Like all kids with Down syndrome, Leo’s language is delayed. I would say severely. I can’t remember what his most recent evaluation said. He is coming along, but I won’t lie and say it’s probably the hardest thing about his Down syndrome, for me. I know he has so much to say. I know he gets frustrated. I see parents at Target and the daycare having full on conversations with their two-year olds. I can’t help but wonder what Leo would like to tell me. I hate that when I pick him up from school I am completely dependant on his teachers to write in his communication book if I want to know how he spent his day or if he had a good day. I know someday I will ask him what he did and he’ll tell me tales of field trips and art projects but for now, nothing (I realize plenty of typical kids choose simply to not tell their parents things too!) I will add that Leo’s receptive language is excellent. I would venture to say he pretty much understands everything.
But the delay only heightens the joy of the language that he does have. And actually, we’ve seen a lot of leaps in the last month. He is signing a ton (he knows the whole alphabet in sign language as well as spoken). And he can count to at least twenty (spoken). One of my favorite new words (I blame myself for this one): “Away.” Because we probably yell this twenty times a night during dinner as well yell at the poor dog to “Go Away!” She is a shameless begger.
I won’t bore you with Leo’s entire spoken and sign language vocabulary. He’s known the word “yay” for a long time, but lately he’s been using it for what seems to be, an expression of his own happiness. Driving to school on a beautiful, sunny April day? That gets a “yay!” Setting Ellie down in her carseat next to him in the van? That gets a yay! Driving into the parking lot of his favorite diner on Saturday morning? “Yay” for that too! It’s fun to see him expressing himself. The language may be simple for now, but the meaning is there.
Pictured above, Leo playing in the backyard. I'm sure he said "Yay" either right before, or right after this photo was taken.
1 comment:
The speech therapist just told me she had one parent who taught her kid the sign for "frustrated". And she used it, a lot. I thought that was interesting, especially since we're working on signs like 'dog and 'milk'.
It sounds like he's doing great, just at his own pace. Yay for Leo!
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