because he's so cute and he's just starting to do things on his own. He barely could make a full sentence and everybody enjoys talking to him. What I usually do when everybody's attention is on him I would turn to my little girl and praise her also or take note of something good she is doing or how cute she is also. This way, she's not really going to be very jealous because equal attention is given to both of them.

I'm very passionate about this subject because my son couldn't talk and still has trouble talking at the age of 6. He's kicking butt academically but has trouble communicating. He was born 10 weeks early and we didn't notice a problem until about 3. By the time I found help he was 4. So many people don't know you can help through the school districts this young. And it is FREE! Every school district has an IEP/IUP program. My son went to preschool every M-W-F and worked with a speech therapist. One day a week, plus the speech therapist attended his classes with the preschool teacher and helped him in class too. Without this program, I can't tell you how far behind he could be. They will evaluate the little girl over a few meetings. And determine if she needs help. I know the only way I found out about the IEP program was someone at the local head start told me about it. The speech therapist in our school district goes to head start for speech for the little ones there. We make too much money for head start so we were sent to a different school but it was still free--but it was more structured for students who have learning disabilities of some kind. I'd suggest this option to the parents--as nicely as you can. It hurts when people comment on your child's disability...plus the parents have to be ready to hear she is behind in speech.

I am wondering does the little girl spend time with other young people her age? If not, then she maybe speaking baby language like her brother. First, I would suggest her parents take her to a doctor and make sure she doesn't have any type of hearing loss or medical reasons to mumble words. One of my neighbors children now has a hearing aid, as she could hear people when they were looking at her and standing near her, but at a distance she couldn't hear. She use to get really angry because she thought people were talking about her and saying bad things, The distance was close enough that I could hear what people were saying, but she couldn't hear. She maybe angry and doing it for attention and if this is the case, then her parents need to do something now to help her. Does she get special time when she gets to pick the activity?

It sounds to me like you already know the problem.....one question though....when she mumbles and grumbles,do the parents talk to her until they figure out what she wants?I had a friend with a little one like this and she didn't talk because she didn't have to,her parents did it for her....

Maybe she has a hearing impairment! I know one of my nieces did and my sis took her to the Dr. and they corrected it by putting tubes in her ears. I hope this is of some help!

This happens initially... It will be okay in future..

Maybe she is too young and need some more time to talk. Everyone is not like same some kids start late.

That could be her 'rebelling' but maybe not. If a parent "speaks" for their child, the child will talk less. Like if she wants a drink and just points and they give it to her, well then she's probably not going to ask for it, instead she will just point.... BUT, I have a 5 year old boy who doesn't pronounce his words correctly. He tries but just can't get the L, S, or T's to come out right. He speaks like a baby would. He's taking a speech class for it now...hopefully it works. My 8 year old didn't talk very plain until he was about 5. Now, I have a 2 year old girl right now and some things she says plain as day, and other times she don't. She's catching on very quickly to my 5 year olds language and starting to sound TOO much like him! So, I'm going to have to keep an 'ear' on that, ha... Anyways, my point is, all kids are different...I have 5 kids and all of them were different... :-) (Sorry bout the rambling)

Hi, no it is not normal to not be able to speak properly at the age of 3 but then again some people do have problems with their speech, I know that my husband was around 5 years old before he really started speaking and maybe this is the little girls problem as well, but I definately would have it checked out if I was the little girls parents. The little girl maybe jealous of her litle brother but it is best to check it.

i think one yr plus do speak already. although they mumble the words, but they can speak already. this child should be taken to the doctor for check-up. it will be best for him.

My daughter was like that as well. When she started in headstart at 3 yrs of age, they diagnosised her with a speech disorder. After 4 yrs of speech therapy in school, she talks normal now long as she don't whine while she's talking.

my downstarirs nieghbors daughter is like that.Shes 4 and she can not talk.She understands what you say but you cant understand what she says.Her doctor said she has some kind if speech impairment,My son is also like that.Hes only 2 though.But i see kids his age all the time saying perfect sentences.He only says a couple words clearly.I dont know maybe she should get her checked out by a doctor.Im going to take my son if he doesnt improve by his next birthday.

I have a nephew who's like that and my sister send him to a speech learning school and now he can talk little by little...I don't think it's about jealousy but it's about giving her support and attention..try to balance your attention to both of them.. :)

My cousin had the same problem with her little boy. And she took him to all kinds of doctors they said he was fine. He now is 7years old and is talking up a storm.LOL You cant shut him up. Some childred are just slower thats all. Tell your friend not to worry she will be just fine.

hi howard, from what i know its yes children should be speakin clearly at the age of 3 years old. i couldnt really say if there was a problem with her speech. but as you said the little boy is her brother she might well be jealous of him and thats why she wont speak up and just mumble. other users will probably give you more accurate advice

The best person to determine if there is a problem is the peditrician. He can do a physical and then refer her to a speech therapist if appropriate. Tell your friend to have her checked and not to let it go on. It is important that the problem be solved before she enters pre-school.