I feel like it was just yesterday I first became a mom. That first time I held my brand new baby boy and I was instantly in love. Hayden was perfect and I felt like time stopped while I studied all his little features. His tiny toes, hands, and lips. He had a perfect little dimple just like mine. I was in heaven thinking about all his “first’s.” First smile. First Laugh. First time rolling over, crawling, walking. First words.
I blinked and all the sudden we were celebrating Hayden’s first birthday. Then I blinked again and he was two! He was a perfectly healthy happy boy. We enjoyed all his “first’s.” Except for one. His speech just wasn’t coming. Hayden was 2 and he only said about 3-5 words. He wouldn’t ever copy or imitate anything we would say. The words he did say didn’t sound really right, for example the word Dad he pronounced “Das.” It was so confusing that he wasn’t talking because we knew he was really smart! He knew all his colors, shapes, and some letters. I could say hand me the red triangle and he would. He just couldn’t talk. It was heartbreaking to watch him get so frustrated that he wasn’t able to communicate. He cried, and I cried. His doctor kept telling me he was “just a boy” and he would catch up, but I knew in my mama gut something was wrong.
After a lot of research, help from others, and some divine intervention we met an amazing speech therapist. She came to our home and tested Hayden when he was 2 1/2. I still remember her explaining to me that he has a severe speech disorder, and delay. She also told me that he had an oral motor disability. His brain was telling his mouth to say words, but his mouth couldn’t move the right way to get the words to come out. It was so relieving to finally have someone justify that sick feeling I had in my stomach when I thought about his speech. My mama gut was right and now we could get him the help he needed.
My son is tough! Learning to talk is really hard. We had a speech therapist come to our home once a week, every week for months. She would teach me different ways to help him move his mouth. We had flash cards, games, and different techniques to help him learn to talk. For awhile I just naturally brought everything really close to my mouth while I was talking.
When Hayden turned three he had made great progress and had about 30 words. He was also able to go to a speech program in our school district. It was the perfect program for kids just like Hayden. The program was run just like a preschool but with a speech therapist and they worked on different sounds each day. He went to speech school two times a week for two hours. We practiced word sheets all with the same sounds and flashcards everyday as homework.
That picture above is his first and last day of his speech school class. He was so little, but he was so determined to learn to talk and get every word right! After lots and lots and lots of practice he could eventually talk better than a lot of his friends. He could even say the harder sounds with the letter “R” and “L.” After a year and a half in the program he was dismissed. He graduated! We were so proud of him and he was so proud of himself.
For such a little boy he has overcome a really big challenge. He is now 6 year old and in kindergarten. Since he learned to talk by learning all the letters and then their sounds he is an amazing reader. He reads on a second grade reading level and so so smart. His speech disorder that was once a challenge has now turned into a blessing.
Hayden is such a great example to me of what tough is. He is kind, sweet, funny, and an amazing friend. Hayden still gets a little tongue tied sometimes. We joke that his brain is faster than his mouth and it can’t keep up sometimes. Hayden is my hero and I am so lucky to be his mom.
Brawny® has been asking on Twitter and Facebook what #ToughIs to you! Right now you can check out and inspirational video series featuring everyday hero from Brawny®. There are unforgettable stories of toughness, straight from the remarkable men and women who lived them.
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I feel for your son and you. I have trouble pronouncing my r’s, they sound like l’s or w’s. Anytime I have a word that has all three, forget it, my mind and mouth freezes because I know I will say it wrong. I took speech classes when I was little, I think the field is better now with more time and exercises spent on improving.
Thanks Cynthia! I have so much love and respect for speech therapists. It was amazing the things they taught him at such a young age.
I love reading this! My little guy is in speech therapy twice a week and we are working so hard with him but sometimes it just feels like we are not getting anywhere. This gives me hope.
Hi Jeaneette! I feel like the whole speech therapy process is a long, exhausting, and emotional one. For both the kid and the parent! Hang in there mama 🙂 It does get easier and better. For Hayden it was eventually like a light switch was flipped and then we couldn’t get him to quit talking! But it did take awhile to get there. Please message me on Facebook if you ever need to vent, I know the whole thing can be a frustrating time. Good luck to your little guy!
Awe! What a sweet boy you have! So glad that all is good now for him! What a smarty pants 🙂
It sounds like your son learned a great lesson, and I don’t just mean with his speech. He learned he can overcome obstacles. Congrats, Hayden!
Thanks Crystal! It is such a powerful lesson. I hope he always remembers he can do hard things. 🙂
Way to go, Hayden (and family)! I think my parents and grandparents really encompass the ‘ToughIs’ attitude – and I think I am starting to finally come into it.
I had a hard with the “r” sound all the way through elementary school. It’s a hard sound! Congrats on your son, that’s a big accomplishment!
That took a lot of work and dedication. He certainly is a tough cookie and you all must be very proud!
That is such a great story, I love that he not only overcame but excelled. What a sweet and tough little boy!
Kudos to you for recognizing that he needed help! What a cute kiddo. We did speech therapy with my step daughter for 3 years (from 3rd to 6th grade) and what a huge amazing improvement it made for her.
What a great story and I am so happy that it had a great ending. (okay… it is not over, but that chapter is.) I have 3 kids now and think back about how much I worried about. Some I should have, some I shouldn’t I think it is important to support parents who have questions and not scare them. Kids are amazing… and parents should be confident enough to look for answers and help when needed.
That’s so great! Congrats to him on overcoming it and on his impressive reading skills.
That is so wonderful that he was able to overcome this! I had a speech impediment when I was a child, and like Cynthia said, the field has definitely improved over the years. My son was able to overcome his within a few years, whereas it took me several years to overcome mine.
I have a 4 yr old grandson with speech problems,the doctor wanted him to get speech therapy but the school where he goes to head start doesnt want him too for another 2 yrs until he is in kindergarden,,hehas a late birthday day so got a later start,,we have knocked heads with the school but nothing so far
He could even say the harder sounds with the letter “R” and “L.” After a year and a half in the program he was dismissed. He graduated! We were so proud of him and he was so proud of himself.