advice please DGS requires speech therapy

I never understand why people see this as a problem - I had to fight to get my son speech therapy and it took until he was 5yrs. Early intervention is wonderful. Both my sons had speech therapy. My brother had it. They all speak well now! I can't see why you are 'shaken' - be thrilled that he is caught early.

Both my sons and two of my grandsons have had speech therapy. My daughter and I could understand them but no one else could when they were very young. The therapist told me that boys seem to need it more than girls. It worked wonders and most of the problems were ironed out by the time they were ready for school. As far as the GS's are concerned, they are still seeing the therapist - not major problems but unable to pronounce certain sounds and a tendency to stammer when they have a lot to say.

cherrytree please don't worry too much. Early intervention is so important so make sure he takes up the sessions and gets the help he needs. The earlier he gets help the more successful it will be. But there is a shortage of speech therapists and you may find yourself having to insist that he gets the help after he has been assessed. My friend's daughter had about 5 therapists in one year, they kept moving on, having babies etc. Each one had to re-assess her, build a relationship and then try to improve her speech-it was a nightmare. Hope all goes well.

My DGD had awful speech before going to school. No one seemed to care but her Mum had to interpret for her because she had a language all of her own.

I actually paid for a private speech therapist to visit and assess her.

He gave my DD some exercises. To do with her and some instructions for the rest of the family to follow and now 4 years later she speaks well. She sometimes gets lazy and reverts to 'Wudolph the Wed Nosed Weindeer' but we always correct her and she knows how to say it properly.

I don't think there's anything to worry about, children all progress at different rates and if they need a little help I'm all for it . By school age you'll be wondering what you were ever worried about.

cherrytree your GS sounds delightful. I hope you are reassured by the experience of other Gransnetters.

My DD attended speech therapy from the age of three. The therapist showed her a picture book and asked her to name the pictures, she pronounced every one of them wrongly except for garage.
In her language a field was tiel. I had to interpret for her, even her Dad struggled to understand her. By school age though, she was speaking perfectly.
That being said. DGS 2 has been seeing a speech therapist since age 2 1/2 and has made very little progress, he's 5 1/2 now and still very difficult to understand. He has high functioning autism (as yet not diagnosed) and the speech therapist says that as he knows what he is saying, he believes that fault lies with others if they don't understand him! Until he realises that his speech is difficult to understand, he doesn't see the need to change it.

Our DGD is 2 and a bit but says very few words, mama, dada, nana (for banana) yah (posh for yes!) and ta are about her range. Amazingly we have a child who doesn't say no!!!
However, she does understand everything that's said to her so we aren't particularly worried.
She was a tiny preemie and is remarkable the way she has come on. At her last hospital appointment the consultant was going to refer her to speech therapy but as yet (more than six months later) nothing has come through from them.

My daughter started her at nursery one day a week to help, but speech wise she hasn't really got any better.

I was a late speaker as was my daughter (she was the same, understood everything, said almost nothing) so the wee one is only following family tradition! When the floodgates do open we will no doubt wish she would be quiet! ?

I had a friend whose child barely spoke at all until he was three, just grunted. As his first appointment arrived to see a speech therapist,he decided to speak, quite fluently. He was later found to be dyslexic, but I do not think there is any link between two problems.

DS didn't say much apart from a few words until he was about two and a half then suddenly starting talking in sentences.
I didn't worry too much (and no-one suggested speech therapy in those days) because DN said nothing much at all until he was three.
Both now have degrees and responsible jobs.

Perhaps he is taking it all in and processing it before he starts speaking.

DGS2 had speech therapy for a while when he started nursery as they were concerned about his poor speech. It helped DD3 to see that she was doing all the right things with him (it was a joint session with 5 others, who were definitely not doing the right things!!) About 3 months later it all came tumbling out and he hasn't stopped talking since.

I think it is a good thing to have had it recognised because if there is a real problem, rather than just slow speech, it can be dealt with. DD2's friend is a speech therapist and says that treatment is usually very successful.

I think lots of children forget 'old' words when they learn a new one.

DS1 was quite slow to speak but was just biding his time and there didn't seem to be the urgency 40 odd years ago!

Please let us know how things work out.

Both my two DC were referred for speech therapy Cherry, at similar ages. DS couldn't say "s" - said "f" so for example "farmer" was "sarmer". Of course he just gradually grew out of it and became a very fluent and non-stop chatter box.

DD lisped and still does, The therapist decided that her tongue was slightly too big for her mouth so signed her off.

There is nothing to fear from speech therapy - they just help you to practise speech with the child - nursery rhymes, reading aloud, singing etc. I am sure your little DGS will soon start to chat - he is very young - and you will wonder why you worried so! Good luck!