Speech Question

[JIC0930]

So I'm looking for advice from anyone whose child has or is getting speech services. My daughter's speech is only understandable in context because she doesn't use very many sounds and doesn't finish words. For example the word "no" is used for both no and nose, "hi" also is used for hide. Hat is pronounced with no t and ball with no l. Basically the consonant at the end of every word is dropped. Also when she signs please she says "me." She is not behind enough to get speech but do you know of any techniques I could use to help my daughter's speech improve? Thanks!

[Nezzy]

Am I correct in saying that she isn't even two yet? 17 months, right? If so, she sounds ahead to me! That is how kids start out talking..they leave letters off the beginning and/or end. Just repeat the word correctly to her after she says it. If she's already using words at 17 months that is great!

[JIC0930]

She is almost 19 mo. and I'm not really concerned yet..... but if I can get her to use more sounds it would make life easier. I know she is normal but I when she is with other children her age she just seems to sound more garbled than her peers. :thinking
Its funny that after 3 years as a toddler teacher, advising parents when to worry or relax, I've turned into one of "those parents" :giggle

[Nezzy]

I seriously would not worry at all about it. I really do think she is either right on or ahead. I know with my son, I just repeat the word back correctly. Nicholas at 19 months didn't say anything. Not even mommy. Now he is just over 2 and starting to put together sentences.

[*Jessica*]

I agree with Heather. Repeat the word back correctly and maybe even put emphasis on the missing part. I think she is doing GREAT for 17 months! We were concerned with Jeffrey's speach before he was two and I even made an appointment to get checked, but then he TOOK OFF right after his second birthday. I say work with it a bit and give it a little time. I think you will end up with a BIG talker on your hands!:heartbeat

[Jennifer]

She sounds fine to me....Working with kids you are seeing all sorts of levels...to me it's weird what some kids can and can't pronounce at this early level...Cody (16 months) says ba (ball), mama (mom, mommy), da(daddy), coo-key (cookie), dow (down- only repeats- does not use on his own)...now why can he not fully say ball, but cookie is just fine?

With Emily (my cranio babe) I was way more worried about all of her development....:hugg Just pay attention, but know she is doing well!

[rashleigh]

2 of my boys are receiving speech therapy. boy #2 justin didn't have many sounds by the time he was 2 and he was hard to understand. when i had him assessed he couldn't say water he would replace the w with a v. he had no g's, c's, k's. within no time he got all the sounds. I agree with the others for her being age appropriate. however, i am from canada and we have gov't funded programs that will do speech assessments/therapy for free but the wait list is upwards of 6 months. if you have anything like this in your area it doesn't hurt to call and be referred for an assessment. whats the worse that can happen, they will tell you she's on track for development. my 3rd son is being assessed just to make sure he is ok.

[JIC0930]

I had Kd assessed about 5 weeks ago. When I scheduled it I was concerned because she would lose words when she gained new ones. Then a week before the appt. she just started trying to say a lot more and words she "lost" came back. So we were told her speech was fine but they really did not hear her. They just assessed her for everything (motor skills, cognitive, attention...) but the speech woman just went by how many words and signs she uses. Basically if there are certain games I can play with her or something I want to help her. The only consonants she uses are m, d, k, b, n.
Carolynn -do you know what the therapist did in order to help your son say the sounds he didnt say?

[Monkey'sMommy]

You could try to make it a fun mimicking game. Like:
"Muh muh muh moooooo!" or
"Buh buh buh baaalllll"
and see if she'll mimic you.

The best times to do this, I would think, would be when you have her undivided attention or she is right in front of you. I'm thinking during diaper changes, when she is in the grocery cart, sitting in her high chair eating lunch, etc. Make it silly, make it fun.

[Lauren]

I'm a speech therapist and I put this thread together a few years ago because so many people had questions.

I'm totally burnt out from a long week (we are hitting the end of the school year and I'm crazy busy) but I wanted to make sure you saw this.

Hopefully this helps. Feel free to ask any questions that aren't answered in here. I just might not answer them tonight. :giggle :hugg

http://www.craniokids.org/support/showthread.php?t=5575

[rashleigh]

janice, they had to teach him where to place his tongue. he had motor issues and didn't know that some sounds are made at the back of your throat and some at the front. (he is 6 years old now) right now i m teaching my three year old his "L"s. i have to keep cueing him tongue up, tongue behind the teeth. The most important thing i do is to model the word for him. I think she's too young to really sit down with her and do the stuff that was done for my son as he was three when he got really extensive therapy. If my 3 year old says to me "I wuv you" than i say "I Love you" to him and try to cue him to put his tongue up, but again he is 3. I would also make sure that her receptive language is there and that she can understand what you are asking.

[angeleka]

Have you checked with your local school district about therapy or assistance? My son was first evaluated for not only speech but also motor skills at 11 months of age. His speech was considered advanced back then. I just had him reevaluated since he is about to start preschool. He is still advanced in his language and the amount of vocabulary he has for his age, but his articulation in lacking. He is going to attend speech therapy through the school starting in the fall.
Our intermediate school district does a lot of testing and therapy on kids as young as 1. I would contact your's and see if they can help or direct you to the proper channels for help.

[Nay]

My little guy is just a few weeks older than your little girl & he was just evaluated for speech. He says Daddy & a few other sounds. But they said he was doing great & no need to worry. I have been trying to talk a lot to him & when he screams for something I make sure to say what it is--like "drink" or whatever. I have no idea if it's working or not, and I probably sound crazy-haha!

[Jess33]

adrian just turned 18 months and he only says mama.. and not even that as often.. he makes a lot of noises.. but nothing that sounds like anything :/