Expressive Language

I'm sure that raising any child always makes a parent feel like there is something to worry about but the worry and question is intensified when your little one is developmentally challenged. Often times, the worry and question can consume me.



We, rather Oia, has come so far. Physical progress has been remarkable. Last February Oia was only a sitter. But here we are today. She crawls. She walks. She even walks fast when she wants to. She can squat to stand without falling. She climbs. Her receptive language is age appropriate. But..............she doesn't talk. Let me clarify; she is vocal, makes LOTS of purposeful sounds, but she is not yet considered verbal. She has a few words and some more are slowly emerging but this is obviously a very, very, difficult area for her.



Oia is seen by a speech therapist every other week. She began ST just before her second birthday. I've never been convinced that speech therapy makes much of a difference. I realize ST's are trained and skilled in what they do but an ST session looks like a fun playdate to most.



Here is our situation.

Oia drools. She no longer needs to wear a bib anymore but by the end of the day she does have a wet shirt and some days it is more wet than others. The drool means Oia has some low tone issues in her lower jaw. So we've been told. However, she is a neat eater, eats ANYTHING, any texture, and can drink from any sippy cup or straw with no problem. Everything stays in her mouth. In my opinion, tone can't be too much of an issue since Oia can do these things. This is a huge plus where language is concerned.



Oia understands. Receptive language is age appropriate. She goes where I ask her to go, she gets what I ask her to get, and she does what I ask her to do. Another huge plus in the language department for sure.



The problem I feel is that I have no solution for that tiny, little hole in her brain. I can't change it. I can't fix it. Schizenchephaly leaves it's mark and it never goes away. This hole is making expressive (verbal) language very difficult for her. My hands feel tied with this one and I certainly can't speed up the process.



If someone a year ago today would have told me that Oia's biggest deficit (or challenge I prefer to say) would be expressive language, I would have never believed them. Not for one second. As soon as we learned that Oia had cerebral palsy our minds raced to the physical aspects. Would she sit, crawl, ever stand? And the most heavy of all wonders; would she ever walk?



Now, I'm wondering, 'My goodness, will she ever be able to talk?'


(Note to self: Be patient. Be content. Be thankful.)