A child under three is expected to have unclear speech.

When children first start speaking, they can only use a small range of sounds so many words are unclear. E.g. "tat" for cat, "dun" for sun, "dain" for train.

You can help your child get clearer speech by:

• Encouraging good chewing when eating

• Reducing dummy use to bed time only

• Drinking from an open top cup

• Saying words clearly for your child but don’t make your child repeat

• Encouraging your child to be a confident talker by responding to what they say not how they say it

• Reducing background noise e.g. turn the telly off
  
  
  

If most of the words your child says are unclear by the time your child is three or your child is very frustrated by not being able to communicate, you can contact the children's speech and language therapy department to discuss you concerns.

Speech and Language Therapy Helpline: 01208 834488 (this is a call back service and your details will be taken and your call returned by a qualified speech and language therapist.

Good games to play: Listening games

• Go on a "listening walk" and talk to your child about the sounds you can hear

• Matching sound games with shakers and pots and pans

• Sing songs and say rhymes together with your child

And finally… a word about lisps. Don’t worry about lisping or "th" sounds until your child has their second teeth.

For more information contact:

Speech and Language Therapy
Carew House, Beacon Technology Park, Bodmin, PL31 2QN
Tel: 01208 834488