*~*~*~susanmosley~*~*~*

cbwm

I hope you don't mind me asking you this...

So, DS had ear infections from the time he was 3 1/2 months old until he had tubes put in at 11 1/2 months old. During that time, he had fluid behind his ears pretty much all the time.

He just had his second set of tubes put in two weeks ago, and I've noticed his babbling has totally been ramped up.

When we ask him where something is, he knows exactly what we're talking about (i.e., if we ask him where his shoes, blankie, or paci are, he'll look around and find them). If we tell him to do something, he'll do it.

I *know* he can say M and N sounds, but he doesn't. Everything is "da", though I have noticed him saying "ba" sounds the last couple days. At this point, he can say "dada". Also, DH was yelling at the cat the other day. DH said, "Max, NO!" DS pointed at the cat and yelled, "Dax, DOH!" And he says "doh" for no.

We read books to him ALL THE TIME, and when we ask him to point something out in the book, he can do it.

So what more can we do to help him? We talk about the colors of things (instead of saying, "Oh, look at the apple" we say, "Look at this big, shiny red apple", etc), shapes of things, and use extra language with him. It almost seems like he's being stubborn and lazy and doesn't *want* to try and say more.

susanmosley

I am in a hurry, but will check back this afternoon after DD is asleep.

Quickly though, /m/ and /b/ are produced in similar ways.  And /d/ and /n/ are too.  

So for m and b, your lips are closed.  However, for /b/, you open your mouth and let the air out of your mouth.  For /m/, your lips stay closed and the air comes out of your nose.

Same with /d/ and /n/.  D, tongue to alveolar ridge (bumps behind upper teeth) and then you let the air out of your mouth, /n/ the air goes through your nose.  

/m/, /n/, and "ing" are the 3 nasal sounds in our language.

now to figure out why this is happening. Could be because he is only 18 months! or Is he congested? - the air can't go through his nose.  It could just be that he needs a little time to improve his coordination.

The fact that he is combining two words is great.

And saying Dax Doh is likely just a result of making the M a /d/ because of assimilation - he is going to say /d/ for the second word "no"

I don't think he is being stubborn or lazy and I think you are talking to him exactly as you should.  He is still really young.  Sounds like he is doing well.  Did the pedi suggest speech therapy?  How many words does he use on a regular basis, without you saying them first? 

cbwm

That all makes sense. And he has been sick *a lot* in the last couple months, so the fact that he's congested would totally make sense as to why he's not making specific sounds.

The only words he uses on a consistent basis are "dada" and "doh".

He does have his own word for cheese, but it's really weird and I wouldn't even begin to know how to spell it. But I'm pretty sure there's a d, some e's, and a couple z's in there. LOL

The pedi has not suggested speech therapy, but I know he's concerned. However, at Will's pre-op appointment with the ENT, I asked about his speech development and he thought that with the problems he had with fluid behind the ears, he was right on track.

It's hard not to be concerned!

susanmosley

There are definitely some ways to facilitate and encourage expressive language.  And it is too much info and explaining for me to do here.  Why don't you contact EI/ECI - they will be able to teach you.

But in a nutshell, some playing dumb and withholding things (to a reasonable extent) are helpful "tools."

Playing dumb: he points to his milk, you act like you don't know what he wants.  You make sure he knows you are engaged and interested, but you are encouraging him to make another attempt.  So, he points and says "uh."  You pick up the milk and a spoon (something random that is right there) and say, "do you want the milk or the spoon?" and hope he will improve his communicative attempt just a tiny bit "muh."  And you respond, "oh you want the MILK.  Here is your MILK"

And the withholding thing would be to recreate the situation.  So no longer does have have free access to the milk, after he takes a sip, you move it away so he will have to ask again.  

You want to keep in natural and positive.  Not trying to drive him crazy or set up weird contrived situations, but trying to increase the number of exchanges on one topic and as soon as one "utterance" is mastered for a specific item, you want to raise the bar just enough to keep him stretching and reaching.

Does he make himself clear through gestures, facial expressions, etc.?  Does he do any animal or environmental sounds (vehicles, house hold appliances, etc.)  Playing up these areas may be a fun place to start.  

Does he imitate actions (clapping, waving, stomping, and actions with toys)?  Can he imitate (or try) kissing, tongue clicks, sticking out tongue, whistling, etc.

Is everything else developing normally?  Good social engagement and developing pretend play skills?