Which means Zach is witty as all get out.
We got the report from his speech evaluation yesterday.
I was fully prepared to be told that yes, he is speech delayed. BUT, not enough to qualify for services.
So, when she started talking about making appointments and scheduling visits, I was a bit taken aback.
I think my exact words were “UM. Does this mean he qualifies for services?”
To which she looked at me like I had two heads and said “YES.”
But I know she added a silent “you fucking moron.”
APPARENTLY, even though he’s well advanced in EVERY OTHER ASPECT, he’s a little behind in expressive speech.
And by a little, I mean, HOLYMOTHEROFGAHD my 28 (almost) month old was placed in the 9-12 month range.
GAH. I mean, I KNEW he was behind, but dude. He didn’t even complete all the skills that a 9-12 month old would?! CHRIST.
To say I was surprised would be putting it mildly. I was SHOCKED.
But not in a bad way, though.
I’m not worried about him.
I don’t think there’s anything WRONG with him.
He did so well in all the other areas I wan to have it tattoo’d to his forehead.
Classy, no?
So, what does this all mean?
It means that we get to have two days a week of speech therapy beginning in January.
We set a few goals, and by the time he turns three we want Zach to have AT LEAST 100 words. Which sounds like a lot to me, but the therapist said a 3 year old should have many more than that.
We’re also going to reevaluate him in April, and if he’s progressing as well as I suspect he will (hello, he’s brilliant, remember?), we will cut back to one day a week.
I’m fairly confident that I will kick myself for this in a few short months.
He’ll be talking my ear off about quantum physics and explaining why he loves Dora the Explorer and hates Thomas the Tank Engine.
Actually, I’d kind of like an explanation for that.
Related posts:
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
He’s clearly got the brain power. It’s hard to know why they don’t vocalize more. But yes, in no time you will probably be begging him to stop talking.
I’m glad you posted those skills….it makes me think Ava might not be as far behind as I feared. She’s doing most of the things on the list.
.-= avasmommy´s last blog ..Once Again Questions and Few Answers =-.
I’m glad that you aren’t stressing about this. I’m totally surprised that he is in that level myself. I have a good friend that is a speech therpist and she has told me time and time again that most of these kids are just the strong silent type. He’ll go great and within a few months he’s going to be talking your ears off…savor the slience while you can…LOL!!
My son is 3 and a half and just now starting to talk at any great length. He’s clearly smart, he just didn’t want to talk until now. He’s still behind, but I have no doubt that he’ll get there. It happens. Soon, our kids will be talking our ear off.
.-= C @ Kid Things´s last blog ..Shaved: A Birthday Tale =-.
My brother hardly talked at all until he was almost 4…then all of a sudden it just happened. He’s still a man of few words, but it turns out it was more of a personality thing than an intelligence thing.
.-= Jen´s last blog ..I’m baaaaack =-.
I’m really glad they were able to provide you with services. He’ll be blabbering in notime!
.-= Kellee´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday Diptych #1: Light =-.
Don’t worry too much, my brother had the same issues growing up. Turns out he just really didn’t want to talk then, he was totally over it by the time kindergarten rolled around!
Zach will be just fine!! And he’s so stinkin’ cute!
.-= AmazingGreis´s last blog ..From my family to yours… =-.
My son (now five) started speech right before he turned four. Because he sounded like a combination of Elmer Fudd and Barney Fife. And NO one could understand anything he said, save his sister. And even then, it was hit or miss. Poor kid was sooo frustrated.
Started speech twice a week. After two months, it was like I had a completely different kid. His speech improved so much, so quickly, that I was shocked.
It’s amazing the things they’re able to do in speech therapy….and he loves going because he has all these little friends he gets to “go to school” with.
.-= Jess´s last blog ..blurbs =-.
These people should follow him on twitter, his vocabulary there is quite extensive.
.-= heather…´s last blog ..On The Sixteenth =-.
Dude. Zach rocks on twitter!
.-= Andrea’s Sweet Life´s last blog ..Happy Holidays and All That Jazz =-.
HRH talked late AND ended up in speech therapy for a little while. The following year, his pre-k teacher told me she’d never had such a brilliant little five-year-old.
Don’t sweat it. Different areas are just switching on at different times. Right now, he’s just in an input phase. And yeah, pretty soon he won’t shut up…
.-= Manic Mommy´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday =-.
