I've shown Henry how to dip french fries in mayo and in milkshakes. I've learned him that a kiss is the only cure for an owie. I've taught him how to pick dandelions, brush his teeth, unlock the front door, tune the TV to Noggin, apply lotion and hail a taxi. I cannot teach him how to speak.
Me: Henry say "car"
Henry: Nanu
Me: Say "puppy"
Henry: Nanu Nanuuu
Me: What would you like for dinner?
Henry: Nanu!
In total he has about 10 words that I hear on a regular basis and maybe another 10 that he's said a few times and then never again.
I get two kinds of advice. The first being not to worry, he'll talk when he's ready. "My son, brother, cousin, nephew, gerbil didn't say a word until he was 12 and now he's really smart and totally fine."
The second is intervention, intervention, intervention!!!
AS. SOON. AS. POSSIBLE. These people are the ones I don't want to listen to, but they are the ones with the degrees and the years of study and the supposed expertise. The ones that make me feel like a big, fat negligent if I just sit here and do nothing while my son calls everything a nanu.
The very first thing that had to be done was to test Henry's hearing. I had no qualms about this. It's important to rule out a hearing loss, which could easily explain a speech delay. If there is no hearing loss then it is suggested that we move on to a speech pathologist.
Of course, Henry's hearing test was inconclusive. There were certain sounds that he didn't hear (or, in my opinion, pay attention to). The audiologist thought that he may have fluid in his ears and sent us to the pediatrician to get his ears cleared up. The pediatrician didn't think it was a fluid problem, but more of an excessive ear wax problem. (Some folks are just waxier than others, apparently.) He asked me again, "How many words can Henry say?" "Um, 15. No, 10. What counts as a word? Does "nanu" count? If it does then 11. He can say 11 words"
Prescription = ear drops for two weeks, then test his hearing again and then decide on a course of action.
There is a lot of back and forth and a lot of poking and prodding of cute little Henry ears.
Henry saying his favorite word "Uh-ohhhhh"

Recent Comments