Everyone claims that boys tend to speak later than girls, and initially, I accepted that explanation for my son’s speech difficulties. However, my perspective shifted when I began to hear children younger than my 18-month-old son forming spontaneous sentences. These seemingly gifted kids effortlessly identified colors and numbers while I felt twinges of envy as friends shared their little ones’ impressive verbal feats.
I continued to read to him, even when he appeared disinterested, and tried to verbalize everything we did together. I imitated every sound he made and introduced baby sign language, allowing him to turn the pages of books, hoping some learning would happen through play. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem to work.
At his check-up, our pediatrician suggested we seek Early Intervention (EI) services, connecting us with a fantastic team of therapists at 606 Speech in Chicago, who diagnosed our son with an isolated speech delay. As he grew older, his frustration escalated. He would scream and cry, and at times of extreme distress, he would “plank,” his body stiffening in defiance of leaving the park. It became his sole method of expressing discontent against authority figures, including parents, grandparents, and relatives. Everyone desires to be heard, but our sweet boy struggled to find his voice.
Progress felt painfully slow despite attending therapy sessions twice a week. I loathed the repetitive speech exercises as much as he did; I didn’t want to force him into activities like blowing a whistle before he was ready. I longed to have fun with him instead, questioning whether my 40-hour work weeks were to blame, if it was my genetics, or if sleep training had any impact.
Gradually, however, my son began to mimic nearly everything he heard. By the time he was two-and-a-half, he started forming sentences regularly and even imitated reading. Friends and family were right: his vocabulary expanded rapidly. Eventually, he began articulating his needs clearly. Nowadays, I sometimes catch him in animated conversations with friends and can’t help but laugh.
It’s hard to believe he once faced a speech delay; witnessing his blossoming confidence is pure joy. Sometimes I can barely keep up with him as he exuberantly experiments with his words, even if it means splattering chocolate milk across the floor. This journey has taught me valuable lessons about overcoming challenges. Life may throw obstacles in his path, but I hope he always retains the courage to try and find his voice.
For those exploring similar journeys, consider checking out resources like Mayo Clinic’s guide on IVF or the insights from Make A Mom’s fertility booster to support your path to parenthood. You can also discover more about home insemination at Make A Mom’s BabyMaker.
In summary, the journey to speech development can be fraught with challenges, but with patience, support, and the right resources, progress is possible. Watching your child overcome obstacles and find their voice is a rewarding experience that every parent can cherish.
Keyphrase: speech delay in children
Tags: [“home insemination kit”, “home insemination syringe”, “self insemination”]