3 YO speech worries

[Harry's Mom]

DS turns 3 this month. He says about 150 words, but very few nouns. I just took him for a speech assesment at the local school and am waiting for results. The person who saw him thought he was unusually hard to understand (his diction) and that his sentence structure is unusual. He uses lots of pronouns to make up for not using nouns, which can make his sentences convoluted. I understand him perfectly 'cause I live with him, but I thought that by this time his speech would be catching up to his peers. He seems to be learning words "differently." He never mimics sounds that I or DH make. I ask him to try a new word and he won't, he answers "no, I can't say that yet." He says long involved sentences with his limited vovab. and understands EVERYTHING we say. But, he seems to learn to say new words almost by accident. I think his hearing is ok but will have that and auditory processing checked soon if doctor cooperates. Also, he is not tongue tied, but apparently there are some movements that he can't do with his tongue, like move it side to side, or lick his lips. He nurses well but has trouble swallowing, especially certain textures, and doesn't seem to chew well. Also doesn't self feed much yet.

Anyone have similar experience? I'm starting to worry something is wrong with the way his brain's wired for speech/language. (All other milestones have been fine and I know he's bright.)

Thanks, Betzi

[lisac77]

When my DS had just turned 3 I was really tempted to take him for a speech assessment. He was hard for me and strangers to understand, and it just seemed really hard for him to get the words out properly. I eventually decided to hold off for a few months and see if it improved on it's own.

4 months later, his speech has improved by leaps and bounds. He is much easier to understand, uses more words, and puts things in context, and things he doesn't know how to say are phrased in such a way that we can figure it out more easily. His speech is more comprehensive, and he is catching up to his peers quickly.

[chann96]

http://www.apraxia-kids.org

This sounds much like my daughter who has apraxia and many of the things you mention sound like apraxia to me. It definitely might not be, but often parents haven't even heard of it so I want to bring it up. The link above gives more info about apraxia. Basically apraxia is a motor planning disorder where the mouth needs extra help to learn how to make the specific movements necessary for speech. It requires different help through speech therapy than a "basic" articulation problem needs.

The specifics that stand out to me though are
1. the lack of mimicing which can be a big sign of apraxia. Both oral motor skills like moving the tongue side to side and actually mimicing words are more extremely difficult for a person with apraxia until they receive lots of help. They just don't have that level of control over their mouth yet. My daughter's vocabulary has increased to probably over a thousand words at this point, but if you ask her to say a specific word she cannot do it. She can say it all day long on her own, but not if asked.

2. Learning new words by accident. This is also very common with apraxia as kids practice with their mouth they can happen upon words and sometimes they stick. Sometimes a child will seem to have a word and then "lose" it too.

3. A big difference between expressive and receptive speech

4. The swallowing problems and chewing problems can all be signs of oral apraxia also.

It's great you are on the ball and seeking out help for him. Whatever his diagnosis is it does sound like he can benefit from speech therapy.

[CB73]

I don't have specific thoughts or advice, but do want to share that I agree with PP - you are on the ball in being an advocate for your DS.

My story is: Our DS1 turned 3 at the end of August and we finally got the evaluation back. I have wanted SL therapy for a while....my completely unprofessional opinion, based on nothing but pure research is a phonological disorder of some sort. We waited and waited for him to catch up with peers, or have a speech explosion that can happen with some children - never happened.

I have felt so sad that my DS1 has millions of thoughts and only limited ways to share them with those he loves. Thank goodness we taught him ASL at 10MO just because it seemed like a good idea! So, so hard when expressive language is delayed while receptive language is within normal ranges.

I wish you success in your search for information to help your son!

[Rainbowbird]

I agree with the PPs that getting an eval. is an excellent idea. My DS, at 3 and a half, doesn't have the greatest articulation. DH was worried (I wasn't) so we took him for an eval. at the local elementary school. He doesn't have any of the other issues you mentioned and he has an outstanding vocabulary.

The speech path. concurred that he doesn't need therapy. Her feeling was that it was just articulation that will come with maturity, because he had no other issues and a great vocabulary. Also that his articulation errors were all over the place and inconsistent. So he was clearly getting some sounds sometimes but then losing it in another word.

So, if it was just artic. you might want to wait and see. But those other issues sound like they could be something else. That oral texture issue and not self-feeding well, for example. I think you are on the ball. Catch it now and he will probably catch up so fast. Good luck!