Warning... I'm going to break a blog "code of ethics." I'm not going to brag about my child, and I'm going to be honest. Gasp! Sometimes I feel like I'm writing about how fabulous everything is at my house and with my kids, when in actuality, most of the time, my house is a mess, the television is on too much, and my kids don't always behave (or rarely, for that matter). Now that I've got you all depressed, let me explain one of my greatest frustrations for the last few months.Chase has been 2 for a month now, and we are still having a hard time getting him to talk--like a really hard time. He's had his hearing tested, and I had him tested for autism, since I know that slow talking is a sign of that. Luckily, both came back okay. He started speech therapy about a month ago, and I guess I thought I'd see instant results, but so far, we haven't accomplished anything. We talk to him all day, and he understands everything we say, but he's not talking back. So far, he knows the words balloon, ball, mama and dad, but even those, he doesn't use all the time. I've heard many people say that he will talk when he wants to, but as his mom, I worry that he's falling behind. He just doesn't seem to have any interest in talking.
I think sometimes as moms, we find ourselves comparing our children to other children. For me, it's hard to see other kids his age speaking in sentences and communicating with their parents, when all we are getting is grunts back from Chase.
I know in the grand scheme of things, a slow talker isn't the biggest deal, but for the time being, it's pretty frustrating. I love my little trouble maker, and I just want the best for him.
Have any of you had any similar experiences?
**I just reread this. I sound seriously depressing. Sorry! I promise to have only happy posts for the rest of the month.
7 comments:
Big hugs to you!! Being a mom is so stressful. There is always something to worry about. With that said, I know of a few people who have experienced this. My brother-in-law who is now 30 was a late talker. I think he was 2 1/2 before he started talking, and now he is fine. I have two friends now who have children with speech delays. One is the same age as Chase. She just turned two in September and also just started speech therapy in the past month. I'm not sure how that is going for them so far. The other child just turned 5 and has been doing speech therapy for a few years. She also has him in a preschool that specializes in speech development so that he will be on track to start kindergarten next year. My friend says it has helped tremendously. If anything, at least these will help you not feel so alone!!! And it's totally ok to vent.
With a mom like you, he will be just fine. The fact that you are so worried shows what an amazing job you are doing. Every child is different!
Talmage was a very slow walker and I felt many of the same things as you. It is so hard not to let it discourage you. I think you are doing great because you are looking for answers. Tal just caught up and graduated from the early intervention program, and I am so glad he got the extra help he needed. There is a post on our blog about it a few months ago. Hang in there Ashley, you are doing great.
Well you know I'm going through the very same thing with dax. He says mom and dad all the time as clear as day. Sometimes, when he feels like it he says hi, ball, and bye. I get so frustrated too......he just screams most of the time to get what he wants. My mom keeps reminding me that my nephew didn't say a word until he was almost 3 and a half and then was just fine. Maybe we just need to be patient??
First I don't think you should apologize for being honest. Personally I think blogs that only show the "perfect" side of their life and/or family are phony. I appreciate blogs and moms that I can relate too.
I think you are doing the right thing by being proactive and concerned but I am sure that he will be just fine. I am sure it gets frustrating though. I wonder if teaching him signs for things like snack, eat, more, etc. would help. I have done that with my kids and it has been great. Good luck!
Ashley, Im sure everything is fine. Jett has a lot of friends around that age that don't talk either, and their parents are worried too. I'm not an expert but I think that kids talk when they need to. It sounds like you understand everything he wants to say right now- and when you don't he will probably learn to talk! Hang in there!!
Oh Ashley, I seriously wish I had your number so I could call you right now. This is exactly what I am going through with my Thatcher. Thatcher is going to be three in July and has been having therapy for over a year. It started out with OT but is now transitioning into Speech Therapy because he is finally making some sounds when prompted. He also says bubble, ball, and mom and dad (mom and dad are only when he is sad and crying) He can say a few other b words like bus and boat but that is pretty much it. When he started therapy I thought for sure he would be talking in a couple months. Not so.
He has made progress along the way but I just always thought he would wake up one day talking. ONe of the factors for him is that he has "low-tone" in his cheeks, That means his muscles have a really hard time forming the appropriate way to make different sounds. In his case he really won't just wake up one day and talk it has more to do with the fact that his face really doesn't know how to use the muscles the right way and he has to learn how to do that.
He too understands everything we say and he responds with different grunts, it kind of freaks me out that I understand what his different grunts mean. He knows a few signs which helps and I always make him say the sounds I know he can say and I always prompt him with the appropriate response even when he grunts, "Thatcher wants a drink" and such.
I can't tell you how much I understand what you are going through. He has been having four sessions a week right now because the OT is still coming until January and the Speech Therapist started in November. Sometimes he has really good sessions and i am so excited and hopeful, but there have been a lot of times along the way that I am just convinced the kid is never going to talk. I really can't imagine him ever telling me a whole sentence let alone two words together.
Anyway, I could go on and on, If you want to talk call me. 732-903-7721 I would love to hear from ya.
Maria
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