Repetitive Speech

HI Audra. My babysitter is a speech pathology major at Elmhurst College, and she takes on clients. She's a senior graduating this December. You could check with your local college to see if they have a speech pathology program and, if so, if you can get an appointment. If you'd like more information, let me know, and I'll ask my sitter about it. I also have an aunt that is a speech pathologist, but she's all the way out in southern Indiana. If you have trouble finding someone, let me know, and I'l ask her if she has anyone she recommends out this way or if there's a website or professional organization you could use to find someone. Good luck!

Hi Audra,

my son just turned 4 and has done the same thing for at least the last year or so. I believe it's called "perseverating." My son sees 3 different speech therapists in the course of a week, and only 1 has mentioned concerns about it (the one working on feeding with him.) When I brought it up to the others, either they haven't noticed it or weren't concerned about it. To me, it is a fluency issue.
on the other hand, I am a reading specialist and tested a 2nd grade girl today who did the same thing, as well as having some articulation issues. I approached the speech therapist who said that she is seeing the student for word-finding difficulties. I actually took a class on this recently, and hadn't connected the behavior. I'm not sure at what age ST see students for word-finding issues, but it may be worth looking into. From what I remember from my course, it seems that many of the strategies to help this problem are aimed at older children or adults. Anyway, it may be worth looking into through your local school district. They are required by law to assess children between the ages of 3 and 5 for special needs, including speech services.

Good luck!

My son just turned 4, and does the same thing occassionally. Our daycare provider says at that age their minds are going faster than their ability to get it out, so I haven't been too concerned. He was a late talker so he qualified for Early Intervention speech services when he was two, and we used Michelle Brand in Libertyville for a year. She was EXCELLENT! If anyone needs a pediatric speech therapist, I highly recommend her.

My son who is almost 4 does the same thing. He is otherwise fluent and has a large vocabulary. But I think if you have noticed other things for a while, you should contact the school district for evaluation. It may just put your mind at ease, or if she needs some extra therapy, why not get it before kindergarten starts. Good luck!