What is average for a three year old boy as far as speech?

Question

When should I start worrying about my sons talking. He speaks but not clearly. Still alot of mumbling.

Answer 1

He should be able to name himself, family and friends. He should be able to count to 10, know the alphabet, know colors and animals, household objects, weather and nature words (he should be able to tell you if it's raining, or be able to know the difference between "grass" and "flower" and "tree"), favorite foods and toys, etc. By the older three's, he should be able to tell a simple story.

There are some sounds and sound combinations that are hard for three-year-olds, so if he says he's "hung-way" instead of "hungry", don't flip out or anything. If he requests a "giggich" (sounds a little like Gidget, starting with a "j" instead of "g", with an "ich" instead of "et" at the end) instead of a "sandwich", yeah, you should not allow that (for real, that's what both my kids called sandwiches... my older son has a vocabulary problem, and my youngest son learned the word from him). Three year olds believe in "Santa Kwaus" and occasionally like to color the sun "lellow". Those are pretty normal three-year-old pronunciations, and as long as you don't repeat them (just silently think they're cute, but if you use those words, they have no reason to believe they should learn the right way to say them), they'll grow out of it.

Make sure his hearing is fine by getting him tested by an actual ENT who specializes in the care of children. Since three-year-olds are not known for being cooperative, having someone who has experience in the field and the patient can mean you'll get a more accurate result of his hearing. With my oldest son, I never thought his hearing was impaired since he could hear and understand. The doctor, however, found that he had some hearing loss due to ear infections, and that he was hearing us like he was right under the surface of a swimming pool. He knew what we were saying, but the garbled language he used was probably a clear representation of what he thought we sounded like.

I would suggest getting him evaluated for his speech. If you don't think you can afford it, GUESS AGAIN! Most states have an agency that evaluates children and provides free services for whatever kind of therapy is needed (occupational, speech, therapy, vocabulary). A lot of them have a 3-year-old cutoff age, though, so since he's three, the same services can be provided through the public school system. Contact the special education department of your local school district, and they can talk you through what should be done. If you have insurance and want and can afford private speech therapy, that's an option, of course, too. However, the school-sponsored therapy for preschool aged children really is good quality, and I've really been impressed with the people we've dealt with in the three school districts we've lived in in the last few years.

If you get him evaluated, you will be asked TONS of questions, so be prepared (I learned the second time around to bring a baby book... they'll ask about every aspect of his past and your family life). If you notice that there are certain times he speaks more clearly than others (my youngest reverts back in speech when he's tired or pouty), or if there were situations you think may have caused it (I have a cousin who was almost four before he spoke clearly... he never had to until his brother, two years older and an early talker, started kindergarten... the older child translated every point and grunt so that the younger one never had to speak).

For your part, speak clearly, using complete sentences and few pronouns (name objects or people specifically a lot). Press him to use sentences if he's shown that he really knows how to (like us, they can get lazy about stuff sometimes, including speech). Look into his face when you talk to him, and when he talks to you, and get him to do the same thing. Use real, clear language (don't use his version of words, EVER). Work up to a point where you don't allow him to get away with not using language (pointing and using grunts/single words/incomplete sentences to demand something just ain't gonna cut it anymore - he has to ask specifically.... This was hard for us. If Cameron pointed to a cookie and indicated he wanted it, we'd say "What are you supposed to say?" and if he asked, he got it, if he didn't we'd say "Do you want the cookie?" followed by him saying yes, and we'd have to say "Say, 'I want the cookie.'" Until he said it right, he didn't get it)

The good thing is, this is coming from a mom whose child is not in the "normal" range. Yours probably is. Three years old is still young and there's still a HUGE range of "normal". My youngest is three now, and aside from some habits he picked up from his brother, his teacher says he's in the right range, and he still isn't clear A LOT. The stuff about having eye contact while talking (for my oldest, the one with the speech delays, we've had to point to our mouths in the past to make sure he looked, and it made a difference), speaking clearly, and expecting him to do it right can go for anyone, I think they're just common sense things to do.

If you're really worried, though, contact the special education department of your local school, and tell them what's going on. It won't cost you a thing, and they can tell you for certain if your son is okay.

