4 year old with speach problems?

Question

I have a 4 year old daughter who struggles to articulate her words. When we can't understand her she gets very frustrated. We don't and never have used baby talk with her. She has an older sister who never had this problem and we are not sure if it will change or if she needs speech therapy. Any advice or suggestions?

Oops....I meant Speech

Answer 1

Call the school district you live in and ask for a preschool evaluation. They will let you know if she needs to have speech and they will have to provide services if she does.

Answer 2

To begin with: problems with articulating are very common with older toddlers. Chances are good that it's nothing to worry about. And even if there is a legitimate speech impairment, so what? Speech therapy will help it. Einstein didn't speak until he was five years old. It has nothing to do with true development. My advice regarding speech therapy: go for it. At worse, she gets speech help that she doesn't really need. At the best, you catch the situation early before she gets terribly set in her speech patterns.

But, here's something that might be fun AND helpful:

Many places have acting and theatre classes for youth. Even as young as four. I've taught youth acting and speech for years. Every once and a while a parent will take me aside and mention a speech impairment. I always try to help the child as much as I am able.

In addition to helping her speech impairment, it can have the following benefits:

--It can serve as another playgroup.
--It can teach public speaking. Which is a very important lesson for a child/anyone to learn.
--It can give her a feeling of confidence and accomplishment.

All that, and it's FUN. It would probably be good for your daughter to be able to work on her speech skills in a fun environment, rather than just in a more clinical speech therapy setting.

Answer 3

First I would get a really good complete physical. Talk to your doctor about her speech. Ask for a hearing exam as well. If there are no physical reasons why she is having problems then get a speech exam. I too was worried about my youngest speech and she was tested twice, once when she was 4 the second time in kindergarten. Both times they felt she was "border line" and didn't need help. She did out grow her problem, but it took another year or so.

It might help if you help her to manage her frustration. The more relaxed she is the easier it will be for you to understand her, and the easier it will be for her to get her ideas across. If you don't understand her after asking her to repeat herself once then offer her your hand and say "take me to what you are talking about because Mommy can't figure it out." If you do this in a calm matter of fact way with a smile (like your silly) this will also help to keep her frustration level down. We did this and it really helped. It is hard when you have older children that never experienced the same trouble...just don't compare them, it makes all of them feel bad. Hang in there! Best wishes.

Answer 4

The best thing you can is wait for the advice from his speech therapist. In the meantime, be patient and not worry. Read to him. Read lots, and sing. I used song to teach alphabet and numbers. Your boy is unique in so many wonderful ways, and no matter how seemingly behind he may be, he's truly a person with gifts that you'll soon discover, if you haven't already! Keep in mind that children develop at different times. Sometimes kids struggle in an area, but just need special nudging, and that's why there are trained therapists there to do the job. My son was speech delayed while in Preschool, and so he qualified for ESD. When he started Kindergarten he was taking speech development and had early intervention 60 minutes a week during the school year while in Kindergarten and 1/2 of first grade. He just finished first grade, and is doing very well. He caught up. My point to this is for you to keep in mind that your grandchild will most likely catch up. His future looks very bright. For the time being, just let the professionals do their work with him. It's amazing how great they are with these children. Be very attentive to their advice. So don't do anything but love him right now. :)

Answer 5

I would take her in to be evaluated. My daughter was evaluated at the age of 5 and is now 8. She was in therapy for 3 years and is finished. She was the only one out of my four that had a speech problem.

Answer 6

I have a daughter when she was 4 she had the same "problem" - but NEVER when she was with me - only with others, like her mother or grandmother, I used to treat her as a person understanding and encouraging her towards life, I loved her very much. Love and worry are not the same thing one helps the other does NOT.

Answer 7

My youngest had to go to a speech therapist when he was about 4,but he is fine now,it was the teacher at his school who thought he should go to speech therapy,find out ask your doctor maybe.

Answer 8

as a child i had speech difficulty i couldn't get my words out properly i didn't tell anyone this but i could talk much easily when nobody else was talking i felt it impossible to interrupt anyone and it is very frustrating when people think you are stupid because you can't even talk
speech therapy helped me emensly a first i was reluctant to be "taught" to speak but i am very glad i went through with it

you must understand how your duaghter feels that is why i have told you all that

Answer 9

I have a 6 year old who had the same concerns. Has seen had her hearing checked for fluid in her ears? Speech worked great for him, except that we notice a change when he doesn't get it over the summer. IN Canada their a program through small talk or tyke talk depending where you live.

Answer 10

my kids have the same problem.. We do have a speech therapist who come to our house. Plus they go to school and get speech therapy there.