Makena recently started saying "Yes, Mom". Only it really sounds like she just got off a long vacation from Jamaica and is practicing her Rastafarian Slang. It sounds exactly like 'Yah mon'. For Makena, this is all a really big deal. Putting two words together and using them consistently is a big step.
Makena has Speech Apraxia. She has a speech delay but its a bit more complicated. We have been this journey with her speech for over a year. Its heart-breaking, difficult, exhausting. And now I am happy to say its also exciting, heart-warming, and bringing big smiles for our family as she is starting to make some huge progress. Its a long journey with a lot of teeny tiny steps.
Childhood Apraxia of Speech is the formal term. In simple terms it really means the connections in the brain to formulate words are not there. She understands everything we are telling her, follows directions and listens appropriately. She knows what she wants to say, but she cannot make the words come out. For Makena, we noticed she wasn't on track with her milestones for speech. We had her evaluated at 21 months and they said, wait till she is two. I heard many stories of 'late talkers' and at a certain age, the kid would just started talking in full sentences. I had hopes this would happen, yet gut feeling said this was not to be.
Makena has to learn each individual sound. Some compare it to a person who has had a stroke has to learn to talk all over again. Makena cannot just mimic sounds, as most infants and toddlers do. She will try but it comes out mostly as "du du" and not anything close to the word. I'm learning more about Speech Therapy than I ever wanted to know.
Sept 3rd, 2012 - I started this post a couple months ago and never finished it. I just took a look at our blog and decided it was time for some updates. In the few months since I've written this, Makena has exploded in language. She is now putting three words together at times. This is huge in our world.
From January of this year, its been quite a ride with Apraxia. You wonder if they'll ever talk. You lose track of milestones as she is so far behind kids her age, it doesn't matter anymore. Your normal status quo is a jigsaw puzzle each day of what Makena is trying to say. Hearing new phrases like "Waaaiitt Mommy" is music to our ears. Having simple conversations and hearing her respond back with words is pure bliss.
She is still very speech delayed, and will be in therapy for at least another year, possibly more. However, we are on our way. She is making enormous progress. Go Makena!
We still have many sounds and words from her, which we cannot understand. Lots of patience and reasoning on what she is trying to say. With the age of 3 some huge tantrums, more than likely caused by communication frustrations. Rightly so, I'd be mad and frustrated too.
The latest words
Dura (Dora)
Train Ride
Red Light
Green Light
Wait Mommy
Wait Daddy
Me too!
Sissy, Wait
Me Me (Mickey Mouse)
