Parenting
Updated: June 3, 2021
Originally Published: May 14, 2014
It’s a common belief that boys tend to start talking later than girls. I initially accepted this as the reason for my son’s delayed speech. However, as I observed toddlers younger than my 18-month-old son stringing together sentences and proudly naming colors and numbers, I couldn’t help but feel a sting of jealousy. Friends would share their little ones’ adorable phrases, and I felt a pang in my heart.
Despite my son often tuning me out, I persisted in reading to him and tried to emulate every sound he made. I introduced baby sign language, allowing him to turn the pages of the books, hoping that he would absorb the words. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem to work.
During his check-up, our pediatrician suggested we reach out to Early Intervention’s (EI) state services, which connected us with a fantastic team at 606 Speech in Chicago. They diagnosed my son with an isolated speech delay.
As he grew older, his frustration bubbled over. He screamed and yelled, and I found myself in tears. When he felt particularly overwhelmed, he would go rigid as a plank, staging a protest against leaving the park. This became his go-to defense mechanism against parents, grandparents, and other authority figures. Everyone wants to feel heard and understood, but our little guy struggled to find his voice.
Progress felt painfully slow despite our bi-weekly therapy sessions. I dreaded the speech exercises more than my son did; I didn’t want to force him to blow into a whistle if he wasn’t ready. I longed for more playful moments with him and worried that things would never improve. Was it my fault for working over 40 hours a week? Was it in our genes? Could sleep training have played a role?
But then, slowly but surely, he began to mimic almost everything he heard. By the age of two-and-a-half, he started forming sentences and even pretended to read. My friends and family were right; his vocabulary started to bloom.
Eventually, his speech took off! Now, he clearly articulates what he wants, and I often find myself giggling as I eavesdrop on his animated chats with friends.
These days, it’s hard to believe he ever faced a speech delay. Watching his confidence grow has been nothing short of pure joy. I can hardly keep him from exuberantly practicing his speech, even if it means chocolate milk ends up splattered all over the floor! This journey taught me valuable lessons about overcoming challenges. I know life will bring its hurdles, but I hope he always finds the confidence to voice his thoughts.
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In summary, the struggle to communicate can be overwhelming, but with patience and support, children can find their voices.