24 July 2009

Discouragement.

I haven't been lying, exactly. I just haven't told you everything. Remember how I told you that this little girl says a lot of different things? Well, she's stopped. She might say, "DOWN," when she has been naughty on the couch. And she can say "done" when she's finished with her food. Otherwise? She will grab for all of brother's PECs and use those when they're out. It isn't as though we don't speak to the kid. I mean, we have to talk to her when we go out in public once a week for appearances, right???
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Well, I wonder if she truly has a language problem, or if it's just the fact that her closest friend does not speak and autism is catching. Seriously, though, she has learned that waving her hands around is an appropriate means of expressing appreciation and excitement... which... it is, but I think it would be nice if she were to use more neurotypical means of doing so if that's what she is. And I wonder what we can do about it.
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I have contacted First Steps and hopefully within the next month they can do an evaluation, give me one of those all purpose handouts about "kids learn language from hearing it" and then leave. *sob* You know, Woodjie said a few words and then stopped as well. He still does not speak very often at all. Even then, you have to get his attention and model the word first almost always. It makes me sad.

15 comments:

  1. awww,i'm sorry..

    I hope it is her just copying her brother, I wouldn't worry too much. My friends little boy said almost nothing until he was 3 and started speech therapy now you can't keep him quiet!

    I hope she starts talking more very soon!

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  2. Oh, Mrs. C, I am so sorry for your heartbreak and concern. I was just going to say, before you did, I bet she is copying her brother. Its no fun to be the only little person talking. Cupcake would say one word like Mama--and when we got all excited she would quit saying it. So it has been one word at a time, except for baby jibberish for a year now. She is just now starting to say more words. For a long time it was growling and clapping. I think she and Rose are about the same age (Cupcake will be 2 on August 2). I know if must be hard with your family history, but don't assume the worst. Glad you called First Steps. I bet she is talking before you know it!

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  3. I know that must be very hard for you. I hope it is something as simple as she realizes that it helps her brother get what he wants. Maybe she is just modeling what she sees?

    I will pray that is the case.

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  4. My daughter has (speech) Apraxia, and I have to admit that there are times that I feel a bit down about it, and worry about how (and if) we're going to get past the next milestone. Everyone hastens to tell me how much better she is now than a few years ago, but I know that she's so very far behind for her age. It sometimes seems insurmountable.

    I say that only as a reference to knowing how discouraging it can be, NOT to say that's your daughters issue. I have heard that interacting with other verbal children can influence a child's speech. Or sometimes it may be that a child finds that they just don't want to talk as much, or as often as others. I hope you're able to find someone to help you figure it all out.

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  5. ♥♥(((Hugs)))♥♥
    You already have your hands so full & I am far too far away to be any practical help. I do hope & pray your little treasure is just copying her brother.

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  6. (((((HUGS)))) from me, too! I can sure understand your concern. I wondered about Spanky for a while there as well, but now at 2.5 he is finally starting ro put more words together. I really think he used one word communication longer because of Nutkin, but I can't be sure. Give her a bit more time. I will pray for you both!

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  7. What do you bet she's just copying her brother? I will keep everything crossed that she starts talking again soon. {{{HUGS}}}

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  8. I am so sorry!!!! I will pray for your dear one . . .

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  9. I know you are concerned, but it seriously sounds like totally normal behavior for a 17 month old. I've had several children who hardly said two words until they were nearly two and a half. I've had a few who just grunted, pointed, and cried to get what they wanted.

    My son that is two years and four months makes all these sounds, with nearly no recognizable words. I have to translate for him. :-)

    So, try not to stress, Honey. {{{{HUGS}}}}

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  10. Look at her cute hair in the picture! So cute.

    Little Ashley is 22 months and she says mommy, daddy, out, pay (play). She just started doing that. I talk with her a lot though and show her a lt of things, naming stuff. Like when I'm getting her out of the high chair I'll say "out". Or when I see daddy, I'll point and say "daddY". I do that a lot and I know that's how she picked it up. Maybe that will help with your little one. :) I'm gonna watch your blog and see how it goes though! I hope everything ends up being okay.

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  11. Awww, Mrs C.

    I would wonder with that with WGO. She showed elements of Autism, but not to the degree of her brothers. However, there is s 6 year gap between her and Celtic Dingo. When I brought it up, I was told HERS was learned, yet the boys weren't doing all this stuff by the time she arrived.

    Maybe, a little learned and maybe some is just her?

    Hoping it resolves itself for you. By the time WGO started talking again, she hasn't been quiet since and her vocab is extensive and mature, just pronounciation is what we are watching.

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  12. My six year old rarely talked when he was a toddler, but now I can't get him to stop talking for more than a minute.

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