Speech is one of the areas of Micah's disability that I never gave a thought to when he was a newborn and I was reeling with all the scenarios that could be. It didn't factor in, for the most part, because I didn't realize that it was part of the disability. That's how little I knew about Down syndrome.
It's been a major learning curve over the past 6 years.
Not having any sort of navigational tools in this strange new world that I have landed in, I'm free to invent ending scenarios to my largest dreams and worst nightmares. Since speech is one of the dream/nightmare things that we deal with, I've frequently wondered just how, exactly, Micah would start talking.
Would he begin speech like my other kids did, and start with baby babble? Even if he's 8 when he starts to talk?
Would he simply start spitting out whole words, or maybe even sentences, because he knows exactly what he wants to say and finally figured out how to say it?
Turns out that neither of those scenarios are accurate. Micah missed the entire baby babble stage, and not once did he do the uber cute mama or dada or anything remotely close. Instead, he's working on words. And yet, his whole "I can't talk" mojo is a serious hindrance. So even though he's recently mastered saying the name of his brother, Josh, it's more like Gossssh.
Cute, no?
And he says entire sentences, like I love you. Sometimes you've gotta listen closely to catch the meaning of his words, and other times it's semi-clear. The boy has been working overtime in the speech and language department this past year. I'm always amazed at the things he does, and maybe that's because I never know what to expect from him. Will he? Won't he? Could he? Should I expect that? There just aren't any answers, so we let Micah take the lead.
I can't wait to hear what he wows us with this year.
14 comments:
Did I tell you that Meghan never babbled either? And like Micah, you have to listen closely to (hopefully) figure it out.
I love hearing about Micah's speech...and really everything. Maybe you can share about his classroom sometime. Is all of this therapy at school? How is the communication between you and the therapists?
"I love you"? That's awesome.
I can't wait to see what Micah does this year, either. He's turned into such a big kid! So cool for all of you.
Out of curiosity, did you watch Desperate Housewives this weekend?
What are you eating Micah?
He had me at the 'I love you'.
"i love you"???
that would do it for me.
I suspect 2010 is going to be a big year for Micah - in so many different ways!
Annette - he gets therapy 3x weekly, both at school and at Easter Seals. The school where he goes is interesting. I seriously need to ask to volunteer there.
That's great!! Max likes to say WOW as well. It really sounds like Micah is starting like Max did. Max still does not say a lot (word wise) but he does have several words on his list.
Slowly.... and hopefully surely!
He's such a bright kid. And the fact that he's working hard to be understood is awesome. I'm guessing it's because of the talking device and the realization that it was possible to somehow BE understood? What a sweetie he is.
He is getting so big!!! I can't believe it! And saying "i love you" and "wow"!! I love how he says, "Gossssh" that is adorable!
If he can say "I love you," that's about 90% of what he needs to have in his vocabulary. He's on amazing kid.
Wow I seriously could cry. It never ceases to amaze me that the accomplishments of children like Micah can mean so much-more. Just getting the voice box and all that has happened this past year and to finally HEAR "I love you." Well, that just takes the cake.
Go Micah! I just love that boy!
Great job Micah. It's funny, cool, whatever when kids are sporadic speech learners. Two steps forward. One back. And then a huge LEAP.
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