[jobo77]

My DD's daycare was offering a free speech assessment recently by a therapist and I signed DD up out of interest and just had a phonecall that now has me concerned. The therapist told me that DD has trouble with the K and G sounds; she can say the sounds in isolation but when using a word that starts with those letters she uses the T sound for K and D sound for G. Everything else is fine and the therapist said she isn't worried but recommends some short term therapy before she starts school (which will be either 2014 or 2015). I have since that phone call been listening closely to DD and can see exactly what the therapist is talking about.

So, anyway my question is - has anyone done speech therapy for something like this? I guess I am not sure whether it is serious enough to do as its pretty expensive (she told me about $70 for 30 mins). The therapist asked if DD had ever had ear infections as apparently it is something that pops up a lot with kids who have had ear problems but DD has only ever had a couple of infections in the past.

Thanks!

[-*meh*-]

DS2 has this delay.

It is called a phonological speech delay and has done about a year of speech to fix it but his was very sevre.

now at 5.5yrs he only just getting up to date... at 4 his speech was about level of around a 2 yr old with sounds, and a vocab of 5-6yrs.

he still pronounces R as W, and occasionally uses ST instead of SK.

The therapy for him was worth it but in saying that i didn't have to pay for it as it was through the education department.

eta: just realised it was actually closer to 18mths of speech, and the last 3 mths have been intensive clinic which means he was seeing someone 2-3 times a week.

This post has been edited by -*meh*-: 06/12/2012, 07:58 PM

[opethmum]

I would see speech therapy as a tune up and something that is short term as I am sure your DD will pick it up quickly and that all in all it will be a minor thing. I guess the speech therapist is concerned your DD will fall behind unnecessarily in the beginning of her school life. I would go and have her hearing checked just to be sure to rule out physiological reasons too.

[WithSprinkles]

I'd get her hearing checked out just to be on the safe side.

It might be worth just asking if you could have a session so that you can learn some techniques to help your DD at home, then if things don't improve look at getting some more intensive therapy before she begins school. I'd be guided by what the speech therapist has recommended though.

[lamarque]

Yes both of mine needed speech therapy for those sounds prior to school. It lasted almost a year for each child (fortnightly sessions).

If you have PHI you may get a rebate.

It's well worth the investment believe me.

[baddmammajamma]

Both of my children have had speech therapy -- and we were able to address their issues fully long before the start of school. I am squarely in the camp of "it's better to address it early." I also echo the suggestion of having your daughter's hearing tested (and not just a cursory check by the GP but one by an audiologist), just to rule out any issues.

Good luck & hope things clear up soon!

[katrina24]

How old is your child?

[jobo77]

Thanks everyone, I will take her to the GP and find out about getting her hearing checked and will go ahead with the therapy next year probably. Lucky I am about to take on another days work per week in the NY
DD will be 4 in April Katrina.