Speech delay? (or not?) please help?

Question

Hayley is 3 and a half (4 in October) and still talks jiberish. A few people have said that they can't understand her, she does say alot of words and sentences clearly but sometimes says things that only she can understand. I have been told that maybe I should take her to a speach theoropist or something but I'm not sure. I know all kids are different but all the other 3 and 4 year olds I know can speak very clearly, some kids even younger than 3. Should I be concered or what?

She is going to kinder next year (wanted to put her in this year but money is tight at the moment) so maybe that might help. I read to her and all that every day. I feel sorry for her because people don't always understand her.

What bothers me most is the fact that some people I know say things like "My son/daughter is younger than Hayley and THEY can talk properly" or "shes slow" it makes me mad. She CAN talk pretty well. Some words she has trouble with but shes not even 4 yet. My sister has a friend whos daughter is 2 years old and can speak as clear as day and my sister is always going on about it. I read to Hayley and Skye every day sing songs and nursery rhymes, and I have never spoken to her in a baby language or anything. Skye is 13 months and says alot more words then what Hayley said at her age. I know I might be worrying over nothing but like I said I feel sorry for her and I get annoyed when other people say (or think) their kids are better or whatever.

Could it be that she had a dummy? She had one from when she was about 1 month old to 2 and a half years old (had it all day sometimes) whereas Skye doesn't have one (not really interested in them) I know I shouldn't compare them because all children are different and learn at their own pace. I care too much about what other people think.

Since taking her dummy (hasn't had it for a year now) she has become alot clearer and talking more but she still says a few jiberish words (the same ones over and have no idea whats shes saying). I know that at this age I shouldn't expect her to pronounce words properly (she can't say s for example but alot of 3-4 year olds can't either) but her cousin for example is the same age (1 month older) and he can speak really well.

Answer 1

My three and a half year old son is exactly like you have described your daughter. You should take her to a speech therapist as soon as you can & keep her going until she improves.  I great website is max's house.  It is for kids who have apraxia of speech ( delayed speech) there could be many, many reasons why your daughter does'nt speak, but it is so important that you seek to understand them before she starts school.  you should also delay her starting kinder until she turns six, so she can catch up to everyone else.  Alot of boys start kinder when they are six because they are not quite ready for it. You will know in your heart when she is ready.

Answer 2

Dont worry about that 2 year old or your sister - MOST children are not like that!

LIke was earlier stated, she may have a problem with her hearing.

Does she have a problem with her balance?

Hopefully it's just what's called "glue ear" - fluid in the ears.

If that is the case, then she will need to have an operation to put grommets in (small tubes that will drain the fluid out). You might not even be able to see them as they are quite small, but you will need to cover the ears up when she is having a wash for a couple of months. It's nothing to worry about & is a common operation. It doesnt always work, but mostly does.

3 of my 5 kids had to have this operation & 2 of those also had to have their adnoids out at the same time. My oldest (11) can hear fine now & the other two (who had their operation in January) are hearing much better now & are coming leaps and bounds in their learning (one is in Pre-school & the other is in Year 1).

Answer 3

i think you can try to bring her to speech theraphy for asessment. they will tell you at certain age children normally are able to do this and that.. and if she still can't do it like most other children do then they will tell you how to fix it.. maybe you don't do it 'right' so far..

Answer 4

Certainly if you feel that she is 'not stupid' and learning many things this is an excellent sign. She believes she is talking, and jibberish is far better than silence - it means that she is intelligent and trying to express herself. I would be far more concerned if she was making very few sounds and saying nothing you could understand.

Something you may not like to hear, and it may not be relevent, but perhaps you might like to have her hearing tested? If she has a bit of a hearing problem, that might explain the inability to understand what she is saying (I have a friend with a 2 year old with very mild hearing problems and she says things like 'ummy' instead of dummy because that's how she hears it). Don't be freaked out by this - it can be fixed (if this is the case), and you certinanly can help her with this at this young age and she'll be perfectly normal but it means that she has no real learning difficulties, which is great. And don't worry about the dummy at all - my first son had it in all the time but spoke very well for his age (not trying to make you feel bad) - but I asked him to take it out if I couldn't understand him and he did - or I'd just say "sorry, but I don't know what you're saying - please take the dummy out" and he would (or I would ignore him if he didn't take it out- maybe try this if you're worried about the dummy). If you say that she is saying a lot of words and sentences, then that is even less reason for you to worry - it means that she is smart and will make things clearer for everone in time. Maybe she's just being a typical toddler and doing what she wants, even though she can do more! Sounds like she is a very bright and beautiful little girl, so please enjoy her for what she is, as worried as you might be, and know that it will only get better.

