How clearly should an almost four year old speak?

[punkrockmama]

I know there's a range on everything they do. And that kid's will fall anywhere in between. But, I'm starting to get really curious.

Peyton's almost four. He talks a lot (a lot.). He's super smart, if I don't say so myself. Has amazing recall; this kid remembers stuff that even *I* don't remember, although that probably says more about me than him. ;) He's got a huge vocab and busts out some big words in his sentences. Basically, he's on point.

Anyway, he drops a lot of letters from words. Like snow is no. Volcano is just lcano. Remember is only 'member, etc..Oh and random weirdness, he says tomato with an accent. Like "toh-mah-toh" not "toh-may-toh" the way we do. You know, like the song. :)

I know little kid's speech isn't supposed to be perfect but like I said, I'm starting wonder. The little boy that he plays with doesn't have as many words as Peyton, but the ones he does are crystal clear. I know exactly what he's saying because I live with him. Other people constantly ask me "What did he say?".

Jim said that he had to have speech therapy when he was a kid. So you know, that probably is what got my wheels turning.

Thoughts? Should I chill? Or is it maybe not a bad idea to call somebody and get a eval?

Thanks!

[lizajane]

i went to speech therapy as a child, in elementary school. for a lisp. i might check with your public school system to see when you might want to get started, if at all. i don't think he is way out there or anything. but a little speech therapy wouldn't hurt.

[Raidra]

Colwyn had speech therapy from when he was 2-3 years old due to an articulation problem. If you see a pattern of leaving off only beginnings or endings of words, I'd call the school department and ask for an evaluation. Colwyn still has some trouble with blends (sp-, for example) and certain sounds like L's. When we stopped EI at 3, his therapist said that he definitely wouldn't qualify for services (he didn't at his 6 month reeval at 2.5, either, but they got a waiver for him), and not to worry unless he's 5 and hadn't picked up the sounds yet.

I can't imagine a way in which it would be *bad* to call and get an eval. They might say he's normal and not to worry, or they might want him to start services.

Oh, and as for accents.. I think that might just be a quirk from watching things on TV, or if he thinks he's trying to be funny. Colwyn plays a game with my mom where she pretends to be someone named Martha and uses a heavy accent, and whenever I try to say Martha's name without the accent, I get yelled at.