You see, there's been some problems with Noah's learning and development. On his second birthday he hardly spoke a word. To say we'd been slightly concerned is an understatement. But a recent visit with the Maternal Child and Health Nurse had me close to freaking out. Because I had another appointment the next month. To investigate further.
The prognosis was slightly better, but we visited a hearing clinic to make sure his hearing was okay. And at the next Maternal appointment has me holding a referral to an Occupational Therapist (because the Maternal Child Health Nurse won't be seeing him again until he's four).
So here I am. Hoping. Praying. Waiting. Teaching. And everytime he gestured at an item, I said it.
"Ball."
"Baw."
"Yes, that's right. Ball"
But then he never said it again.
It didn't make much sense. He crawled at six months, walked at 11 months, and is as bright as a spark. Just not in the area of communication. He pointed and said, "Eh" for pretty much everything.
Not long ago he was looking for me in the house, and was getting stressed. So he pulled out of the laundry basket the dress I wore the day before and took it to show to his Daddy.
"Eh?"
Doesn't that show some initiative? Doesn't that mean he knows who I am?
Apparently not. He didn't look me in the eye enough. He didn't build blocks. He had no interest in sitting long enough to listen to a story. He didn't say enough words.
But then weeks later he said, "Choo choo" when he saw Thomas on the TV. He suddenly became interested in the bedtime ritual (books!). Then he said, "Doggy" and "Woof Woof". Finally, he said those magic words: "Mumma".
And slowly it's developed. The word formation. The repeating of words. The volunteering of them, even.
"Bekpas." He says as he points to his cereal bowl yesterday.
"Yes, breakfast."
"PackPack."
"Yes, Makka Pakka."
It's early days, but with each word that is added to his small repoirtoire, there is a celebration that happens in my heart (and prayer of thanks). Which recently has been every. single. day.
Have you ever worried about your child's progress? What did you do about it?
my daughter is 4 and I still haven't heard a single word from her. It's been a battle with specialists and doctors to get her any help for the last 2.5 years.. I knew from 9 months that something was wrong and no-one listened. It's stressful.
ReplyDeleteI'm so so so glad that your lil man put it all together. I can imagine the joy and delight when he opened his lips and the words came out. Go Mumma!
That must be so stressful and my thoughts are with you and your little man. Hoping it is the second child syndrome where they don't need to speak because their sibling does it all for them.
ReplyDeleteHave you had your OT appointment yet?
Yes we had the same problem with Maya. We worried because at the same age she is now Elly was talking a lot more. Maya would just point at the things she wanted and grunt. It would get so frustrating because I had to constantly guess what she wanted. Thankfully she is now starting to say a few more words but no sentences as yet. I wonder if it's because big sister does most of the talking in the house. But I do understand the worry.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I are currently a little worried, but I don't know if we should be. My son *seems* to say "Yeah?" and sometimes "What" ...maybe & can shake his head yes or no, but those two words are really just me stretching the truth possibly because I'm not comfortable with the idea of him not saying any words yet when he's almost 15 months old. :(
ReplyDeleteOh no, that must've been devastating for you!
ReplyDeleteMy youngest had an immature hip that although was picked up at the 6 week check up, the dr's didn't decide til 9months to put her in the brace as the growth wasn't as good as they had hoped (kept putting it off for 3 months)... then just as she was starting to be mobile, they put the brace on! She's had it off for about 4 or so months now and at 18months old isn't walking yet. She cruises around but not independently.. I am not worried because my eldest only walked at 17 months and hubby and I were both late walkers but the maternal nurse has booked us in for physio because of the not walking issue... oh yeah, the appt we got is for 2 months later so DERR of course she'll be walking by then! Ridiculous ... if she isn't walking by the time bubba #3 arrives THEN I'll be worried!!! xo
I could feel your joy and relief through your post Kymmie. Well done little Noah!
ReplyDeleteHe is so adorable! It must be so exciting every time he says a new word. I do love that he used your dress to ask where you were. I think that's very clever.
ReplyDeleteif its any consolation I have 6 boys aged 34 months through to 22 years and theyve all been so very different..2 of our boys were able to talk in full clear sentences at 18 months..1 had speech therapy and Bennett our 34 month old is delayed in his speech..I took him to our paediatrician and because his comprehension is spot on he wasnt at all concerned..Bennett can only put a few words together and not a lot are clear..it is worrying and its hard not to compare with other children his age but I always remind myself that it was the turtle that won the race ;-) x
ReplyDeleteYour words sound so much like my SIL about my niece [SIL is her step-mum]... you can hear your every feeling through your post.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you have an amazing little man :)
Ohhhhh..... sounds like a breakthrough and that he was ready to speak when *he* felt like it.
ReplyDeleteThe comedian Michael McIntyre has a routine about his youngest son not speaking until he was three, and even then he just said 'Car' and 'No' !
I think one of the great things about a first kid is that you don't have any expectations of development (unless you spent your whole pregnancy reading books).
ReplyDeleteI just take it as it comes, but early on, the first two weeks, she wasn't gaining weight like she was supposed to. I had to express milk and feed her with a bottle after every breastfeed. I felt like it was my fault, like I'd done something wrong. But then she caught up, by a few months down the track she was a good weight and you'd never know there was a problem at the start.
I think it all pans out in the end.