Answer 5

I think it would be a good idea to have her checked by a speech therapist. It could be something as simple as a weak tongue (called apraxia) that can be improved with practice.

my son was very smart, and very frustrated by his inability to communicate with us. he never used a dummy for more than a month or so in total. it turns out that he has trouble making his tongue move in certain directions. we did some simple mouth excersizes to help him. contact me and I can give you  more info, and possibly some tool to help you help her.

Answer 6

The hearing test is a good idea just to rule it out.  It has nothing to do with the dummy at all.  There is a very wide range of speech development, and it is hard not to compare.  

It does sound like she could have an articulation (pronunciation) delay.  This is a quick fix (only takes a few months) compared to kids that have neurological disorders like: motor planning issues (apraxia/dyspraxia), and receptive language delay (understanding).

If you are in the US there is free preschool for kids that are delayed.  My 33 month old will start it in the fall as he ages out of early intervention, and my oldest went through this as well.  My youngest is still in early intervention and will age into the preschool program when he is a little older.

Speech delay has absolutely no bearing on intelligence.  It would really irritate me, and I would put those people in their place.

Also, my 7 yo still gets speech, he is easily understood and speaks in full sentences and has for years.  Some of his goals are letter l, and r in the medial and finial place and apparently this is not a milestone until 7-8 yrs old, per the SLP.

Having sounds are much much better than not.  My oldest did not have sounds, neither did my middle.  Its more neurological (dyspraxia, autistic spectrum), not the case for you.  My niece jargons with few words, she is 33m and was recently tested and was 8 months behind.  This is miniscule and made up in lightening speed.  My kids are greater than 50% delayed and for us its a long process twice.

I think you will be really reassured after having a speech eval from a professional that knows what they are talking about.  I am at the point where I can do without the unsolicited advice from those that aren't trained in that area.  Good luck

Answer 7

All kids are different, but my suggestion is to be proactive and don't assume it will work itself out.  Especially considering that she is starting school.  

If you have not already done so, you should definitely have her hearing tested by a medical professional.  Pediatricians usually will recommend this as a first step before making a recommendation for speech therapy.  At 18 months I was concerned that my son was not speaking very well, and our pediatrician set up a hearing evaluation, which checked out OK.  The next step was speech therapy and now he is doing great.  I don't know where you live, but here in Arkansas, whatever is not covered by insurance for the speech therapy is paid for by the state.  I have to imagine that other states have at least as good assistance as Arkansas.  You should look into it.  The program here is called Early Intervention - here is a general informational link:  

http://www.childdevelopmentweb.com/Infor...

Answer 8

she sounds alot like my daughter did

my daughter (3 almost 4) did the same thing (dropping first and last sounds) till we started her in speech therapy

8 weeks and we can see massive improvement

she had her hearing checked along with she was checked for many other issues through public school preschool screening

talk to her pediatrician about the problem and they will recommend a place or places for you to have her screened for issues other than hearing

and when i say pediatrician i mean pediatrician not family doctor or general practioner

pediatrician know kids issues period and know more about them because of that

general practioners know everybodies issues but not alot about the issues and they only know basics on issues for only kids since they mainly see adults

Answer 9

I think every child varies with speech, my son is 21 months and i cannot understand a lot of what he says, he says the obvious things like, "mam, dad, nana, grandad, baby, nose, eyes, bye, no, yes, what you doing, why none of them are clear but i can understand what he is trying to say, my son also has a dummy, he loves it but he now only has it on a night time for bed, and his speech seems to be getting clearer, my mum is always getting on my case saying that my son joshua should be talking clear as day because i was at his age, every child varies.. i wouldnt worry too much, atleast she is saying words and trying to speak, my next door neighbours 4 year old cant speak clearly at all... he almost sounds like he is mumbling all the time and i cant understand a word he says, their 2 year old on the other hand.. talks clearly.. it will come in time, dont worry too much or talk to your health visitor good luck :)