In Autism families, small victories come with big celebrations.
With a lot of kids on the spectrum, there is a loss of ability to speak. Meaning, at some point the child was able to communicate, but with mine and @winstonwolfe's son, speech just never came.
When we did finally start hearing noises from him, they were guttural - grunts instead of attempts at words. In the very beginning of language development, he would try to tell us the name of objects by grunting the number of syllables in the word. For example, "garbage truck" would come out as "grunt-grunt grunt"
Here is an example of Baby Wolfe's level of speech just before turning 3 years old:
Since the video above, Baby Wolfe has been receiving speech/feeding and occupational therapy for two days a week through the public school system. With as many complaints as parents have about public school, we have been incredibly lucky to find a school where our son has bloomed.
It started with simple words, often repeated. Now, he can string a few words together to make a phrase ("Wow, look at that! It's a...." is a phrase he repeats often), and he will sometimes use small phrases like "No thank you" or "More milk please".
Below is a video taken just a couple of weeks ago. Filmed in the car just after telling him we were on our way to see Mater & Lightning McQueen, this is the most I have ever heard him speak at once!
Translation:
Me: Where are we going?
Baby Wolfe (BW): To see Maters and Lightning McQueen.
Me: Mater & LMcQ, that's right!
Baby Wolfe repeats himself then starts speaking in his made up language. It's also possible his is trying to read the billboard signs as they pass. There's a lot to look at in a tourist town like Branson, MO!
Me: Are you excited?
BW: Excited! ... WOW! ...(inaudible)... Awesome!! ...Awesome...Wow, look at that. Here comes..
Me: Here comes who?
BW: Amphibious transport!!
In case you're wondering what an "amphibious transport" is, it's this:
I can't even begin to tell you how long it feels like I have waited to hear my son's voice!!
Early intervention therapy works!
If you have a small child whom you suspect might be on the Autism spectrum, please seek an evaluation and early intervention services right now. If you don't know where to start, I'm here to help answer your questions.
Steemit Autism Community Roll Call!!
Here are some more awesome Autism parents to follow on Steemit. Any one of them would be happy to help guide you any way they can!
@imaginedragon
@aspiejoe
@arteagaile
@erodedthoughts
@bronxb17
@jazzyfish
@winstonwolfe
@omnitaylor
@sukhasanasister
Thanks for reading!
Remember: YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
You hit home when you said: "I can't even begin to tell you how long it feels like I have waited to hear my son's voice!!" I cry every time Dre says a new word, or uses his pointer finger, or hugs me on purpose and on his own, when he uses interactive play. Non Autistic parents don't really get it. You have your child and you see them thinking, playing, dreaming and they don't have the need to share. The get frustrated and they hold it in, ignore it, or have a tantrum, because they can't express it. It is very daunting and I just really wan to find the key, not to change him but just to let him express it.
Thank you for sharing and it is nice to read another parent who sees the greatness, not just a problem :)
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