Speech Therapy

It's never to early for speech. And 3 is a great age. Some schools will test at 3 and get you into speech theropy.

The speech is very important for self esteem, spelling, and just the over all basic's. I wish I would have done it earlier with mine! My cousin did with his little girl and things worked out so much better. Good luck!
Also nothing wrong with a little one on one time that he will get.

My neighbor's son will be 4 this August and he will be starting speech therapy when the school year starts so that he'll be ready for kindergarten. The public school system offers free speech therapy for kids who will be attending the school or are in the district if therapy is not available at all schools. I think that might be a way to go- just wait it out until the school year before he starts kindergarten. Her doctor says that kids sometimes outgrow it by then also.

The previous post is right, you can get evaluated by your local school districts ESD, just call any school office to get the number or check your phone book.
My youngest started speech when he was 3. He is going to be 9 next week and is still doing (some) speech in school weekly. He was diagnosed with Dyspraxia and I was told when he was about 6 that if we hadn't gotten help as young as he was he probably wouldn't ever have been able to "catch up" with normal speech annunciation. Even with his early intervention he is delayed in reading & writing because he couldn't say certain sounds and so he couldn't put it all together when reading. Now he's being treated for a learning disability and I am so glad that we did not delay at all!
When he was younger I had very little difficult understanding him and other people where were around him regularly started understanding his speech patterns and so it was easy to forget that he had a delay until someone new came around and wouldn't be able to understand.
Have you discussed the concern with your pediatrician?

Hello, My son is 3.5 and has the same problem, I understand about 75% of what he says but everyone else looks at me like what did he say. Everyone kept telling me well he'll talk in his own good time just let it be, well I finally listened to me and took him in to be evaluated and he has a speech problem. At almost 4 years of age he is at a 2 year old speech level. I say yes get the speech therapist, you want to get him the help he needs before he starts school and the teachers cant understand him. I knew my son was having problems at 24 months when other chidren his age were talking perfect and he was still uttering jibberish. I listened to everyone else then, and now wish I had gotten him the help he needed because it would have saved us a lot of tears and frustration on both our parts.

You can get a free speech evaluation thru the school district. Call the Education Service District office for your school district. This service is mandated by Federal law. If he does need any kind of therapy for a condition that would prevent him from learning they also provide that therapy without cost to you.

My grandson was not talking very much by the time he was 2 1/2 and his pediatrician told us about this service. He is diagnosed with speech apraxia and has been getting speech therapy in a school district preschool.

It is normal for children to learn some sounds later than others. Children's speech is also affected by the teeth that they do or don't have. It is quite possible that your son's speech is OK; that he's at the appropriate developmental level. An evaluation will tell you so that you can stop being concerned.

You can read about speech difficulties on the Internet. I have some addresses but I can't find them right now.

HI K.,
I have 6 kids my youngest is 3.4 yrs. I also have 4 granddaughters, the oldest just turned 3. At the age of 2 I spoke with his doctor about his speach. We was conserned about his tongue. he sucks on it. She sent him to Dornbecker for some testing. He was able to communicate with words that most 2 yrs old do not use. But, was not using the common words. We are working with him, I got some picture cards. My eldest son had a hearing problem. He had surgury and is doing fine now after 20 yrs.
I would talk to his doctor, you both know your son best.

My son is 2 and for about a year I have been taking him to speech thearapy. He might be autistic, but we won't know til he is 3, but I have seen a big change since he has been going, I have also seen babies, like 6 months going to thearpy..It doesn't hurt, if anything it could be great play time, and more than likely he will learn something too! I think the sooner the better...Thats just my opinion.

Hi K.
My son started speech therapy about 2 months ago, he is 2 years old and 5 months. He is doing wonderfully! He loves going and his speech is soo much better. I don't know where you are located but email me if you want to know more about his therapy, I'd be happy to share. I'd at least say get him evaluated and they may tell you he's on track or that they could help him. Speech will give him a great start and it's a lot of fun for them. My son lights up when his therapist enters the waiting room for him.
Best of luck!

As a teacher, I have been told that the letters r,l, and s are often difficult for children and that they may outgrow the problem by age 6 or 7. However, if you have access to a speech therapist, it doesn't hurt to ask the question. They can tell you if 3 is too young or not. You sure are a handsome pair! That smile will get him everywhere. N. S.

My second child didn't really talk until he was about 2 1/2, when his sister was born. When he did start talking, it was very difficult to understand him. We had his hearing checked, which was normal. He started speech therapy at age 4 and continued until he was in 5th grade. It helped him a lot, not only with his speech, but with some social skills also. He was with other children that had similar issues and didn't feel that he was being singled out for anything. We live in Washington County, so I know that the services they offered us were free. My feeling has always been, if the schools are offering it, take it. All I know is that anything that you can do for your child to help him succeed is a very good idea. Look into speech therapy in your local school district. It may be very helpful to your son.

Hello,
I have a friend who was taking their 2 year old son to speach therapy. If your son needs it then it seems like it would be best to start as soon as possible when his speech is really developing. But it is possible that he's just not worried about speaking correctly and so doesn't of his own accord and one day he will start talking clear as day. Good luck and i'm sure everything will work out.
A.

Since he's already 3, at most places, he's too old for early intervention services (my son is 2 1/2 and has had speech therapy for the last 3 months or so...and will continue until he's 3...at which time he'll be re-evaluated, and if they feel he needs more, he'll be referred to another place). I wouldn't say he's too "young". In fact, just the opposite. 1. It certainly can't HURT anything to hae him in therapy, and 2. It's better to start them off young when they're still forming words and stuff. Good luck!

