It started with my son’s regular 18-month checkup.  The doctor asked me how many words he was saying.  When I informed her he still wasn’t saying anything more than “ma” consistently, she asked me if I was concerned.

Maybe because it was my third child, and I just didn’t have time to pay attention, or maybe my two very talkative older girls took up all available speaking space, but I wasn’t worried.  Regardless, the doctor insisted on giving me the number for Early Intervention.

At the evaluation, we were informed that my son had a significant speech delay.  I am still surprised at how devastating this was to me.  I didn’t want there to be anything wrong with my son.  A lot of friends and family insisted my son would talk when he was ready.  It seemed everyone had a story about someone they knew who suddenly started talking in complete sentences at age 4 or even 5.

The developmental coordinator encouraged me to seek therapy.  Most of the problems she sees are with kids who are intelligent but have no way to communicate.  My son would only grow more frustrated with his lack of ability to express his thoughts and feelings to us.

One year later, we have a completely different son.  The therapy he received has made a world of difference.  While his results are not typical, he is now at or above his appropriate developmental level.  I am convinced that this is not something that he would have been able to do apart from therapy.  My son’s therapist had to teach him how to form the words with his mouth and throat.  Her work with him has given him the ability to say exactly what is on his mind.

Now that he has a new-found confidence in his ability to express himself, I even find myself wishing he had an “off” button sometimes!

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