We have known about his tongue tie since he was about 4. Different dentists in our practice have different advice about whether or not to have it clipped. It is pretty tight, but also not very involved (not many veins, etc involved). He is 8 y/o and still cannot say "L" sounds, they sound like "w". We have been patient, waiting for all of his speech to fully develop, but I'm thinking that if he can't say the "w" sound at age 8, it's not going to happen. Do you think I'm right or wrong?
Just a note: My 8 y/o son is a "typically" developing chid, not my child with Down syndrome. Thanks!
Dear Mom,
Before I make any specific comments, please answer a few questions:
1- Can he say all other basic sounds other than 'L'? (See our website under 'Speech Chart')
2- In your question, you mentioned that he couldn't say the 'w', is that correct? Or did you mean only the 'L'?
3- Has your child ever seen a Speech Therapist? And have they ever worked on the 'L' sound?
We have our 'L' book coming out in a few months which explains a simple way of helping your child say the 'l' sound. However, tongue ties are a little harder than simply encouraging him to place his tongue in the proper position. Please answer the above questions and I will elaborate a little about the 'L' sound. (Please note: Please read our other topics on Assessing Your Child's Speech and the SSsss sound. A parent discussed her child's tongue concern and how she dealt with it. You can also email her direct questions on side-effects once the procedure was done.)
Just remember, there is always hope through prevention and intervention!!
Angela Holzer, MA
I'm sorry I did mean to say that he cannot say the 'L' sound. He says the "w" just fine. I'll have to look at the assessment area and see, but as far as I really notice, in everyday language, it's just the "L" sound that he cannot make now, but sometimes I cannot understand him, and have to have him say it a few times, and then I can decipher it. He saw a speech therapist at the age of 4 and she said she thought he was doing fine for his age at that time. There were many sounds he wasn't making, but she said it was typical developmentally for him to make many of those sounds later. He doesn't see a SLP now, although I do take my other son to one (which is why I actually joined this group). He cannot get speech services at school unless it "impacts him educationally", which for the most part, it doesn't. I'm looking forward to seeing the "L" book! I don't mind working with him myself, if working at it will work. I don't want to continue to put off a surgery if it will be inevitable, and if it will make learning the sound easier for him in the long run. Thanks!
Michele
Quoting AngieKaye1:
Dear Mom,
Before I make any specific comments, please answer a few questions:
1- Can he say all other basic sounds other than 'L'? (See our website under 'Speech Chart')
2- In your question, you mentioned that he couldn't say the 'w', is that correct? Or did you mean only the 'L'?
3- Has your child ever seen a Speech Therapist? And have they ever worked on the 'L' sound?
We have our 'L' book coming out in a few months which explains a simple way of helping your child say the 'l' sound. However, tongue ties are a little harder than simply encouraging him to place his tongue in the proper position. Please answer the above questions and I will elaborate a little about the 'L' sound. (Please note: Please read our other topics on Assessing Your Child's Speech and the SSsss sound. A parent discussed her child's tongue concern and how she dealt with it. You can also email her direct questions on side-effects once the procedure was done.)
Just remember, there is always hope through prevention and intervention!!
Angela Holzer, MA
L Technique
- jjamom
on Mar. 7, 2009 at 7:03 PM