<p>Do you remember the kid in like, first grade who talked like Elmer Fudd? That's me, except I'm seventeen. I have a couple speech defects just due to being born early, like cluttering, but the one that gets me in the most trouble is my inablility to pronounce my 'r's. I was never eligible to get speech therapy because I went to public school and because I was in the gifted pull-out program people thought I was smart enough to fix it myself (and that's another rant...). I've had a lot of problems with the college process because I'm talking to so many new people -usually I just don't talk much, only to people I know- and they either can't understand me (saying something along the lines of "what's a wuk study, hon?" followed by me attempting to say it about five times, all variations of wawuk and wok- I can't even spell it out, because it turns out 'double u, oh, ah, kay') or think that I'm snobby because I talk with a fake British accent (which is how I modulate my voice so I'm basically coherent). Then I start stuttering and cluttering and the admissions person gives up, probably thinking I'm a gibbering idiot with a stupid fake accent. My parents have been asked, in front of me, whether I'm autistic (I'm not). People used to say I'd grow out of it, but I haven't. </p>
<p>Does anyone know if speech defects can be treated this late? I can't do interviews for scholarships and I'm afraid that my speech problems will really hurt me later in life.</p>
<p>It is not too late. It will require lots of drill and work but you will see improvement. Get a diagnosis from a speech pathologist. Perhaps your health plan will cover this. Depending on what you state laws are you may still be eligible for free speech therapy through the school system. You may have to have your parents push hard for services.</p>
<p>I don't know how to make a smiley wink thing so imagine that after my next statement. Go to college in the Boston area. They are used to having Rs mangled. (My daughter couldn't say her Rs either. She told everyone it was because she was born in Boston.)</p>
<p>I had the same speech problem (with the r's) until i was in 7th grade. I went to a public school but still had a theripist.</p>
<p>One drill that really helped me is she would put a stretchy thing (physical rehab band) over my chin and pull back when i pronounce my R's. But i didn't really start to fix it untill i would just practice, and practice, and practice,</p>
<p>Everytime I walked my dog i would say Good Girl, until i was satisfied with it and when my mom's friend called (Rita) I would practice it all the time</p>
<p>There are so many r sounds ur, er, ar, or, R just focus on one then build</p>
<p>I am a stutterer as well, I have been all my life and my problem is genetic. I will never be able to stop stuttering, only attempt to control it... I've had speech therapy all my life. It still hasn't helped me. If you have something important to say, it's been my experience that people will slow down and wait for you to say it. And yes, you are probably eligible for free speech therapy in public schools - as I said I've been getting it all my life.</p>
<p>Your speech problems will NOT hurt you later in life... many extremely successful people (including TV personalities and even people famous for speaking, like Winston Churchill) have also had speech defects. Speech therapy will help you to see this and how to control your speech and perceptions of what people are thinking about you... that is the only way I believe therapy can (and does!) actually help.</p>