Tuesday, July 26, 2011
"Tommy Did It"
Little Cam was diagnosed with childhood apraxia of speech about 4 months ago. In simple terms there is a breakdown of the ability to form words somewhere between the brain and the mouth. He tries to talk but the words are often unintelligible. Speaking is extremely effortful. It has been so frustrating for him (and me at times) when he tries over and over again to tell me what he wants and I just can't figure out what he's saying. He manages to use a little bit of sign language and comes up with a lot of his own in an attempt to get his message across. There have been days that I have just started crying, I feel so bad for him and his inability to get his message across because I can see how disheartening it is for him. But on a happy note he has been going to speech therapy 2-3 times a week and we have seen some good improvement in his ability to verbally communicate and yesterday he said his first 3 word sentence! We had the Lever's over for dinner and Tommy is just a month younger than Cam. They have spent a lot of time together over the past 2 years and Cam adores Tommy. They played so quietly together in Cam's room while we visited and after they left I went into his room and saw that they had been very successful in tearing his room apart. There wasn't a toy left on the shelf or in a basket or bin. When I asked Cam, "Why did you dump ALL of your toys out all over your room, it's a mess?" he responded, "Tommy did it." I laughed because I knew Tommy had help and I laughed because I was thrilled with Cam's ability to communicate these three words to me! It's amazing the things we take for granted, like something seeming as simple as the ability to speak.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
Sorry, that must be so hard (for all of you). Anything our kids have to go through is definitely tough! Sounds like he's making good progress, though.
Yay!!!! Go Cam!!!!
I am so happy that he is getting help. My Trenton didn't speak until he was 3 and then you couldn't understand a thing he said. He went to speech 3 times a week and made such huge strides but it was a very long process. He is now 8 and stutters really bad, which is a side effect of repeating sounds for speech over and over again. The fine line they walk. He is not getting anything right now and I am chomping at the bit to get him back to the states so he can have speech again. Good job for Cam, he will talk soon enough and then you will wish he would stop.
How frustrating for both of you. I am sure there will be many little celebrations in your future as he learns to speak more and more understandably. Keep up the good work.
Sorry to hear about your little boy. Believe me I know how frustrating it can be. My oldest daughter has the same thing. On a positive note, it does get betTer. We have done speech with my daughter for 4 years now and she is doing so well. It's a long road, but seeing each improvement is so exciting. Good luck!! Let me know we can give you any advice or just someone to talk to that has gone through the same thing.
(You probably don't know me, but I grew up with Jared, and our moms work together.)
Sorry to hear about your little boy. Believe me I know how frustrating it can be. My oldest daughter has the same thing. On a positive note, it does get betTer. We have done speech with my daughter for 4 years now and she is doing so well. It's a long road, but seeing each improvement is so exciting. Good luck!! Let me know we can give you any advice or just someone to talk to that has gone through the same thing.
(You probably don't know me, but I grew up with Jared, and our moms work together.)
Post a Comment