After The First Time, It’s Not So Hard

It’s been just over a year since we took Cordy for a developmental screening and started the process that would provide us with words like “autism” “spectrum” and “PDD-NOS”. Going to that screening is probably one of the best things we could have done for Cordy.

So today I’ll admit I was a little nervous when we carried Mira out of the car, through the cold parking lot and into that same developmental screening.

I have absolutely no reason to think Mira has autism, and that wasn’t the purpose of the visit. Instead, it was to evaluate her speech. At nearly 18 months, Mira still can’t say one intelligible word. Well, one intelligible word that someone learning English as a second language would understand.

We’ve come to understand and translate the few mangled words she says. “Aaaiii” is “hi” or “bye” depending on the inflection. “Aaa-ooo” – a phrase which she uses regularly – is “thank you”. There is no “mama” or “dada”. There are no consonants, really. Her speech sounds like someone talking underwater. Other than those few words, everything else is just random babble.

The evaluator began with a test of social skills. Mira happily played along, while also checking out everyone else in the room. Always the socialite. The evaluator asked her to feed a baby doll with a bottle, and with only a little prompting she did so. (Oh yeah, 18 months and already well ahead of her 4 year old sister in that skill.)

Next up was the ever-popular stacking blocks skills test. Mira could stack two, but each try to get to three ended with a crashing tower. Still, for her age that wasn’t bad. She also had a good throwing arm when it came to throwing a ball, but refused to kick a ball.

Finally it was time for the speech test. We were asked several questions, and based on our answers and the evaluator’s experience with Mira, she failed that section of the test. A child this age should have a minimum of 5-10 clearly spoken words, including saying mama or dada. They asked if we wanted her hearing checked, and we agreed. She passed for her right ear, and failed for her left ear. That doesn’t indicate a long-term problem – she’s had a cold recently, and it could mean she has a little fluid in her ear. We’ll take her to the doctor to have that ear checked out.

So with her first F comes a follow-up developmental evaluation and a planning session to determine what, if anything, we will do about this. Honestly, I’m not all that worried. Mira is brilliant, filled with the guile and resourcefulness of James Bond and MacGyver combined. She’s already learned how to push or pull a chair to where she needs it to be in order to obtain things out of her reach. She may not say much yet, but she understands every word said to her. And even if she never says a word, I know she’ll still charm the world with her sly smile and expressive eyes.


It’s really true that you’re more relaxed as a parent the second time around. My second child isn’t following the traditional pattern of development. Her speech is a little delayed – eh, I’ll deal with it. I’ve been through worse.

(And it was amusing to find out that Cordy is still remembered by the screening staff that saw her over a year ago. She had that effect on people, with the screaming and the head banging and the hiding under the table. Somehow I think they’ll be telling stories about her for a long time to come. I only wish we could have brought her today so they could see how far she’s come.)

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Comments

  1. Amelia Sprout says

    I would do anything with a grunt and a point for that smile and those eyes.

    I’m guessing you’ve already done the straw sippys and those other tricks already?

  2. I totally agree that the second one is easier. I hope Mira just has some residual fluid and applaud you for noting her delay early. Good luck!

  3. Tatum wasn’t to par with her words until she got her ear plugs – she has had them for 3 weeks and picked up 11 new words … it was amazing….
    Maybe Mira is talking because she doesn’t have too … maybe she is just fine not talking yet … a friend of mine baby didn’t say ANYTHING until she was almost 2 then she said “mommy I thristy” it was nuts!
    Good luck at the dr with the ear fluid and maybe next time take Cordy by for a visit … I bet they would be amazed with her progress I know I am!

    Good Luck

  4. You always take things in such stride. Your girls are so lucky to have you.

  5. Yup – we have the same story around our parts: the second child is very social and yet speech-delayed w/ hearing loss. In our case, we’re going to do tubes to drain the fluid (after we ruled out other possible causes of hearing loss.)

    And double-yup on the wishing the evaluators could see the progress with the first child. 😉

  6. She’s so big! But she still looks like she did a year ago, so beautiful.
    We’re dealing with therapy and speech delay issues over here tooll and like Mira, Myles understands much much more than he says, so somehow I really feel it will be okay.
    It must have been strange and scary to be making that visit back to the same doctor for the same evaluation.

    We’re in C-town for a week right after Christmas. Play date?

  7. It’s true with the second child you take things in stride so much better than with the first. My older son spoke really late and he’s perfectly fine. Appropriate that you shouldn’t be too worried about it considering she is actually talking.

  8. This post is remarkable. Even your tone of writing is noticeably relaxed! Mira sounds like she’s a pretty normal kid, who just hasn’t blossomed in speech yet. But I can imagine how difficult it was for you to contemplate another evaluation…

    It sounds as though Cordy is really making strides, eh? I’m really happy for you guys.

  9. I hope that her ear clears up, and that whatever decision you make goes well. She is lucky to have you as a Momma!

  10. The grandson, now 3 didn’t talk much either until the tubes were put in his ears. He had lots of *colds* that year between 1 and 2. I think the tube helped clear up the underwater sounds he was hearing so he didn’t talk so much like he was underwater. Not diagnosing, just passing along my experience. I talked with Mr. B just the other day and could make out just about everything said — now to understand a three year old on the phone is pretty amazing. I hope your little one has the same success during the next year.

  11. mothergoosemouse says

    Talking underwater. That is so apt.

  12. When I was reading, the first thing I thought was, “Have they tested her hearing?” Glad to see they did. Ask the evaluators to have an audiologist test her. They should help you out with obtaining that since you don’t have insurance, especially since she failed in one of the ears. Better safe than sorry, especially if they pay for it!