Blake's speech

Well I haven't talked about Blake's speech in a while so I thought I'd update everyone. Blake is doing a lot better with his articulation. He is gaining more and sounds and now more words that are closer to correct articulation. We are focusing on consonant-vowel and vowel-consonant words and clearing up his long and short vowel sounds.

Over the last few weeks we have come to realize that Blake has some major oral planning issues. His mouth has trouble knowing where the lips, tongue and mouth need to be to form each letter. As an adult you take for granted saying sentences, never mind words and even individual sounds. Blake is having to learn how to move his mouth to form the sounds correctly, and this is not easy.

I get so excited when I hear him saying more words even if they are word approximations. When I can understand what he is trying to say it makes life so much easier.

I recently had a meeting with our school district about Blake. When he turns 3 he falls under the public school umbrella. In November, he will begin receiving speech at our local elementary school twice a week for 30 minutes each session. At this time, we are planning on continuing his speech with his other therapist also. Unfortunately this cost will now be out of pocket for us, but Richard and I feel that this continuity will be beneficial for Blake. It will also mean that he will have speech 3 days a week for 30 minutes a day... and that should be so worth it!

It's crazy to me that in only a few weeks Blake will be turning three. My goal for him is that he will be speaking clearly before he starts pre-K which won't be until 2011. I want him to be able to get the most of out his schooling and be able to shine and not shy away because he isn't understood... I don't think that's too much to ask... is it?