Ohhh language. How we take it for granted.  Georgie doesn’t stop talking.  I remember catching myself on more than one occasion asking her to be quiet just for a bit.  What I would give to hear Archie say Mummy, or I love you, or Bye bye. The first year of Archie’s life all he did was scream. He was petrified and cried day and night. Colic went on for over a year. After that he started to calm down a bit and become more comfy in his body.  We had to work hard to get any sounds from him, but they started coming. 

It’s slow. Some days he feels like it and he chats up a storm and interacts and some days he doesn’t.  I find too much chaos around him makes him quiet.  Archie will be 4 this year and he has never said a word. He mimicks Hi, and babbles when he is happy but he hasn’t said any words.  I think it’s because Georgie speaks for him 🙂 He’s so timid in soo many ways, but also so cheeky, is so loved and he knows it!  He also knows how to get our attention, but that is another chapter all on it’s own.

So what we have learned thus far in regards to language.

1. Let him participate!!! Sounds simple but we are so quick to respond. Hi Archie, how are you? or your so cute, look at that smile….yadda yadda ya. We go on and on. We don’t give them a chance to participate. Anyone who knows me will say HA! As I like to talk and I’ve had to train myself to shut up and wait. It works though.  Archie has had such a traumatizing time, we want him to feel comfortable and safe, and we want him to want to participate in life.  He most definitely feels safe these days! 
2.  Patience and quiet. Similar to the above, but somewhat different.  Archie needs time to digest the information.  Whether it’s a sound or we are asking him a question.  He needs time to process his thoughts in quiet.  Then he will respond.  
3. Responding.  Sometimes he might not make a sound, but in his face you can see he is listening and whether or not it’s a smirk or a glance at his bottle or a toy, I go with it. “Okay you want to play with that toy, here you go”….or “It’s nice to see you too puppy” …etc.
4.  Go with it.  If Archie is responding to me saying Hi by saying Ayyeee, or ohhhh back. I just go with it. I’m not going to sit and correct him.  I say ” Hi to you too! What a good boy”.  He is communicating.  Who cares if isn’t perfect. He is chatting back!!!  Don’t discourage, praise praise praise and go with it!
5. Listen to him! He talks just in his own wee way:)

We have also learned that children who are hurt usually have poor respiration, and language development is very dependent on this.  A baby will not be able to make sounds if their respiration is immature. It takes a lot of effort to inhale and exhale.  This never even crossed our minds.  The things we are learning.  It is very important for the baby to develop regular deep breathing as opposed to shallow breathing. ABR therapy we are doing is working on building up his respiratory system, and the changes in the last year have been incredible. His chest is so much stronger! Ultimately if you give your baby a chance to participate in the conversation they will!!!