Major breakthrough this month! RD3 had a speech delay (notice I said had). His speech delay was due to his cleft lip and palate. Both being repaired, we tried speech therapy after his frontal nasal encephalocele surgery. Keeping it real he was learning absolutely NOTHING. Lovely lady and she did her best but with the masks on because of COVID-19, he wasn’t learning. To get a visual, try asking your child to say banana while covering your mouth. It just doesn’t work. Children need visual along with verbal communication.
After much prayer, we pulled RD3 out of speech therapy (especially because these would be paid sessions) and I committed to working with him from home full time.
RD3 was non-verbal. I knew he understood me because he would take direction very well, but he wasn’t talking. I kept reading to him, going over colors, animal sounds, numbers one thru ten, the different types of weather, shapes, etc. over and over and over and over and over and over again and again. And then again some more. When I would ask him to show me or bring me a number, color, animal, etc he would point or show me but not tell me.
I started singing the ABCs, the wheels on the bus, farm animals sounds, and many other repetitive books, over and over and over again. All day. I know my husband was tired lol but I kept repeating. Ron also read and sang to both boys at night.
Praise break alert 💃🏾: RD3 began speaking back to us the beginning of February. GLORY HALLELUJAH!!! THE SWEET SOUND!!!! We pulled him out of speech therapy January 1st and he started speaking one month later. He started saying the letters of the Alphabet (which he now knows them all), repeating the animal sounds, saying the colors, and even trying to sing the songs. His sounds are not perfect, but the very fact that he’s trying makes the sacrifice worth it. 😭😭😭
I posted this to encourage other moms that I know are going through similar situations with speech delay. Don’t give up!! I promise you!! They are listening to everything you are saying and it will come out in due time! Just be consistent and keep repeating over and over and over even if you are tired. They hear you! I will continue working with him, as you see he’s excited and I know his speech will continue to grow! God is the greatest and will reward your efforts! Trust and know He wants even better for your kids than what we could ever ask!
Help us celebrate him! Go RD3! Mommy, Daddy, and Rey are so proud of you. And the best part Rey (CURRENTLY 10 MONTHS) is picking this up and he hears this all day long. 🙏🏾❤️
We plan to revisit speech therapy after things get better with COVID-19 if there is a need and he needs to be evaluated. As for now, full-time mommy it is!
Another update:RD3 is daytime potty trained and even coming up to mommy and daddy when he needs to go. He cries and I’m working on him saying potty but he’s communicating! We are overly proud!! 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾❤️❤️❤️
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Here is RD3 going over his farm animal sounds. He has been working very hard and continues to blossom and sound clearer and clearer every day. To God be the Glory!
Don't give up mommas! Keep going! Your breakthrough is around the corner! Just be consistent and continue to encourage your babies. They need all the love and support they can get to help them be the best they can be.
Here are the links to some of the activities I use with RD3:
Melissa and Doug Animal Magnets
Farm Animals Poster (came with a larger Poster set)
For the posters, I purchased two and cut one and used velcro to stick to the duplicate poster. This makes it an activity board that your toddler will love. RD3 loves these posters and I enjoy switching them out to make learning fun. Some of the links above for the posters are saying in store items only or may be unavailable. Hopefully, any moms that want to purchase, you will be able to get these or any similar items from the links provided.
I love hearing from other moms and your success stories. We learn from each other. Please feel free to message me if you have any questions for anything at all. As for now, I will continue working with RD3 and help him to perfect his sounds and increase his speech. God be praised!
Monique Diltz