And speaking of speech.... hopefully this will bring a smile to your face.... my bub has learnt the "uck" sound, and she's saying "guck" all the time. Sometimes it sounds like duck, sometimes like truck and fairly regularly it sounds like f***, which is just wrong coming out of a cute little baby :D
I think he's been taking notes, saving it all up and soon you are not going to be able to stop him talking.
ReplyDeleteI would have cried too, i'm sure he'll get there. Your love, patience and teaching are paying off.
OK, so my Lulu, who is 5 went through all that. barely any speech and then no one could understand her when she tried. Ears checked. assessment at 3.5, told 6mths behind but that is the bottom of normal. By 4 she was stuttering, speech assessment agreed on speech therapy, 1 on 1, amazing.
ReplyDeletea year later, (6 mths of speech)she is well and truly normal. that said she's a january baby and we made the call to hold her back so she'll start school when she's 6. I probably would have done that anyway, I believe in taking action, it's our job to give them the best chance isn't it. You'll do whats right.
How bloody gorgeous is your kid!
Love that he picked out your dress to show daddy. I agree, he seems clever, it's just taking him a little longer to find his words. That must be very stressful for you.
ReplyDeleteMy no.2 has lots of issues. We've worried about him since the day he arrived. He's had about a dozen hearing tests, 2 sets of grommets and now has permanent nerve deafness in his left ear.
My sister didn't talk until she was 3. Mum says our big brothers used to do everything for her, and interpret her grunts: I guess there was no need for her to speak. Once she started talking, she never stopped!
Try not to worry too much, just love the child in front of you and get the best advice you can. He'll get there. x
You know I am a speech pathologist right? Email me and i will send you some things to do at home x
ReplyDeleteseriously Kymmie, i read this post this afternoon and couldn't comment because I got all teary and emotional and really was a bit speechless. i felt like just ringing you and saying "yay - it's ok....i hope your ok, i hope it's all ok" but then, that sounded a bit naff....I just think....kids will do things in their own time, and it's so hard if, or maybe there is a little issue for them, or it's just their way of doing things. As a parent we celebrate the milestones of development as if it's our own. And really it is, as they are an extension of us...
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing a wonderful little slice of your life Kymmie
xx
Sounds like you have a terrific little boy,and he's lucky to have a caring Mother like you who's on the ball. It's only natural for us Mums to worry about our child's development, it never stops, there's always a new challenge. Isn't it wonderful though when they come out with new words, well done little fella and well done Mum:)Sam
ReplyDeleteDear Kym,
ReplyDeleteOh, Mumma is the best thing a child can ever mutter. I'm sure he will say a whole lot more in no time. Tight, tight hugs to you. I feel your pain and joy.
Love all the way from Manila,
Tey
Oh Kymmie, Noah is so beautiful, every pic I see of him I am just drawn to him, he's a darling. And poor you, going through this worry. At the moment I'm trying to work out whether I'm concerned or nonchalant about my 14 month old not walking yet. His older brother walked at 14 months, but it doesn't look like the little guy has any desire to walk on his own right now. Sometimes we just want them to fulfil the expectations we have of them, when really they're just individuals who will all do different things at different times. I'm so glad the vocabulary has started to flow for little Noah :o) xo
ReplyDeleteKymmie, I'm so sorry you have had such a fright - all children develop at different times, and it's horrible that if a child doesn't reach a certain milestone at a certain time, we need to worry. Our Joshie has been a bit behind socially and we're going to take him to see a developmental pediatrician just in case. But we do see progress each day, as small as it is! What a beautiful child Noah is - yes, you are blessed!
ReplyDeleteAnya's speech was delayed too. And having spina bifida, she had a high risk for learning disabilities. I knew this so I took her to a speech therapy right away. Spent lots of money for a month and all she did at the sessions was cry. So I pulled her out and she eventually talked before she turned 3. And now is a chatterbox. I hope your boy is just the same.
ReplyDeleteMy oldest Oliver did not speak till he was 2, we dragged him to a Speachie and a OT, ear guy eye guy had his eye and ears operated on ( made NO DIFFERENCE!!!!) by the time he was 4, and by the age of 5 he was well back on track, now at the age of 7 he is the brightest kid in his class and talk that he is gifted, if it makes any difference ( and I know not much does )- Einstein did not talk till very late in his life!!!
ReplyDeletehey
ReplyDeletefrom what you describe I'm sure in the this next year, his language skills will be exploding and you and him will be having the most cutest conversations.
take care
Through my job I've seen so many children develop at such different stages. I can completely understand your concern, and I'm so glad to see that your little boy is making progress. Miss A only said 'Mumma' for the first time last week, and she's almost two, where as I nanny for a boy of 18 months who can already put four words together in a row. Every child is uniquely different and special. Hugs to you my friend. xx
ReplyDeleteI read this post yesterday and today and I cried both times. I think the minute he said Mumma would have made those tears falls ... just wonderful!
ReplyDeleteKymmie, this post I very much relate to. Mummy... that golden word happend for us just last week {age 2 years 8 months} and I cried too!
ReplyDeleteOT and development are big topics in our home, for both our kids, both now diagnosed with Autism. We spend every day working with them helping them with the hope they will overcome their challenges.
P.S We love Makka Pakka too but haven't verbalised that yet, my son laughs himself silly when we say it though! x
I'm told that my husband was like that when he was little. Didn't talk until he was ready...then you couldn't shut him up! Very bright, intelligent-seeming, all that. But, one day, he just started talking. A doctor told his parents that maybe his brain was going too fast for his mouth, and all finally got into sync.
ReplyDeleteAdorable little boy!