Texoma Living Well Magazine November/December 2018 | Page 33
WHEN BABY DOESN’T SPEAK?
By Beth Appleby, M.Ed.
I
t is always amazing and exciting to
hear baby’s first babbles and coos.
The phone comes out and record-
ings get posted all over social me-
dia. How exciting to think that those
sounds and expressions are aimed at
the parent or caregiver with a purpose!
When the babbles turn into audible
words and then phrases, the family is
filled with pride. But all too frequently,
new parents are confused and frustrat-
ed when they scroll through social me-
dia posts of their friend’s baby cooing
and babbling while their own child
seems suddenly deafening silent or
earsplitting loud crying without consol-
ing. Why? What is wrong? Where are
our moments of adorableness? Should
I worry? Is he or she normal? What is
normal? When do I worry? How do I
stop the worry?
is get out the door. But if you can
take a moment and pull up a video
or hand the doctor a log of “inci-
dents,” it may make the difference
in getting the intervention needed
in time to make the greatest impact.
3. Don’t take no for an answer.
You are the best advocate for your
child. Those first months and years
are so overwhelming. You are in-
undated with opinions as to what 4. Ask if therapy is right for your
child. If you have insurance, the doc-
tor may be able to refer you for an
assessment or a few sessions with
TRC, as they are approved to take all
insurances. If insurance isn’t working
with you, again, don’t take no for an
answer. Keep trying until someone
listens. If you do not have insurance,
try to find a center like TRC that is
willing to work with you to get the
help you need.
you should or should not do. How-
ever, you are the voice for your
child. Keep asking for answers.
Do not be afraid to change pe-
diatricians or practices. Dr. Baby
Whisperer may work miracles for
your friend but may not be work-
ing for you. Just because all the
moms in the playgroup use that
practice, it may not be the right
place for your child. You have the
right to choose and the right to
change your practice. There are so many reasons and caus-
es that could be interfering with your
child’s speech, but it could be as simple
as your child is taking their own time
to start to talk. Before you fall down
a path of despair, seek help from the
professionals. As with all things child
related, comparing your child’s devel-
opment to your friend or neighbor’s
child isn’t always the best guide. Trea-
sure the accomplishments of your own
child and don’t be afraid to fight for
help when you think there is a delay.
These are all questions that run through
the minds of many parents and care-
givers more frequently than not. The
Speech Department at The Rehabilita-
tion Center of Sherman has a few tips
that might help with these questions.
1. When in doubt, skip the In-
ternet and call the pediatrician. In
the early years of development,
your pediatrician is a good source
of guidance and knowledge.
Though it is tempting to use Web
MD, or scroll Facebook for the lat-
est tales, expert opinion should
come from the expert––not the
well-meaning friend or relative.
2. Keep a log, either written or
video or a combination of both.
This will help the pediatrician see
or hear what you are seeing and
hearing. Usually, the doctor has a
limited amount of time to see you
and your baby and, chances are,
baby is not cooperating. She/he
is fast asleep or screaming uncon-
trollably and all you want to do
If you would like to learn more about The Rehabilitation Center or inquire about how you can help support their efforts,
please visit their website at www.TheRehabCenter.net.
TEXOMA AREA Living Well Magazine | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
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