Hi K.,
My son gets speech therapy thru Multnomah County, they come to the house once a week. He is going to be 3 in September, and is still not talking hardly at all.. Speech therapy helps them with all those different sounds, through music, games, pictures, songs, etc. It wouldn't hurt is what I am trying to say, and they make it fun for the kids.. Maybe at least get an evaluation from someone and see if they think speech therapy would help him, the earlier you get him the help he needs, the better in my experience.
:)
K.

My son was 2 when we started speach therapy. Contact Early Intervention. The services are free and the people are wonderful. My son was later diagnosed with Autism, and he goes to a specialized preschool where they also teach him sign language. (Not saying your son is autistic) My nephew is also undergoing the testing for speach therapy. He is 4 now, and we wish we would have talked his mother into it a year or more ago.
Good Luck!

I would advise you not to wait. When my son was about 2 1/2 I knew there was a problem so I got my son a referral for a hearing evaluation. That turned out fine so then he had a speech evaluation which was abnormal. He was then qualified for special services through our school district and has been in developmental preschool at no charge for the past 3 years. He also had specific speech therapy through a local clinic once a week. The therapist suggested I have his tonsils and adnoids checked as they can affect speech. Sure enough the ear, nose and throat doctor advised that the tonsils and adnoids be removed. The combination of preschool, speech therapy and removal of the tonsils and adnoids has made a world of difference for my son. He will be starting kindergarten in the fall and will most likely not even need speech therapy at all anymore. Your son's situation may not be exactly like mine, but my point is that I got the help my son needed and it was the best thing I could have done for him. Good luck to you.

Hi K.!
They are never too young to learn. My son has had speech problems and also had tubes put in his ears...They suggested the birth to three year old program....You should check into it. He was able to get into that program...they worked with him as well as working with you too. They taught him signs for some stuff so that you can understand but also when you do the sign say the work and work with him...its not frustrating at all. After he turned three he still qualified to go to preschool thru the school system...It was free and he goes to the school speech there as well. He even gets to ride the bus! He loves that! Anywho we are getting right now to go to his last day of school picnic...so any questions let me know...
Hope this helps
C.

Hi K.!
I'm a certified speech pathologist that works with lots of little guys-- and my advice is don't wait! If you have any concerns, get it checked. Therapy time will be so much shorter and he'll undergo a lot less stress of not being understood the sooner he's receiving services. There are a couple of no-cost options in the Portland area. One is the Oregon Scottish Rite Clinics (which is where I work) or your ESD. You can reply to me if you want more info. Oregon Scottish Rite Clinics are on-line you can google them. Which ESD will depend upon where you live.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks! E.

I think it is great that you are thinking about what you should or shouldn't do regarding your childs speech. I have a son that we started speech thearapy when he was 2. He continued to do speech until he was 5.

It cannot hurt to have him evaluated and make a decision after you have information in your hands. You will be able to go through the school that is closest to you. Just give the school a call and see what you can get accomplished...they will want the results of that hearing test that you had done.

HTH,
K.

You should definitely go get him evaluated by a speech therapist. I also have two boys, my oldest is almost 4 and my youngest is 2. My oldest started speech therapy when he was 2 and though he has progressed dramatically he still undergoes therapy for speech. What you want to do is tell your pediatrician or family doctor that you want to have your son evaluted by developmental specialists. They will do evaluations in all areas of development. We moved to a different city half way through my sons therapy, I thought that he was done so I just did not contact my local school district to get an evaluation. It was only after we had been here for about 8 months that I did it. I wish that I did it earlier because after they evalutated him I found that he was eligible for developmental preschool. This preschool is awesome! They help him focus in all of the areas that he is lacking in. Many children in his class are there for speech and language as well as social skills. But when you walk in they all seem like just normal preschoolers and a novice would not be able to tell the difference of issues between one child and the next. Not to mention that if you contact your local school district and they do qualify him for preschool he does not need to be potty trained and they help with that. Also, because it is through the school district it is totally FREE! My son has blossomed so much by being around all of the other children his own age, he loves going to school. If you have any questions about my experience please let me know and I will give you as much info as I can.

I took my son to get evaluated before he turned 2 years old. They said he qualified to receive there help. They go to his daycare 2 days a week for 1 hour a day. It is amazing how much his speech has improved in a little over 6 months. I don't think he is too young. To my way of thinking is if he has a problem then the earlier we catch and correct it the better it will be for him. He loves both ladies that come in to work with him. He gets help through Little Red School House. Theres one in Everett and Lynnwood.

My advice is not to worry, he will catch up. I recently had my son to a well child visit, and the paperwork i received let me know where a three year old should be at developmentally. and the target is 75% of his speech should be understood. as long as you always talk to him, he will be fine.

I had the same issues. My son who is now four had a lisp when he talked and had difficulty announcieating th, z and st sounds. We had his hearing tested. All was fine. So we began speech therapy Janurary. He has made great progress. Although we have to constantly work with him at home to renforce what he has learned. If you have any questions, about the therapist feel free to contact me. A.

I would suggest having your school district evaluate him to be sure or ask your pediatrician for a referral. I don't ever think it is too early to work on helping your child learn... Maybe have his tongue checked too. My sister just had her son's tongue clipped since it was attached really close to the tip. Just a thought.

Hi K.,

i have a daughter that has the same speech issue. I got her into speech therapy through Salem Keizer school district. here is the number to call, ###-###-####.they are located on pringle street here in south salem. if that is too far for you call your local school or the school district them selves to see what you can do.
it really helped Melanie out with her speech. it will take some time and work on your part to help him along but it is worth it.
you can also try going to your pediatrician and ask for help through them, i did and they sent me to Easter Seals but ended up costing us a chunk of money with no results.
good luck.