question about speech in 3 year olds

OK, So I am wondering how your 3 year old is talking... Madison has great verbal skills she can say what she wants etc. But her pronunciation is somewhat bad, she can't not say beginning sounds such as th, sh, v, and others we understand what she is saying but sometimes we can't and she gets frustrated with us... Do You think I need to call her Dr. for an eval or wait it out like everyone is telling me... Being in education I think she should be able to say those sounds and talk more fluently by this point... Just looking for your thoughts.... TIA

Re: question about speech in 3 year olds

Those sounds are pretty common problems for little ones, especially blends and digraphs. Some children have pronunciation problems until first grade.

Re: question about speech in 3 year olds

I'm not sure when your DD turned 3, but my DD is about to turn 4 and I have to say that her pronunciation really perfected over the past year. She too had a VERY extensive vocabulary by 3 years old (even the ped said she did) but there were some words that she mispronounced. Now she says almost everything perfectly, and what's more, she knows when it is not right and tries to correct it. I'd wait it out.

Re: question about speech in 3 year olds

I was recently talking to my ped who told me that at 2 years old, they expect people who don't live in your house to understand 50% of what they say. At 3, that percentage was higher, but definitely not 100%. So I would think that it is normal for a 3 year old to not be pronouncing things perfectly and also for other people to not understand all of what they are saying.

Re: question about speech in 3 year olds

My ds just turned 4 today and he doesn't say s's when the are in the beginning of a word, snow sounds a lot like no. But if you think there is something not right call ei. It doesn't hurt to get an evaluation. If I listened to the people that told me my other ds was to young to be evaluated and that he was fine he wouldn't he would be even more delayed today than he is.

Re: question about speech in 3 year olds

I found this online. Thought it might help.

Message edited 4/14/2010 8:43:24 PM.

Re: question about speech in 3 year olds

My DD will be 4 in June and there are definately some words/sounds she still doesnt say properly. Everyone can understand what she is saying..its just certain things are said "wrong" - but sound cute Example: "I Lobe you" ..no "v" sound.

Re: question about speech in 3 year olds

From what I'm told by dd's speech therapist some of those sounds are more advanced and don't really happen till later. I can't remember which ones she said off hand but I know that the TH sound is one of them. DD was in speech for 2 years and now she has a wonderful vocabulary and speaks great, but still has problems with some sounds, TH being one of them.

Re: question about speech in 3 year olds

Thanks ladies!! like she calls her dog wivia and her name is olivia, cat is at, things like that.... i feel bad for her but not sure what i am gong to do....

Re: question about speech in 3 year olds

The errors you are describing are completely developmentally appropriate at 3 years old.

Here's a helpful site that lists the age of aquisition and mastery of speech sounds as well as some of the phonological processes that all children have while developing speech:

speech sounds and phonological process

Re: question about speech in 3 year olds