Common wisdom suggests that boys lag behind girls in their speech development, so I initially reasoned that my son’s delayed communication was simply part of that narrative. However, as I observed children younger than my 18-month-old son forming coherent sentences and discussing numbers and colors, my confidence began to waver. Friends would share their toddlers’ conversations, leaving me with a bittersweet twinge of envy.
Despite my son’s apparent disinterest, I kept reading to him, hoping he would absorb the language through our interactions. I mimicked his sounds and introduced baby sign language, allowing him to turn book pages, but his progress was minimal.
During a routine check-up, our pediatrician suggested we seek assistance from Early Intervention (EI) services. This led us to a wonderful team of therapists at 606 Speech in Chicago, where our son was diagnosed with a specific speech delay.
As he grew older, his frustration escalated. He would scream and throw tantrums, and in moments of extreme distress, he would stiffen his body in resistance, particularly when it was time to leave the park. This became his primary means of expressing his struggles, and it pained me to see him feeling unheard.
Despite attending therapy sessions twice a week, progress felt agonizingly slow. I dreaded practicing speech exercises, and at times, I questioned whether his speech delay was somehow my fault—was it my work schedule? My genetic makeup? Even the sleep training we had chosen?
Then, gradually, a shift occurred. By the age of two-and-a-half, my son started to mimic speech with increasing frequency. His sentences began to form, and he demonstrated an eagerness to read. Family and friends were right; his vocabulary expanded rapidly.
Now, it’s hard to believe he ever faced challenges with speech. Witnessing his newfound confidence is a pure joy. I often find myself chuckling at his lively exchanges with friends. The experience has taught me invaluable lessons about resilience. While life will present obstacles, I hope he retains the courage to persevere and express himself.
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In summary, the journey of navigating my son’s speech delay has been filled with challenges, but it ultimately culminated in remarkable growth and joy.