It is commonly believed that boys tend to develop speech later than girls. Initially, I accepted this reasoning as the cause of my son Liam’s speech difficulties. However, as I began to notice children younger than my 18-month-old son forming spontaneous sentences and articulating colors and numbers with ease, I felt a wave of insecurity wash over me. Friends shared their little ones’ phrases, and I couldn’t help but feel fleeting jealousy.
Despite my son’s apparent disinterest, I continued reading to him and attempted to verbalize every activity we engaged in together. I mimicked his sounds and introduced baby sign language, allowing him to turn the pages of his books in hopes that he would absorb the words through play. Unfortunately, progress was minimal.
During a routine check-up, our pediatrician suggested we reach out to Early Intervention (EI) services. We were connected with an exceptional team of therapists at 606 Speech in Chicago, who diagnosed Liam with an isolated speech delay.
As Liam grew older, his frustration intensified. He would scream and yell, and I often found myself in tears. On days when he felt particularly overwhelmed, he would stiffen his body and resist leaving the park, a tactic that became his only means of asserting control over his surroundings. It was evident that he wanted to be heard; however, he struggled to find the words.
Despite attending therapy sessions twice a week, progress felt agonizingly slow. I despised the speech exercises, often feeling like I was forcing Liam to blow a whistle when he wasn’t ready. I longed for more joyful moments together and began to question if my full-time job was a contributing factor, or if it was simply in his DNA. Was sleep training to blame?
Gradually, around the age of two-and-a-half, Liam began to mimic nearly everything he heard. He started to form sentences and even pretended to read. My friends and family were right—his vocabulary flourished rapidly.
Eventually, Liam’s ability to communicate blossomed. He now articulates his desires clearly, and I often find myself chuckling as I overhear his lively conversations with friends. It’s difficult to believe there was ever a time when he faced speech challenges. Witnessing his growing confidence is a true delight, even if it means cleaning up chocolate milk spills after his enthusiastic speech exercises.
This journey has been a valuable lesson in resilience and determination. Life will present challenges, but I hope Liam never loses the confidence to speak up and express himself.
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Summary
The journey of helping a child with speech delays can be challenging and emotionally taxing. Through early intervention and consistent support, children can overcome these obstacles and develop their communication skills. This experience not only builds resilience in children but also strengthens the bond between parent and child.
Keyphrase: speech delay in children
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