As most of you know I've been worrying about Grace's speech for a while now. Mainly her articulation. I talked to the pediatrician on her 2nd birthday and he didn't seem worried and told me that you are only suppose to understand a certain percentage of what kids say at this age. And that as that get older things come more clear. Okay...
So I tried to put it out of my mind. But whenever I'm around kids her age (or younger) and they are speaking VERY well its hard to get out of my mind. I just want her to sound as smart as I know she. Her comprehension is great! I started noticing this summer that she was leaving the ends off of most words. I only knew what she was trying to say because of the context of what we were doing, talking about. Basically any word that ends in a consonant she leaves it off. Even simple words like "dog", come out "daw" with no "g". Does that make sense?
I had basically decided we would just keep doing things at home... you know reading books, talking a lot about we are doing, going places to give her lots of different experienc... and wait until closer to her 3rd birthday, but it was still bothering me.
Then Grace started preschool about 6 weeks ago. They sent home a paper that if you wanted you could have your child tested by Early Childhood Intervention (ECI). So of course I signed the permission slip and wrote down my concerns. Sure enough she failed her evaluation.
Which I knew would probably happen, but at first I was really sad. I guess knowing that something (even this small) is wrong with your baby is hard to take. I quickly came to my senses and realized that its only speech and TOTALLY correctable, plus she is only 2!
So now we are having a full evaluation done in a little under 2 weeks. If she fails that then we will have some type of speech therapy probably a couple times a week. Which I'm sort of excited about... is that bad. I think it will be fun and I'm sure Grace will enjoy it.
So here is where you are suppose to jump in and tell me all these amazing stories how your child was a little difficult to understand and now they are making all A's and on their way to become a doctor. :)
- Lisa
- Hi, I'm Lisa! I live in Texas where I was born and raised. I am married to the most wonderful man, Adam, who is my college sweetheart! I use to work in Human Resources doing benefits, but after my beautiful daughter, Grace, was born in February of 2006 I decided to become a Stay-at-home Mom. We had our second daughter, Emma, in March of 2008 and our third and final little girl, Layla, in March of 2011. We feel wonderful blessed to have three little girls running around our house! So here is a little taste of what a day is like in my shoes. ENJOY!
My girls
15 comments:
It is probably just her brain thinking faster than she can talk. She has more she wants to say so she doesn't wait to finish a word.
Cody and Cade both started talking really early. Cody has always been able to talk well but he used to put a "t" at the end of every word that ended with an "n". I don't know what it was and I was worried at first. This lasted until just a few months ago. I think they eventually grow out of these things...it's something you'll miss when she doesn't do it anymore. :)
Lisa,
It is very common for children to need speech therapy. As long as you have a good therapist, she will be fine! Keep your head up, and pray! I'll be praying for you, too!
Hey, a lot of the same stuff I noticed about Noah with delayed speech....it's a long story but so similar that I'm going to email you.
Okay my brother is a total dummy and he graduated from harvard so I really wouldn't worry about it :-)
Grace is smart and you know it as well as I do.
This is totally common. Some of the smartest kids in my classes had speech problems. Some kids just don't hear certain sounds until they are older and it can take up until they are about 8 years old I believe in some cases. It is good that you are getting her to a speech therapist this early!
I agree with everyone else- it is very common and fixable. My brother had issues and got some therapy, but not until he was closer to 8 or 9 yrs old. I thought Chandler had some issues, but then when he started preschool all those problems went away. Maybe the long she is with other kids in school- it'll fix itself?
Early intervention is definitely the key! :) At 18 months Christopher was not talking AT ALL! Really...his situation was a little different because it was linked to his hearing, but he wasn't even babbling. :( So, when evaluated at 18 months his speech was on a 0-3 month level! He received services from ECI and by the age of 3 you would have NEVER known that he had ever had "speech issues"! It's pretty amazing! We had a FABULOUS therapist who really helped and gave us ideas on what to be doing at home too. If you want evidence that everything will be okay...find a video of Christopher on our blog...he sounds great and doesn't stop talking! :)
shea
Leigh can offer a lot of insight about speach delay, evaluations and therapy. Her son was experiencing speach delays at one time. I'm sure your & Adam's early intervention, pesistance and patience will reap rewards for Grace. go ahead...get EXCITED!!!
xx...Beebee
My kid has a lisp.
I had Jack evaulated by ECI over the summer because he had a little stutter and lisp. Apparently it was something he would grow out of, and since has, so he didn't qualify. I am so happy that I had him evaluated though and I LOVED the therapists that evaluated him. He had a blast getting all that attention and playing with them. Overall, it was a VERY positive experience!
Hi hon. I just wanted to let you know that Elijah uses ECI for several of his therapies; physical, developmental and speech. They are SOOOOOOO wonderful! So if you have any questions I would be more than happy to help you in any way. Hang in there, shes going to do/be fantastic!
She is going to excel, that is just Gracie... she is so smart it will take someone telling her how to do it right 1 time and she will get it!
love you all
Alanna was behind in her speech when she got her tubes in last year. Early On came out to our house once a month...This last week was their last visit because they only go to the age of 3 and Alanna will be 3 next month. We enjoyed having them out and became really close with our "teacher" Alanna is so sad to not see them anymore...Its an awesome program and you should be happy if she does qualify! Its a good thing...Trust me.
Awww, sweet Grace.
I can't tell you Carson will be a brain surgeon, but I can say that all kids do things at different times, and I know exactly how you are feeling because when Carson was 18 months, he was hardly saying 3 words. I was very upset about it. I had an early interventionist come to our house and evaluate him. She said he seemed fine...just on the slower end of speech. He understood most things, but his expressive language was not really where it is for most kids his age.
We then went to see a speech therapist for a more in depth eval, and she only recommended the very lowest amount of therapy, to which the early interventionist told me she didn't even think he needed. Colin had just been born, so I decided to hold off for a while, and what do you know? He's totally normal now. Completely caught up! He might still be a little on the slower end, but that's okay!
I know Grace is a year older than he was, and it's different for her age, but like I said (and I know you know), they all progress differently. I'm sure she's fine. And hey, if she does need therapy, great! She'll really benefit and I'm sure she will come around really fast.
I wish I could hug you because I know just how you feel. She's fine!
First, it drives me crazy when people equate early/good speaking skills with intelligence - as you and I both know, they are not related. Some kids just 'get it' and some need a little boost, but those needing a boost are no less smart, for sure.
You know all about Avery's delay, and while she's doing pretty good now, she is still not caught up with her friends. There's definitely a difference when the kids are together... but she'll get there!! I know she will. How many adults do you come across with speech problems? Not too many, right!
I think it's great that you are having Grace evaluated, and treated if they find that her level is out of the normal limits. She'll be just fine, of course, but I KNOW how frustrating it is to feel like something is wrong with your child. But hang in there, my dear, I just know Miss Grace will 'get it' very soon.
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