I took my son for his 3 yr check up in July and the doctor could not clearly understand what he was saying. Doctor said "His speech isn't very clear but it's not time to worry yet" It suprised me to hear him say this since I am with my son all day everyday and understand every word he says. Then I started noticing when we were out that a lot of people don't understand him. Mostly men or my single friends .. just about all the "mommy's" I know seem to know exactly what he is saying. I have tried several times to see if he is mixing letters or anything and I don't think so. .. he is just kind of quite and runs his words together. Any other moms out there with this experience? He speaks in full sentences even paragraphs and will say hilarious things like "that's pretty funny isn't it?" or "hey guys whats going on?" like he is all grown up or something. What age should boys be speaking clearly? Should I be working on his speech with him? It's hard since I already understand it..
2006-11-18 18:35:44 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
my son is 3 and went through the same thing. at the beginning of this year he barely said anything but a few words and we had him evaluated to see if anything was possibly delaying him and turns out nothing was. Then i went to the AEA (Area Education Agency...they might have one in your area) and they evaluated him and put him in a preschool in our town for free. He began in may and since then he has turned around full circle! He also visits a speech pathologist at the preschool once a week to work with him. Sometimes when kids are around other children their age they can pick up things better. Also when seeing a pathologist, they will help pronounce his words to make them more clearer so not only you will be able to understand but others will too. best of luck!
2006-11-18 19:54:48 · answer #1 · answered by clubsandra 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mommies run into this problem alot... when you are used to the way your child talks, and have grown up with them, it makes it tough to determine when your child may have a speech problem. You'll find that anyone who spends a lot of time with your child will have this same problem... even preschool teachers who are around a lot of different speech styles. By this age, a stranger should be able to understand at least 80% of what is said. It is hard to determine that about your own child, who you know so well. You can contact your local school district to have him tested for FREE. The earlier your child can get intervention in speech problems, the better for your child.
2006-11-19 19:36:39 · answer #2 · answered by dolphin mama 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't worry. My son wouldn't speak to other people at all until he was almost 3. He just didn't feel the need to. Now he is a little chatter box. If you can understand him, that is all that matters.
If you want to work on his speech, make sure you enunciate everything clearly. Soon he will fall in line. My son used to say "what dat" all of the time. I just corrected him by saying "What IS that" Now he is enunciating all of his words and everyone can understand him. Good luck.
2006-11-19 10:52:56 · answer #3 · answered by TRUE PATRIOT 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At three, others outside the family should be able to understand a child clearly. Of course you understand, you've been with him all of his life. It's easy to not realise that others find his speech a bit hard to follow. Now is certainly the time to start making sure he speaks as clearly as he can. At three, his speech really should be easily understood by most people, most of the time, including total strangers.
Don't worry or beat yourself up - but do teach him to speak louder, with his chin up not down towards his chest, and making an effort to have each word clear and understandable. It's for his benefit as much as yours.
2006-11-19 02:44:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would listen to your Dr. It's not time to worry. I have a 3 yr old son, and a 2 yr old son. My 3 yr old speaks VERY well, and almost everyone can understand him, but my 2 yr old barely says 5 words. And NO ONE, except me, knows what he says. He can't pronounce very much at all, but I've been told not to worry. As everyone else tells you, all children develop differently, and at different times. You asked why you can understand your son, but not everyone else can. Well, I believe that's because you are with him all day and you learn what he means when he says certain things. Don't worry mom!! He's just fine!
2006-11-19 10:19:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You sound like a normal worrisome Mom.
A three yr old should be speaking in short sentences.
Your case sounds like simple enunciation would make your
child better understood.
If you have other reason to be worried- do not be silent.
Check out parent's site. If you are really worried- contact
U.C.Davis and/or The Mind Institute.
2006-11-19 02:46:30 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think all children do that mumbling thing, my daughter is three and says long sentences. But sometimes she gets soo excited and just blurs it all together. I usually just tell her to calm and to take her time. She usually slows down and speaks more clearly. Also when my daughter is around new people, she seems to speak more quietly and hard to understand.
2006-11-19 11:53:16 · answer #7 · answered by llr082103 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a 4 year old cousin and her speech still isn't all that well. Don't worry I know alot like that.
2006-11-19 02:43:33 · answer #8 · answered by Rodney G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would not worry. When my daughter was little and ran all the words together, I told her my ears couldn't listen that fast, and so she would slow down slightly, and became easier to understand.
2006-11-19 02:39:47 · answer #9 · answered by busybody12 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