I’m really glad that you got him evaluated. My son who is 3.5 now has been behind (at 3 yrs old he was about 1 year behind), but he’s in special preschool now and doing absolutely great. No worries, I think all kids develop at different paces and all that really matters is that he’s mostly caught up before Kindergarten.
BTDT, never regretted it for a minute. J, our second, started speech therapy at 2 1/2, and he was at LEAST 9 months behind. He improved greatly, and now is likely on his last year of speech therapy at school. At least, I highly suspect his IEP won’t be renewed for 1st grade. Articulation is a challenge for a few sounds, but he is MILES from where he started. And it’s worth it. Good luck!
Your post titles are all deep and literary and shit. You’re making the rest of us look bad!
.-= Andrea’s Sweet Life´s last blog ..Happy Holidays and All That Jazz =-.
Definitely work on the Thomas thing with him…By the end of speech therapy I think he needs to be a Thomas convert.
Both of my kids were in speech. Molly didn’t talk until she was 3.She worked really hard in speech therapy and caught up in no time. Jake talked at 9 months (scary) but by the time he was 7 no one could understand a word he said– a total mush-mouth, so the speech therapy began.
Glad you aren’t stressing. This too shall definitely pass.
.-= Anna See´s last blog ..Way to Represent =-.
Meggie, here’s a story that may be useful:
Four-year-old Timmy had never spoken a word in his life. He was playful and happy, always did what he was asked and never caused any trouble.
One morning his mother served him breakfast. After taking a bite, Timmy spit out the food and screamed, “THIS OATMEAL TASTES LIKE SHIT!!!!”
His mother almost fainted! She ran over, hugged little Timmy liked he’d never been hugged before, and asked, “Timmy – why have you never said a word before now?”
To which Timmy replied, “Up until today, everything was fine.”
As long as he’s happy and healthy it’s cool. Just keep an eye on the oatmeal.
That’s great that he qualifies – seriously – that early intervention will do wonders and then, like you said, you’ll wonder why you ever helped him start talking, ‘cuz he won’t stop!
Quinn qualified for speech services at 2 and a half and then was dismissed from services at 4 and ahalf. The earlier you start the better!
.-= cathy´s last blog ..Soup of the Day =-.
I really hope I misunderstood that summary of skills, because they sound WAY beyond a 9-12 mo. old! Not that I’m an expert. As a mom of two slow-to-start now-won’t-stop talkers, I’m guessing you’ll soon have your explanation for the Dora/Thomas phenomenon. He does look cute with that tat on his forehead though!
.-= Susie´s last blog ..A Stage Mom’s First Pre-School Program =-.
My husband just complained the other day about Reid’s speech. WHY IN THE HELL DID WE GET HIM THERAPY? Now all he does is talk. Really, won’t stop.
I am not worried a bit and would like one of those tattoos.
.-= Texasholly´s last blog ..Nirvana Family Christmas Card 2009 =-.
I’m guessing that you are right and you WILL be regretting all this “you better talk” now stuff. ; ) But yeah, fill us in on his reasoning for the Dora thing when you find out, k?
.-= Elaine´s last blog ..Emotional =-.
Your son could be like Uh-Huh from Little Rascals. He has words, but he choses not to use them right now! I hate it when “Dr.’s” put kids in categories, when they’re clearly in a league of their own.
.-= LaTonya´s last blog ..Not For Hands! =-.
Of course he’s brilliant. He’ll just be even moreso with some words in his arsenal.
.-= Miss Grace´s last blog ..Jingle Bells =-.
I am totally with Susie…my 11 1/2 month old does maybe three things on that list. 15 words, really??
On a side note, I love how you are handling this. Your kids are going to be so well-adjusted and know how to handle adversity simply by the example you set. I hope I am the same way:)
I love that you believe in him and know he’s fine…because of course he is. He’s brilliant and he will talk when he is damn well ready. =)
.-= pgoodness´s last blog ..Delayed reaction =-.
I’m with Susie and Gail about that scale being off – from everything I’ve read, our almost-15-month-old should have 3-5 words.
Regardless, I think you’re absolutely correct in not worrying about him. He’ll be just fine.
.-= Nanette´s last blog ..Templates and treats =-.