…when your child has an expressive speech delay? What changes?Â
Nothing.
Except everything changes just a little. Or maybe it’s just me. There was always a niggling concern in the back of my head, even when most people assured me that all boys are slow to talk, my son didn’t talk until he was 4. I wanted to know. And I didn’t want to get to a point where I wished I had taken steps to help him earlier.
Still, hearing the words out loud made my heart hurt just a little. Even though I know his speech problems are due to his many ear problems and not some failing of mine. Even though I know he will likely catch up to his peers without a problem now that he is getting help from Early Intervention. Even though I know that his so-called “therapy” will be like play time and he will probably love every minute of it.
Still. A little part of my heart is sad knowing my baby, through no fault of his own, isn’t living up to his potential.
I know, I know. Suck it up, princess. I should be thanking my lucky stars that we’ve got help and so fast. I should be grateful that he doesn’t have more serious problems. That a year from now my son will mostly likely be yammering until my head aches, just like his sister. I am not complaining. I’m truly thankful that he is going to be getting the help he needs.Â
Maybe what really makes me sad is I am realizing this is the first of many times in his life where he may not reach his full potential, whether by his choice or not.  As a parent I want nothing more than to see my kids fulfill all the promise I see in them. Even if it’s something as trivial as being able to say “I’m sorry I just hit my sister in the head with this matchbox car.”Â
September 20th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
I doubt that in 1983 my parents would have even thought to take my brother to a speech therapist and ask why he wasn’t speaking (much). He was the 4th child in the family and developed slower in speech than the 3 boys who preceded him. He was born at home on a snowy night in the hands of my father, not breathing, and literally, turned upside down and smacked on the bum to get the waterworks going.
All I know is that my Mom always says now “Doug never spoke until he spoke in full sentences”. He showed his aptitude by sorting and organizing and stacking instead of talking. In school his marks excelled past every child in our family, and he wasn’t even really trying.
I have 4 big brothers, Douglas and I are closest in age. You know me, and you know that I don’t let too many people in to my private space. Doug was the first of many male friends that I felt I could meld my mind with to get things done.
He probably had expressive speech delay, too, but he’s grown now, and successful in life and in work.
September 20th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Thanks Melanie. You’re right, of course. I’m sure it won’t matter in twenty years!
September 21st, 2008 at 10:07 am
It’s hard hearing that something is “wrong” with your kids. Just try to remember that this isn’t going to affect him forever. Until then, hang in there.