When we last left off this whole blogging thing a year ago, I talked about Austin's speech picking up and that he was really starting to build his vocabulary. Which he was, but most of his words were in "Austin language" and not the actually words. For instance, there were several variations of "Da" which meant anything from down to done to ball. The variations were consistent between words, so we counted them. Abby was Ay-yah and book was buh. We didn't really think much of it because he was consistent and he was still young.
But, time went on and those words started to run together and most importantly, he lost, "Ay-yah." Momma, Dada, uh-oh, done and (oddly) tickle were the only words he used on a consistent basis. There was always babbling, but Austin lost interest in assigning his babbles to any meaning. Coincidentally, around this time there was a boom in his physical abilities. He was running, climbing, running and tumbling. He had also gained a lot of fine motor skills and he was able to open doors and pretty much do and get whatever he needed to do. He didn't really need to talk, and he was pretty good at using motion and sounds to get across his points when he needed too.
We figured he would just be a late talker, but since Abby was always so verbal, it was hard not to compare. Everything I read said not to worry about things until he was two.* Around 20 months Dan said enough, call the doctor. I also had a friend whose son was dealing with apraxia,** so I called the doctor. While he was hesitant, and told me there was absolutely nothing mentally wrong with my son, he gave me a referral to speech therapy, saying "if Mom is worried, I should trust Mom."***
Off to speech we went. They did an eval and basically said it was just a developmental delay. Also, they said he's stubborn and much more interested in doing things by himself than having anyone help him. For the first four months, I kinda felt like I was wasting my money. The therapist would play toys with him and try to get him to mimic her. Basically, I paid $35 for someone else to play with him (the exact same way I did) for 30 minutes. Somewhere towards the end of the second month, Austin finally "got" the concept of talking and communication. PROGRESS!!! Still no more words or sounds, but he was rearranging the sounds he did know to better communicate his wants and needs.
I kept bringing up apraxia, grasping for some explanation as to why my kid still wasn't talking. However, since there was obviously no gross or fine motor delays they wouldn't go there.**** The best explanation they could come up with (other than the whole independence, ie. stubborn, thing) was all of his ear infections. He had a bad string of infections, even after the tube surgery, that occurred right around the time most kids are learning their basic sounds (B, P, M, D and vowels). He had Momma down and was pretty good with D sounds, but he couldn't get B, P or most vowel sounds.
Fast forward to 2 or 3 weeks ago....he's finally getting it. He has pretty much mastered B and P, though he's still not combining them with a vowel, and he is growing his M usage. Today he had his official speech evaluation (apparently this can't be done until 2 at the earliest, which really makes me feel like I wasted money the last four months) and he did pretty well. He tried all the sounds asked of him, and even said 2 new ones (N, W). The speech therapist has officially ruled out apraxia, as his speech mistakes were consistent.*****
So, that's where we stand. He's picking up a new work every few days now. (This week it's been Pop and something similar to Tick-tock Crock) He also loves to fill in a word or two when reading favorite books- particularly Max, claws and hot from Where the Wild Things Are. He's also started trying to mimic tone changes, which really helps us figure out what he's trying to say. Most of all, he seems proud of himself and his new skills. At his two year check his doctor said some kids don't hit their speech surge until between 2-2 1/2. Until then, we'll just keep working on it!
*Try telling my husband not to worry. Have you ever met him?!?
** I don't know a ton about it, but it's a condition where a child has difficulty forming sounds. Usually there is some motor delay involved as well.
*** This is why I LOVE our pediatrician. We go to a large group practice and initially I was turned off because I had somehow gotten on the track with the old men doctors and they made some mistakes. Then, thanks to Austin having a cold on the weekend, we found out current doctor. I see other people in the practice, but when I need advice, he's my go-to.
**** A child has to be 3 to get an actual diagnosis, but often times at 2 there is suspected apraxia and they can begin treating them.
