I dont know if this blog is just for me, something temporary, or what. I just know I need to sort out the thoughts in my head.
Im not gonna bother with an organized, clear backstory & info. That’ll come later, maybe. I dont really have a starting point so Im just gonna jump right in.
My 4 year old son was recently diagnosed with Childhood Apraxia of Speech. This weekend I learned it’s also referred to as CAS. Here is what else I learned this weekend: (which may or may not be accurate, but its a starting point)
1-10 children out of 1000 are diagnosed. So between about .1 to 1% of the population. It’s pretty uncommon.
There’s no real known cause. Genetic, environmental, random chance, drug use while pregnant, who knows.
It cant be outgrown. Best chance you can give your kid is speech therapy (the earlier the better) hard work & patience
Its a disconnection in the brain that stops your mouth from saying what you think. A word can be said clearly a couple times then suddenly stop. Or mispronounced. Or gibberish. Its not being lazy or a lack of effort, its like a physical block.
There is nothing wrong with his mind or intellegence. He is smart, he understands, and he is trying.
I also learned that he’s not just a “late talker”. He wont overnite start talking in nearly-complete sentances, there’s no “just you wait, you’ll miss the quiet” in our near future. It will take time and a lot of hard work, but over time he can (and will) be able to communicate.
I learned that I wont hear the rambling toddler babble, the random endless questions, the nonsense stories.
I may not ever hear those whimsical, made up songs some kids sing, or be hounded with an endless barrage of “why, why, why…“
That one is the hardest. 4 years old and he has never been able to ask me how something works, or why something happens. Of course Ill explain things as they come up & I think of them but how many times has he been curious about something and I didnt know? My sweet, curious boy has never once been able to ask me a question.
You better believe I will be making a huge deal over every milestone. 2 months ago, just before Christmas & his 4th birthday, he said “I love you” for the first time. I dont care how unclear it may have been, I knew exactly what he was saying.
For now though, it’s late, and now I’m crying, and there’s a thousand more things I need to say, just not right now.
sound of silence 