My 4.5 yo doesn't say his "Ls" in the middle or end of words. For ex. "girl" is "gir" and "milk" is "mik", the words sound the same as when you or I say them, they just don't have the "L" in them. Do you know if this is a common thing and what I can do to help him?
I'm not a professional in the least, but I would enunciate as best as you can when you talk and use the "L". Let him see the way your tounge moves in your mouth when you say it. You could also sing a "La La La" song in the kitchen when you are cooking and invite him to join in. Couple it with a silly dance so it doesn't seem like letter practice. lol. Good luck! It's pretty normal I think. All kids have their "things". DH mixed up "r" and "w" when he was a kid.
It is common sound to have in error for those with sound problems. The middle and ending L are much more difficult than the beginning L. Because he is doing it at the beginning of a word he will likely start saying it at the middle and end of words on his own. Meanwhile you can model correct L sounds. To do that I would get yourself in front of a mirror and watch yourself say the L sound. Pay attention to where your tongue is in your mouth. Then spend a few minutes each week having your child try to copy your L words I would avoid putting pressure on him to say it correctly though. Just 2 cents from a former speech therapist...
I had a HORRIBLE speech impediment when I was a child. I still screw up "S" as often as I get it right in natural conversation. I can pronounce words in isolation though. I have an actual lisp, but a big part of my problem was that I have poor hearing (I think poor or lacking "sound discrimination" might be the right term). I mixed up "m" and "n" every time I needed them. It clicked for me when I was READING at like 9 or 10 years old and suddenly realized that all these years, people had been saying "meaNtime" and "meaNwhile". After that I begin taking note of how words were being spelled and my speech cleared up ALOT. Not because I couldn't speak clearly, but because I couldn't HEAR what they were saying. From the time I was like 4 or 5 my dad worked with me on speech constantly because Dr. kept saying I was fine but my parents KNEW I should be able to speak. I learned to read with the Original HOP and learned to pronounce sounds in isolation but it wasn't until I was in the 6th or 7th grade that I begin to SPEAK English correctly. If "L" is the only sound that he's missing. I wouldn't worry much. Work on or play Alphabet Tongue Twisters to help him learn, naturally how to make these sounds, it should clear up as he grows. Just be sure his hearing is okay... All Alligators are Aces in Aquatics.... Lively lions licking lollipops and laughing like looneys.... Zany Zebras Zip around Zand-land and Zap the Zargoths!
We don't pressure him and we do pronounce these words stronger. I misprounce A LOT of words even at 41 yo. And when dh tries to help me pronounce the words correctly, I can't "hear" the difference in what he is saying and what I am saying. For ex. I say "pin" for "pen" and don't hear the difference in the two. When I talk to people and words come up that I know that I don't say right, I almost stop talking in the middle of my sentence because I don't want them to think, "This person can't even speak correctly." Anyway... I know he is only 4.5 and he still has a lot of growing to do, but you know us mom's, we want to do everything we can. (I can't spell either and it is embarrassing , my oldest can't spell, either, and I don't want him to have the same embarrassment!!) Thanks for the suggestions!
@Mom24boys: Nonsense! Dont be embarrassed. I'm starting college and still lisping. I have to actively THINK how to pronounce a word and I stammer. I just use it as more of a reason to speak. I think "If I can make an intelligent point, then its better than babbling and never having anything relevant to say" I usually have to explain my hearing and lisping anyway because I screw up "s" and my name has an "s" in it so when I say my name, twice, first naturally, then slowly, and they say "Ashley" "Ashiya" etc...I have to say "No, it is Sea, as in the Red Sea. I just lisp on the letter 's' because I cant STAND to have my name said wrong.
We're currently doing speech therapy with my daughter. The 'l' sound is one of the sounds we work on. What our therapist does is give us sheets with words on them that begin with that sound. Then, we get sheets where that sound is in the middle of the word. Then, we get sheets where the sound is at the end of the word. There are usually at least 20 words per sheet. We go over them every day, and my daughter has to say the words correctly 5 times each. The therapist also plays board games with her. From the sounds of it [I don't see the therapy as I'm on the other side of a screen], she has to say a word with a particular sound 5 times before she can roll the dice for her turn. We also get sheets where we have our daughter tell us something about a place [the zoo, for example] that would encourage use of the sound we're working on.
My daughter is 5...and she didn't really start "correct" pronunciation of things like that until just recently. She has a funny little accent-but no spoeech impediment. It just took her awhile. My 8 yr old was the same-just took awhile. My 3 yr old has been a national debater since 6 mo old.... Each one is different. If you're really worried-take 10 mins a day and "play" with him on it. Make "l" faces and practice the sound "grrrrr" 'lllllll' that sort of thing (sounds like a pretty weird dinosaur game if you ask me....could be fun tromping around growling and "llllling".....
My son had trouble with L's (and R's), and I was told at the health clinic that that's not a worry unless it continues past age 7. He recently conquored it on his own, just before he turned six!
Modeling Hi, when my son was two he had to go to speech therapy. One of the approaches they used I now use with my daughter who is five since she has issues with 'r'. And that is modeling. When your child says the letter or doesn't for example 'ike' instead of 'like' you ask them 'Is it like or ike?' no chastising just straight and to the point. And then they may or may not repeat it to you. Or you can say 'Yes I Like that too.' I wouldn't worry some people master speech earlier then others and some never do my husband still has trouble with r and has to think about it. But his world moves on with him. Best of luck I know what a worry it can be. -Amber
