Dakota's Days

Jul. 13, 2008

his speech

I am asked on occasion about Dakotas speech. I still consider him non-verbal because he dosnt really use his own words to express himself but really he is quite verbal. He talks constantly but it is pretty much all repeated stuff. He almost never  uses his own words to relay an idea. If he needs to get something across he will use a word or phrase that he has heard elsewhere, most times in a context that makes his point but not always something that would make sense to an outsider. For example... "Seatbelts everyone!!" (Magic School Bus)  is generally a request to go in the car somewhere. "what kind of cucumber are you?" (one of the Veggietales shows) is his latest expression for when he is confused by something. "Alfred, we have a problem" (Larry Boy)  sometimes with & sometimes without Alfred at the beginning, or "What are you thinking?" are his comments when he is supposed to do something & dosnt want to. I have heard him repeat entire scripts from veggie tales shows, including changing the voice for each character, & I have heard him sing songs yet he cannot/willnot  answer a basic question.  He can read words aloud that we cannot get him to say when not reading, of course when reading them he sounds them out then puts them together. That is actually how he learned to speak in the first place, making each letter sound then putting them together into the full word. Some things he does use properly though. For example, if he has an accident & messes himself many times he will come to me & say "bath??" (started one time when he had diarrhea & got a bath after each accident cuz it ran down his legs ) He is FINALLY starting to follow  directions though. I can simply call him from across the room that its time to "go potty" or "come inside" & about 95% of the time he will come right away, as opposed to me having to escort him. Also he has finally reached a point where I can say "go ask Daddy" or "go to Daddy" & he will go to dh. Up until just a few months ago if I said that he would look around blankly & dh had to call to him & one of the older dc would have to take his hand & walk him over to daddy.

• Post A Comment! • Send to a Friend!

Comments