Communication & Speech

Unfortunately, children with Down syndrome not only have to battle gross motor delays, but most times also have speech delays.  Many insurances do not cover or do not want to cover speech therapies.  We have been fortunate so far that our insurance has not had an issue with any of Hailey's therapies.  We started speech therapy last year, not long after Hailey's first birthday.  I was skeptical at first as to what they were going to do or how they were going to help her.  Hailey's speech therapist is fantastic!!!  She actually has 3 siblings with Ds.  You can check out Jen's blog here. 

What not all people realize is that speech therapy is not "all" actual speaking.  It is about communication, labeling objects, learning concepts "over", "under", signing, and for some it is also feeding therapy.  One of my largest fears (yes, there were a lot of them) initially, was that Hailey would never be able to communicate with us.  To begin with, I used communication and speaking interchangeably.  A fellow blogging mom, Meriah, (you can read about Meriah and her family here) made me realize that speaking wasn't the same.  There are so many other ways that my daughter can communicate other than verbalizing her words.  Fortunately, Hailey has picked up signing rather quickly.  If her mom's signing vocabulary was more extensive, she would probably learn even more, but I'm not as quick of a learner!  Last week, she started signing "Daddy work" and home.  I need to actually figure out how many words she does sign because I have lost track!

In speech therapy last week, Hailey imitated lots of sounds for Jen, but she is getting to the point that she doesn't always want to do exactly what Jen and Abby want her to do.  Abby wanted her to sit on a ball and copy sounds, but Hailey decided that she needed to see her best friend (her reflection) and make the sounds in the mirror.  They generally don't argue with Hailey unless she flat out refuses (which knock on wood, isn't often).  She signed when she recognized a word.  She is doing really good with her flashcards and recognizing an object when given two choices.  Hailey will point at objects in books.  We are well on our way to communicating. 

She is communicating her wishes and wants at home and to others.  She will sign for "eat", "sleep", "milk" and even sign some two word phrases (Daddy work, Daddy's baby, Papaw's baby, milk please).  It helps ease those fears that I had in the beginning.  With the amount of actual words she says, I truly believe Hailey will talk...I think she might just do it to keep up with her brothers and her mom...sorry Dad!!!

Last weekend, we traveled out of town for dear friends' wedding.  When we returned, I asked Hailey if she was happy to be home, she signed home and then said "home".  It was the sweetest sound in the world.  It comes a close 3rd after "momma" and "dadda".  She drags the "o" a little so it comes out "hooome", but it is all there and I keep asking her to say it because I love it so much (and yes, it made me cry)!!!

Here are photos of Hailey playing with one of her babies.  It was actually homework for speech therapy a couple of months ago.  Thank goodness there are no real babies in the house!

No, this wasn't taught...I think we might needed a weighted baby.

I'm not sure what was so funny.

Thank goodness this isn't a real baby!

Still laughing!

Patting the baby's back.

Feeding her baby.

Making the baby play patty-cake.

Bottle confusion?

Emerging Communication Skills

I'll preface this with, I have always been very proud of my little girl.  She is the strongest, most determined person I have ever met...and yes, she is only 17 months old.  I hate that everything is so much harder for her to learn than her brothers.  With that said, I do still get frustrated when we work and work and work on something and she doesn't quite get it.  I try not give up because I definitely do not want her to ever give up because it is difficult, but some days it is hard.  I'll admit, I've been jealous of the typical 17 month old children who are walking and even some running while my little girl just recently started her robot-walking with her walking toy.  While I am over the moon with this newest development, I am well aware that we have a long, long road to having an independent walker. 

I've had and still do have a lot of fears about Hailey and her future.  How could I not?  One of them has always been communication.  I fear not being able to communicate with my daughter....not knowing her hopes and dreams, feelings, fears. 

We recently made the decision to increase Hailey's private speech and physical therapy.  I'm hoping the extra PT will help improve Hailey's walking form and the speech therapy, obviously, will help push us closer to having a talker, too. 

Right now, we are in a small break in our therapies and we spent time visiting family.  Hailey always seems to have an explosion in an area of development.  I think sometimes just the change of scenery gives her mind a break and "it just happens".  I've been so happy with what she has been doing!  Hailey has been imitating people.  I was patting my nephew's back the other day on my lap.  My older nephew started patting the little guy's back also.  Hailey removed his hand so she could pat his back.  A few times, my older nephew would move Hailey's hand over, but she didn't like it and babbled a few words loudly to him and took over patting the baby.  Hailey has been fairly good (for her age) at being "gentle" with the baby. 

She has been motion for others to "feel" a book she is looking at.   Yesterday, my sister-in-law was eating watermelon.  Hailey pointed to the bowl and signed "more"...technically, she never had any to request more but she was communicated what she wanted and it is HUGE!  She has been picking up new signs much faster now (...mom needs to learn more so she can keep up!).  Hailey knows about 10 signs that she will do herself, but understands a few more than that.  I almost cry every time she learns a new sign.  She's so proud of herself and I'm so incredibly proud of her. 

But there is even more to Hailey's communication, she has started trying to say the word, too!  A lot of the words sound similar and it isn't always the entire word, but it is a start.  We have a lot of "m" and "b" words...she tries to say more, milk, mom (she does say this, but not always in context), bottle, baby, ball.  She has said "done" a couple of times...of course, the ever popular "dada".  When Dad was out of town, she would pick up phones, put them to her ear and say "dada" repeatedly.  She also grabs the iPad saying "dada".  We assume that is to talk to him on FaceTime.  Papaw is a favorite, but it is for mamaw and papaw.  Once over the weekend, she said "Taci".  I know is sounds crazy but I had witnesses!  We gave Hailey something on Saturday and asked her, "do you like that?".  Her response was "like that".  It was crystal clear and yes, I had witnesses for that one too.  We looked at one another in disbelief because it was that clear.  Now, we can't get them on command, but this is all a start!

Just as Hailey is taking walking slowly...we are making baby steps with communication, too.  Brings a smile to my face, makes my heart swell with pride and even more love, and makes me dream more about her future!

Hailey with Aunt Taci

These boys love babies!

She doesn't look quite so little anymore.

This look is TROUBLE!