Entry FeedYesterday I found out that there is something wrong with Son Two, and I immediately felt such a sense of relief.
Weird reaction? Maybe.
For the past three years we have been struggling with Son Two's speech. We have been to five different speech pathologists for assessments or treatments, an audiologist to rule out hearing issues, and finally an Otolaryngologist (or Ear Nose and Throat Specialist.)
Before yesterday, we struggled to understand why our son's speech was so unintelligible.
- We have had an audiologist suggest that we should look into learning difficulties, and imply that there may be a social disorder involved (hinting at autism.)
- His kindergarten teacher spoke to me after the first week and told me that, "he is the weakest in the class."
- The latest was his current speech pathologist, who last week told me that my son, "just wasn't normal," and I should consider an occupational therapist.
My son has become frustrated and insecure throughout this process. It has broken our hearts to watch him struggling to make himself understood, only to have people ignore him or write him off as unintelligent because they can't understand him.
Finally, yesterday, we met with an amazing doctor. Her first test was to have him say some words while she held a mirror under his nose. Completely fogged up. She then looked up his nose while he said some words, and into his throat.
Diagnosis? Velopharyngeal incompetence. Hypernasality from a deep nasopharynx.
All of his speech struggles can be attributed to VPI, what is considered a resonance disorder. All of the pieces of the puzzle have fallen into place.
Son Two should grow into it as he ages. Or if it hasn't improved my grade two, there is a small procedure that can be done to help. (BTW - don't you love the way doctors no longer call it an operation - everything is a "procedure.")
We still will continue with aggressive speech therapy, though I think we will give him a nice, long break when his current session ends.
It is such a relief to find out that is something very minor wrong with him, instead of worrying that he will never speak clearly and there is nothing we can do to help. It helps us know what we are dealing with, and what we can expect.
Yesterday I found out that Son Two isn't perfect - and I couldn't be happier!
P.S. If it turns out that this is hereditary, then he got it from Husband.
So happy to hear that!!! you must be so thrilled.