Toddler Ear Tubes and Speech Development?

Question

When my son was 16 months old we along with his pediatrician decided enough was enough with the ear infections. After 11 months of non-stop ear infections we proceeded to have the surgery to put the tubes in his ears. Before the tubes were in place we were noticing problems with his speech due to the fluid on his ears. ( he was saying plenty of words but some he would say without the ending and other's we could only understand because we were around him on a daily basis) Now 5 1/2 months after having the surgery his speech is improving. However, we're noticing a little bit of a problem still. Has anyone else had this problem? Is anyone familiar with activities to encourage vocabulary and proper speech? Are they're any web sites that are designed with games/activity ideas to help with this? I appreciate anyone's input on this!

Answer 1

He will probably need some speech therapy to help him catch up a little and correct some of the problems he is still having. He had hearing problems during the time his speech was developing and learned to speek a certain way. Speech therapy should be very effective for him and they make it fun for the young guys as well. By the way, you did the right thing with the tubes, my son is 5 now and had 4-6 ear infections a year before we had tubes put in.

Answer 2

I have been in the same boat. My son was first 2 and then tubes again at 3 (the type that fall out over time) first off after the second tubes he hasn't had an ear infection in over 2 years!! But before the 2nd tubing he was sounding kinda like a deaf kid in some of his words. I would just work with him saying the word the right way...and he would repeat it until he said it right and then repeat it more right. He thought it was fun to do that...and over time he sounds 100% normal.
Your child is still young so that could be a factor too...but my advice is just to say words correctly...no baby talking!! I am pretty sure it will pass!

Answer 3

My son is 14 years old now, but when he was 1, we had his first set of tubes put in. He had them replaced 6 times until he was around 11 years old, until he FINALLY outgrew the problem. I can tell you that with all my experiences, getting tubes was the best thing I did for him. Think of it this way.....you child, without the tubes, was hearing like if you or I stuck our head under the water in the pool. Of course, hearing like that for any amount of time will effect your child's speech, especially at that young age. I would keep trying and give it more time. He is still very young and is still learning speech. I would say the words he is having trouble with over and over again, so he can hear how they are supposed to sound. I would also work on sound combinations with him when you are reading books to him at night. And, I would have him evaulated by an audiologist - my doctor had made that a requirement to have done before we got any tubes inserted. If you havn't had an evaulation, your doctor can refer you to an audiologist in your area. Then, you will need to keep going back to the audiologist at least yearly, probably more like every 6 months. She can detect hearing problems even with the tubes, and then she and your pediatritian can determine the best plan for your son which may or may not involve speech therapy.

Answer 4

Did he have a hearing test and have you told the pediatrician?
He may have a slight hearing loss either from so many ear infection's or from surgery, speech delay can happen either with just having so many ear infection, or loss of hearing. One thing you will want to do is contact an Early Intervention Center in your area, they will be able to help with determining what more needs to be done, then they will be able to start services with your son.
Repeating words to your son and placing his hand on your lips and throat will let him feel how the words are formed praise him when he makes the effort and praise him with rewards, Like happy stickers or what you feel is appropriate you will see that he will respond in a positive manner NEVER punish your son for not getting a word correct no matter how long it takes, simple sign language can help him express himself without becoming so frustrated that he acts out. the best that I found is the touch and talk method that I mentioned above. I have never used a software program unless the character talks. "Dora the Explorer" the show is wonderful and she talks to your children getting them involved with speech play and there are also CD-Roms out there that include Dora, Pooh, Blues Clues. I hope this info helps.

Answer 5

Some delay is normal. Call your pediatrician. In New York, most counties offer speech and hearing assements for no charge to the parents up to the age of 2 years. (If the child is over 2 1/2 years, the local school district is bound by law to offer the assessment.) They can also get you help with speech therapy and ways to help your son with proper speech. I say this because many speech therapists won't work with or aren't geared to very small children. You also want an environment that won't distract him (like TV or a website might) and he'll benefit form the one on one teaching. Good luck!

Answer 6

Our 20 month old son saw a speech therapist for a swallowing/eating problem he had, and we asked her if it was normal for toddlers to mispronounce words. He would often not say the ending of a word, or use a different ending or beginning letter... like lub instead of love. She said that it is perfectly normal for kids to do stuff like this, and that it takes awhile for children to start speaking so that adults can understand them. She indicated that he would llikely be close to three before that would happen.
I wouldn't worry too much right now. Just make sure when your child says a word, you repeat the correct pronuniciation after him (but don't make it sound like your are correcting him) to reinforce the proper pronuciation. And if you are really worried, talk to your pediatrician and see if a referral to a speech therapist is in order.
You could always look at it as a positive... right now, when your child talks back to you, you can't understand it. Won't be long before that won't be the case!

Answer 7

I am in the same battle of the ear tubes right with you! My daughter had ear tubes put in on February 2nd. I was concerned with her speech, as well, and she has been talking more (as much as a 22 month old child can talk) since the tubes were put in her ears. But she has had this awful, thick, smelly, nasty stuff coming out of her left ear. I have had her to every doctor in our area, and no one knows what is going on with her. She is pretty healthy, otherwise, but I can tell her ear bothers her a lot. It turns out that the surgeon that put her tubes in can no longer see her because he does not take her insurance anymore. Nice, isn't it? So, I have had to go and pick up every record for every doctor's office that she has been to. After reading her records, I'm not so sure that she needed the tubes placed in her ears at all. Well, I share your concern, and I wish I could help you out, but I will keep you posted whenever I get my daughter treated. Good luck with your ear tube battle!!!!! God bless you.

Answer 8

hello, my son was in a birth to 3 program to improve his speech. he wasn't talking at all. at 1 1/2 years he was finally saying momma daddy key key (kitty). this is a free program and if you are interested in more please email me [e-mail].. its hard to deal with and now that my son is 3 he has been going to a head start preschool program 1/2 days four days a week and he is talking MORE.. lol. good luck
he however doesn't have tubes in his ears.. my step children do and they have a hard time listening and they still get ear infections 2 times a month even during summer months.

Answer 9

my daughters story is very similar to your child's,she is 8 now and even though the tubes in her ears had to be replaced once,her speech is fine,i would think that this is the only problem with the tubes,good luck to you and your child.

Answer 10

This sounds pretty normal to me. She is just learning to talk, it will take her a while to master words.