He Doesn't Sound Clear.....

My son was the exact same way. He didn't begin speaking until three and started very slowly. He progressed fine and by kindergarten was very fluent and articulate. I think it's true that some boys develop certain skills slower that girls. My daughter began speaking at one!

If he recently had tubes put in his ears, then he is probably hearing clearly for the first time in his life. Learning how to speak takes time. Not only that, but there are many sounds that younger children have a hard time with, that emerge as they age, such as "j", "ch", "z", "th". Just gently correct him if he says a word incorrectly. Also check to make sure his tongue and teeth are correctly positioned to make the proper sounds. A lot of kids I've seen with minor speech issues, like the "lisp" could be corrected with gentle reminders to properly place there tongue or teeth in a certain position. For example, bringing the top teeth down on the bottom lip for the "f" sound, and the tongue touching the top teeth for the "l" sound.

Been there, done this with my son. He had speech therapy through All Children's Hospital. If you are really concerned, make him an appointment to be evaluated. It is covered by insurance as a "specialist". The therapy itself, if needed, is not covered, however they have a program called "Scottish Rite" which is very much like Shriner's. You fill out paperwork with your financial information, and they tell you how much you pay for his sessions. So the $85 per visit for us went to $24 through that Scottish Rite program. The woman who did our paperwork said pretty much anyone qualifies to receive some subsidy. Mind you, this was 5 years ago. My son's speech progressed so rapidly, that he was taken out of the program after only 8 months, a 4 year old, on a 6 year old speaking level. They had told me it would be at least 2 years to bring him to a 4 year old speech level after testing him. It was an awesome experience. Good luck!

Good morning Lynn:
My name is I. and the same thing happend to me. My son started talking when he was 3 1/2 yrs old. He is still, at 12 yrs old slower than my doughter when she was her age. The doctor told me the same thing. Girls develop faster than boys.I don't think you have to worry. The only thing is that you will have to spend more time with him doing homework than with your doughter. My doughter has been doing her homework by herselve seens she was in First Grade. My son still needs her with his and needs my supervision all the time. They are just very different. Just enjoy their young years before school becouse it goes really fast. Best of luck.

your son's development has nothing to do with the development process of boys. it has to do with how he has heard the words up to this point. with the tubes, he is now hearing clearly for the first time in some time. it will take time for him to relearn words as he hears them pronounced properly. keep working with him and his speech will progress.

as for the question about boys developing slower than girls - yes, it's true. i have one of each and my son has hearing problems when he was young. my niece has problems too and she speaks with a pronounced lisp because she heard the words wrong for so long.

Just wanted to say it can't hurt to have him checked. You can have him evaluated for free in Hillsborough county. I believe the number is ###-###-####. If that doesn't work call 211 from your home phone and they can probably help. All children are different, but my second child (first son) needed speech for several years. And the evaluation should be easy and mostly fun for your son. By the way my daughter and my second son talked great, and my third son is still too young to know =)!Also if he ends up in speech they will give you ideas for things to do at home!

Trust your instincts. If you feel something is off, you're entitled to a second opinion. It may be nothing, but if it was my child and the Dr said he was fine and I still had doubts, I would be the squeaky wheel until you are satisfied. You may want to speak to a speech specialist and have him assessed. That's just what I would do.

My daughter did not speak clearly'till the end of Kindergarten. We had tests done, you name it, we did it. Now she is eight years old, and I can't get her to stop talking. She was a speech delay child. So was my mom. family history would tell you, if that is a possibility. At any rate, I would give it time. Kids develop at their own pace. One thing I was told that helped my daughter was that I read to her every night and showed her a new word on flash cards every week. I also tried incorporating that word in our routine at home somehow.
All this information stayed in her head and eventually made it's way out.
Hope this helps.

My son will be 3 in July and isnt very clear either, he is in speech therapy and it's helping but I dont think theres much else we as moms can do. As far as boys vs girls, I have a niece 5 months older then my son and she is clear as day says everything you can think of so it could be true??

Hello Lynn,

I have three children, Willy (7), Braden (5), and Madison (3), and they are all different, they all developed at a different pace. My oldest son was always the smartest, he was so clear when he spoke, he learned his letters and numbers and how to read and write earlier than anyone we knew, at seven he even knows how to use a chop saw and measure out wood. But my other son, we couldn't understand much of what he was saying until about a year ago, which was when he was four, the doctors in NY wanted to have me take him to a hearing specialist, and see someone about his learning, but as his mother I knew that it was just him, and he would grow out of it, and he did. My daughter is super smart, but she mumbles instead of talking, and she does it with her head down, and pouty lips, so I know that if she really wants something she'll eventually speak up so I can hear her, cause she knows she won't get anywhere otherwise. My middle son has definitely grown since then, and now he won't stop talking, and sometimes I wish it wasn't as clear as it is, lol, all moms understand the things that can come out of a five year olds mouth. But my point is, he is your son, and you need to do what you think is best for him. All kids develop differently, and most of the time girls are faster than boys, most of the time. Try not to make comparissons between the two, I know it's hard, but doing that just makes it harder on you because then you'll worry about why he's not doing what she did at that age. The best thing about having more than one child, is seeing the difference between all of your children, and knowing that each of them is a reflection of you. But like I said before, you do what makes you feel better, but maybe give him some time, some children take longer than other's, I found that out, but my husband was just like you, he was worried about him, and I said no, he's ok, it's just him. I hope that helps, you take care.

Candi ;O)

BTW, my mom went through the same thing with us, I have two brother's, and I was so quick to talk, but my brother's just flustered my mom because they wouldn't, or atleast not clear evough for her to understand, and they are both in college now.