***** Apparently a child with apraxia will be very inconsistent when forming sounds. They know what the sounds is, they just have difficulty grasping a hold of it and mix up sounds and letters.
We figured he would just be a late talker, but since Abby was always so verbal, it was hard not to compare. Everything I read said not to worry about things until he was two.* Around 20 months Dan said enough, call the doctor. I also had a friend whose son was dealing with apraxia,** so I called the doctor. While he was hesitant, and told me there was absolutely nothing mentally wrong with my son, he gave me a referral to speech therapy, saying "if Mom is worried, I should trust Mom."***
Off to speech we went. They did an eval and basically said it was just a developmental delay. Also, they said he's stubborn and much more interested in doing things by himself than having anyone help him. For the first four months, I kinda felt like I was wasting my money. The therapist would play toys with him and try to get him to mimic her. Basically, I paid $35 for someone else to play with him (the exact same way I did) for 30 minutes. Somewhere towards the end of the second month, Austin finally "got" the concept of talking and communication. PROGRESS!!! Still no more words or sounds, but he was rearranging the sounds he did know to better communicate his wants and needs.
I kept bringing up apraxia, grasping for some explanation as to why my kid still wasn't talking. However, since there was obviously no gross or fine motor delays they wouldn't go there.**** The best explanation they could come up with (other than the whole independence, ie. stubborn, thing) was all of his ear infections. He had a bad string of infections, even after the tube surgery, that occurred right around the time most kids are learning their basic sounds (B, P, M, D and vowels). He had Momma down and was pretty good with D sounds, but he couldn't get B, P or most vowel sounds.
Fast forward to 2 or 3 weeks ago....he's finally getting it. He has pretty much mastered B and P, though he's still not combining them with a vowel, and he is growing his M usage. Today he had his official speech evaluation (apparently this can't be done until 2 at the earliest, which really makes me feel like I wasted money the last four months) and he did pretty well. He tried all the sounds asked of him, and even said 2 new ones (N, W). The speech therapist has officially ruled out apraxia, as his speech mistakes were consistent.*****
So, that's where we stand. He's picking up a new work every few days now. (This week it's been Pop and something similar to Tick-tock Crock) He also loves to fill in a word or two when reading favorite books- particularly Max, claws and hot from Where the Wild Things Are. He's also started trying to mimic tone changes, which really helps us figure out what he's trying to say. Most of all, he seems proud of himself and his new skills. At his two year check his doctor said some kids don't hit their speech surge until between 2-2 1/2. Until then, we'll just keep working on it!
*Try telling my husband not to worry. Have you ever met him?!?
** I don't know a ton about it, but it's a condition where a child has difficulty forming sounds. Usually there is some motor delay involved as well.
*** This is why I LOVE our pediatrician. We go to a large group practice and initially I was turned off because I had somehow gotten on the track with the old men doctors and they made some mistakes. Then, thanks to Austin having a cold on the weekend, we found out current doctor. I see other people in the practice, but when I need advice, he's my go-to.
**** A child has to be 3 to get an actual diagnosis, but often times at 2 there is suspected apraxia and they can begin treating them.
***** Apparently a child with apraxia will be very inconsistent when forming sounds. They know what the sounds is, they just have difficulty grasping a hold of it and mix up sounds and letters.
Jax gets in-home services from Chesterfield County for an hour once a week (I don't think Keri has to pay anything since it's through the oounty)... they suspect apraxia but as you mentioned won't say anything for sure until he's 2. (He's 20 months now) He runs (fast!) and climbs, no tumbling though...he can take off a cap from a highlighter and put it back on. Nothing wrong with gross or fine motor... I thought maybe Jax's speech delay is due to his marathon of teething- this kid has had all of his teeth for a couple months now. Or maybe because Jax doesn't NEED to say anything since he's surrounded by so many adults all the time just anticipating all his wants.
ReplyDeleteSo we're all learning some simple signs to help him communicate and trying to make him ask for something before we hand it to him, etc....and hoping that he starts saying words soon!