It is so exciting watching Erin’s language develop and blossom. I think it must be a thrill to see a child develop language regardless of their circumstances, but for parents of a deaf child, it is particularly moving.
I had expected her language to develop by mimicking words – she’d learn one word, then another and then another, until she was speaking. But that really is not how she has been learning.
She has started to truly babble. She sits and has long, drawn out conversations using the tones and sounds she hears people use when speaking. She uses all the same inflections, pauses, emphasis, etc. that a person would use in conversation, but no words are involved.
Her speech therapist and teachers have all said this is the best way to develop language – because it is the most natural. They have also said that her tone is very “normal”.
It is so fun to watch! She enjoys picking up a book and sitting on our laps while she “reads” to us, pointing at pictures.
She loves to take the newspaper and point to articles while expressing her expert opinion on whatever current event has her worked up.
This past weekend, she stood in the middle of the living room and gave us and a couple of her grandparents a long lecture on a matter that she found quite important.
We also hear her in her crib, talking to her bears. This is particularly touching, since she is not wearing her implant when she does this.
On top of her budding conversational skills, she has started to expand her vocabulary.
Her daycare teachers have reported that she frequently uses words in situations, with increasing consistency.
The most recent are “No, Thank You.” And “Read”.
“Eat”, “Milk”, “Dad” and “Bath” are favorites at home, although she still relies on sign for these more often than not.
She uses “Mama” mostly when she is frustrated about something. But I imagine this is typical. ;-)
It is just so fascinating to watch this progression. We frequently try to get video of her lectures, but the moment she sees the camera, she is far more interested in looking at herself on the screen than she is talking. But we will keep trying.
