What am i to do when my 3 year old child is not speaking well?

Question

My child is 3 and a quarter years old and he doesn't speak clearly and sharply. Initially it was not a concern for me but i got feedbacks from several parents that their children was well versed at the age of 2 and a half. Now i'm pretty much worried about his speech. He can speak but not clear and some times he mumbles. What am i to do?

Answer 1

when you take him to his doctor tell them your concern and they'll send him to a speech and hearing specialist my son is over 2 now and only says 7 words and he doesn't say them often so i am starting to get nervous myself but my brother didn't say anything until he was like 4 so i think boys are just different.

Answer 2

I have a three year old as well and he does not speak very well either. We have had specialist look at him and he is borderline. The first answerer is right speak to your doctor and they will assist you.

Children develop differently from one to the next. My daughter, first born, speaks very well and did so fast. My son is slower and also had tubes in his ears. With a fast talking sister and tubes I believe slowed him down and to a point made him lazy.

Neither child were in a daycare till recently. They both went to nursery on Sundays, but that was about it. So do not take the second answerer too seriously. Your child can get lost in a daycare, but flash cards, reading, etc... close up quality time with you and your husband will do the trick.

Just keep it fun and do not let your anxiety come out or the child will sense it and that might make things worse. Remember aside from a cute reflective story no one cares when you learned to speak. The only thing that matters is that you learned to speak, write, read, etc...

My son can whistle and has been doing so before three. Nothing great, but I have not seen another doing it. Also, his speech is coming around and we correct him with love and kindness. Usually three times and praise him for getting it right or at least better.

Now ask me about his potty training!

Answer 3

I think that you should take about 30 minutes a day with and and use flash cards. You can get real inexpensive flash cards and have him say the words a couple of times. I'm sure his speech will expand. Also if a child is around more children daily that helps their entire development. For instance my daughter was walking at 10 months and saying small words imitating me at like 7 or 8 months. She attends daycare and i honestly believe her being around the other children may have helped contributed to her intelligence. My cousin daughter is 12 months and is a very slow developer, she doesn't attend daycare, she's the only child, and, well to make a long story short, flash cards and other children can help.

GOOD LUCK.

Answer 4

My 3 year old daughter does not speak cleary either. she often speaks with a lisp and with what can best be described as an accent. At her 3 year checkup I asked her doctor about it and he said it was normal. (I also have a 7 year old spoke very cleary and in complete sentences at age 2.) He said that it should straighten itself out and if it doesn't by the time she reaches kindergarten she can take speech therapy classes. I know of children who did not even begin speaking at all until age 3 and they are fine now. Children all develop at their own rates. I make a game out of pronuciation with my 3 year old and it seems to help. If she consistently slurs a word then we sing a song about it and say it a couple times correctly. This way it's fun and she doesn't have to feel like I'm constantly correcting her. Hope this helps!

Answer 5

Aged 3 I couldn't speak very well either and although my parents were concerned after taking me to the doctors and being told there was nothing to worry about they relaxed. I really wouldn't worry some children just take longer to develop than others. Aged 4 we moved to the UK from Spain and by then I was speaking but didn't speak any English but soon learnt that. What I'm trying to say is that don't worry about his development. Kids learn so much so much quicker when they're younger that he should be fine by the time he reaches school. When he is at school get him tested for dyslexia. I'm dyslexic and that could be why it took me longer to start speaking. If he is make sure he and yourself get all the support you need.

Answer 6

Most toddler boys are more focused on activities, and staying on the go at all times. Most boys don't develop speech until later, because their brains aren't wired, like girls, for communication.

My daughter learned speech early on, talked up a storm by 2 1/2 and held conversations by 3 1/2 - but my son, now 3 is way more worried about conquering the next 'mountain' and building the next sky scraper....which my daughter is totally not into at all.

The kids' pediatrician assured me that there is nothing to worry about , and my son will talk when he's good and ready - much like men decades older than him!!

Answer 7

Well it all takes time. Some children have a harder time with speech than others. And they are not all up to the same level as each other. Some children talk early and some talk later. If you think this is causing him a probelm talk to his doctor. I know it's hard to understand him at times. But don't worry about it because he might grow out of it. Just takes time good luck

Answer 8

It starts when the child is a baby people talk to the baby like goo goo GA GA that not the right language we speak i call that alien talk when a baby hear nothing but that alien talk that's what he going to try to talk like that people don't know that it's OK to talk normal to your child they under stand you because English is our language for some of us.but your baby might have been talked to as a newborn up until now that alien language so now he thinks that's the way you supposed to talk so just take he/she to a pathologist and get a better answer.

Answer 9

Take him to a speech and language pathologist. In the meantime you might try some fun games with him to get him to exercise his tongue and mouth, try circling the tongue around the teeth and moving it up and down. My son had delayed speech as well and had a hearing test done too. When the test indicated that his hearing was OK I was referred to a speech and language pathologist. Try to get him to listen as well, make him wait for you to finish a question, eg. "put the book on the table". My son didn't wait for any sentence to finish and that helped to delay his speech. Speak clearly to him. Good luck.

Answer 10

i know i am only young but take my advice. my little brother is almost 4 and can't even talk a sentence yet. get him some speech help with a therapist. if that does not work take some baby sign language classes. it is much easier and the child enjoys it. at least you will be able to know what he wants and needs.