Best of luck to you!

Answer 2

I have been a preschool teacher for about 7 years, and what I have seen is that every child to some degree learns to speak properly at their own pace. It is normal for some mumbling and baby talk still as long as he knows most of his words, but if he is still doing this at four, you may want to seek speech therapy. I would wait untill he is four, because it's really hard to tell right now if he will grow out of it or not. Kids are stilling learning and changing at a fast rate at 3, so I would just give it a little more time.

Answer 3

My nephew is 3 and my brother and sis-in-law were worried about his speech last year when he was 2, so they started taking him to classes once a week with a speech pathologist. The lady said that there was really nothing to worry about. But, they didn't like the fact that he had such a limited vocabulary. Now, he talks a lot more since going to the classes, but can still be hard to understand if he talks real fast and a lot all at once. He also can't make the "l" sound. He pronounces it as a "w."

Answer 4

All children develope at different rates. Some talk with a lisp, and others with mumble, other quiet clearly. Keep working with him and discuss your worries to the pediatrician.

Also have his hearing tested as this can be a possiblity to check into.

When he starts pre-school, he will be tested and evaluated if the teacher notices he is having problems. You also can require the testing if you think he may need it. They do have speech therapy offered in some schools.

Answer 5

I have two nephews that age.

One (actually the younger of the two by a couple months) speaks clearly, in fairly complex sentences. He's not perfect with verb tenses and such, but you know what he's saying for sure.

The other, older by a few months, mumbles a lot and only uses simple sentences. Like "I want juice." His cousin can say "I want the red juice, not the purple juice, because I like it better", for example. He never gets that complicated. His hearing was tested and it's fine, but you should have your son's tested anyway just in case. This boy had a LOT of ear infections when he was younger (they've cleared up now) and the doctor thinks that interfered. But he's getting better.

There's a big range of "normal". If his hearing is okay and he's constantly improving little by little, he's likely fine.

Answer 6

Most 3 year olds have no unspoken thoughts. I had my sons hearing checked and the Dr. said he would talk when he was ready. Everyone assumed that because he had 2 older brothers they talked for him. I took him to see a speech therapist when he was three. He would point at things and say see. The therapist told me every time he did this to say the word for what he was pointing at 3 times. It reminded me of the old Helen Keller movie. He started talking very quickly. Little did I know this was only the beginning of problems. He was having sever reading problems in 2nd grade. It took several years before I got him in to have him diagnosed at the Scottish Rite. They told me he was both dyslexic and dysgrafic, and that they can now diagnose this as early a 3 from his speech.
Find a qualified center to test him for hearing speech and other learning disabilities. Therapy can help him over come these problems early before he goes to school.

Answer 7

I wouldn't worry about it overmuch. I teach 3&4 year old boys, and I'm telling you - they are all over the place. I have a 2 1/2 year old who could have an intelligent conversation with you and a 3 year old who doesn't know my name - even after a year! I don't think you have anything to worry about, as long as he seems to be coming along in other areas. Now, if he is still not working towards independent toileting, is crawling a lot, or other developmental delays, you might want to have him see a pediatrician. Good luck - and enjoy - children are precious at that age!

Answer 8

My son is a slow talker. He just turned 3 in October and all of a sudden he just knows how to say things. At 18 months and then 2 years the Dr had me get him tested by a speech therapist but I wasn't convinced that he needed treatment so I let it go. And then I worried endlessly about whether I made the right decision. Really he just didn't have to talk so he didn't. In my case he had me and his dad and 3 older siblings to get him whatever he wanted and he could use his own little signs and grunts whines, etc.
If you are really worried, ask your pediatrician. They might be able to recommend a speech therapist that is free to evaluate him.

Answer 9

Boys are slower to talk than girls. I had a cousin that didn't speak for 3 years and all of a sudden started talking. If it worries you, you may want to contact a speech therapist. I have many friends who send their boys to speech. But chances are he is perfectly fine and pretty soon you will have to tell him to stop talking :)

Answer 10

He should be speaking quite clear maybe pronoucing them a little bit wrong but saying most of the words so you can understand them. He can still mumble but not every single word just a few in each sentence.
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