I am going to make this very brief as possible. I am a father of 3, 2 girls and a boy. My son is the last of them all and now almost 4 years but I have been noticing this in him when he was supposed to start talking he started but the words coming out of his mouth isn't that always well pronounced which was a usual sign when any child is starting to call out words ( supposedly ).

But as he grows older that still persist and I find it not appealing at all, that was brought me here to seek your help in finding a lasting solution to this.

As example: If he wants to call daddy, he'll say tati.

And also he's not always feeling so courageous to express himself most times. In the process of giving a listening ears by drawing him closer to listen to him carefully his voice keeps going down and not wanted to talk with me or ever her mother again. He feels we're asking him to many times a question and so many others.

I don't know how best to explain what is happening to him right now but I really want him out of these because his age mates or even younger kids out there have more clarity in the speeches than my son. And his elder siblings never experienced this.

God bless us all, God bless NL.

CC: lalasticlala, seun

Teach your son how to read.

Your son does not have to be like the others.
Your job is to continue to give him confidence through his challenge.

Teach him lovingly, don't openly express your concerns to him.

Encourage him and tell him as often as possible the great guy
he will turn out to be.

I had similar fear for my last child (for now) a girl. All of a sudden,
the girl is just too hot to handle. Her teachers just love her.

Show him love and you will see the changes.

And if you strongly feel it is a disability, talk to a consultant.

Speech therapist. Unfortunately, 99% of Nigerian doctors are idiots who won't take you seriously. Travel out

Might be hereditary, seeing that you don't know how to use him for male and her for female correctly. He probably will pick up.

Sir.. please go and sit down and leave that boy alone.. There's nothing wrong with him.. just 3yrs , what do u want him to talk about at that age? Compering him with other kids is gonna be a big mistake u will be making as a parent.. is he competing with anyone? Is he not unique in his own way?

Assuming he was talking too much @ the age of 3, you would have been here again to say that your son pronounces everything under the planet, and you will be asking if it was normal...

I bet you would want him to graduate from the university @ 13.. and get a mouth watering job @ 15.. you are a good example of Y2K parent... but hey don't take my word for it.. if u have cash to hand over to someone for no reason, just look for a speech therapist.. he/she will help you spend your excess money.. he/she might figure out what to have a 3yrs old kid to pronounce.. since he will be doing his convocation at 13 from the university of Lagos ..

OP, from what you shared it is likely a speech disorder called dislalia. I have a neighbour whose son is 6 and was reflecting what your son is currently exhibiting, friends and family were saying the boy will outgrow it when it was detected years back but nothing changed and adversely affecting the boy until earlier this year they went to see a speech therapist, the boy is presently undergoing speech therapy and there is a marked difference. Seek professional help as it is also affecting your son emotionally.

budaatum:
Teach your son how to read.

Simple

zed7:
Might be hereditary, seeing that you don't know how to use him for male and her for female correctly. He probably will pick up.

CORRECTED

God bless you for this I will have to visit my doctor as soon as possible for his own advise too

Pavore9:
OP, from what you shared it is likely a speech disorder called dislalia. I have a neighbour whose son is 6 and was reflecting what your son is currently exhibiting, friends and family were saying the boy will outgrow it when it was detected years back but nothing changed and adversely affecting the boy until earlier this year they went to see a speech therapist, the boy is presently undergoing speech therapy and there is a marked difference. Seek professional help as it is also affecting your son emotionally.

Take him to a doctor
Guy don suppose know how to talk

As someone rightly suggested, seek the opinion and service of a speech therapist, as this might be an impairment that he might not overcome if left unattended to. I so hate how Nigerians often think we have to leave some things unattended to when it comes to developmental delay with the hope that kids will outgrow them . it doesn't always work. it fact it rarely does. seek medical help and hopefully this turns out great.
as usual love him endlessly and do not let others make joke of him . don't let him sense your worry about this as this will dampen his self esteem and he won't want to try. talk to his teacher about been patients , too.

I love your boy already.

If he is perfectly healthy as certified by a doctor. You need not border yourself as some children doesn't do things fast incomparison to others. Secondly, You need to create a way to mix him up with other children. I.e. school, etc. Thirdly, you said he speaks but don't pronounce correctly/clearly. This might be as a result of parents, relative, friends, etc that do intentionally wrongly pronounce words to him in mockery. He might see it as the right way. Speak to him properly & frequently & see him copy you. Though, you might need to check his under tongue. Some don't raise properly.

Rest your mind sir, your son is an introvert, he's a genius in the making. I for one started talking at the age of 4.

I hope the job offer will be opened for me, seeing that I am a speech therapist, a paediatrician and a pediatric nurse/social worker all encased in one flesh.
A fvcking 3 year old that is still battling with autonomy. Lawd!!!! with what you posted, the poor chap is already leaning towards guilt by clamping up. Guilt in a toddler is a negative spectrum as depicted by Erik Erickson in one of his famous developmental theories.
Get stimulating videos , play materials that talks and let him be.
Once he is certified OK, please stop rubbing it in or your inquisition may cause him to develop social anxiety or even selective mutism.

Please confirm if he is tongue tied. Happens like that with tongue tied kids

Check for tongue tie pls?just like in this picture.It can make Their words sound incoherent.

Pls take him for check up.

zed7:
Might be hereditary, seeing that you don't know how to use him for male and her for female correctly. He probably will pick up.

.

Oga madam, calm down na

He is still a baby. At that age, children must certainly mispronounce words dome even as late as 5-6 years. It is still too early to draw any conclusions now.Correct him and make him listen to your own pronunciations slowly. Read to him, and try to let him read too. This is why Audio-visuals for kids come into play, those CDs are very helpful.
About his shyness, your kid might just be reserved. Introversion is usually inherent so there is little or nothing you can do about it.

IMASTEX:
If he is perfectly healthy as certified by a doctor. You need not border yourself as some children doesn't do things fast incomparison to others. Secondly, You need to create a way to mix him up with other children. I.e. school, etc. Thirdly, you said he speaks but don't pronounce correctly/clearly. This might be as a result of parents, relative, friends, etc that do intentionally wrongly pronounce words to him in mockery. He might see it as the right way. Speak to him properly & frequently & see him copy you. Though, you might need to check his under tongue. Some don't raise properly.

Not true! Most nigerian doctors do not have the knowledge to handle such cases, so they tell you: "madam, don't worry, he will speak with time". Child needs Speech Pathology, if you ask me.

LadySarah:
Check for tongue tie pls?just like in this picture.It can make Their words sound incoherent.

Pls take him for check up.

Seconded was also about telling him same!

ahnie:

Seconded was also about telling him same!

Thirded! Was also about typing same. @ Op, have you checked if your son is tongue tied or not

Buy some kids books and be reading it to him. Gradually he will pick up the sounds and also be able to repeat them..
Be patient and don't rush

Visit your nearest paediatrician, there are a number of reasons responsible for speech disorders in children

Pls take the child to ENT Clinic in any good teaching hospital. He will be examined properly. The doctors there are specialists .

This is the best reply so far.please check if he has tongue tie. Go and get it removed quickly.

am very sure the baby has tongue tie.You will not listen now and go and find solution. Its not expensive .
I rest my case. I don't want to talk much I beg.

4tunebest:

Thirded! Was also about typing same. @ Op, have you checked if your son is tongue tied or not

Fourthed....
Babes it's been ages ... howdy?

ahnie:

Fourthed....
Babes it's been ages ... howdy?

Very well dear. How's zino and her bro?

4tunebest:


Very well dear. How's zino and her bro?

They're excellent ...thanks regards to you and yours!