Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Do You Hear What I Hear?

In an attempt to get Audra to speak, I have decided that rather then letting her use sign or pointing to get what she wants, I am going to try and get her to say the word, or at least try to. Here is how our lunch conversation went today:

Me: Would you like an orange?

Aud: (nods her head "yes")

Me: Say 'orange.'

Aud: Daddy.

Me: Say 'OR-ange"

Aud: Daddy.

Me: Say 'OR-ANGE'

Aud: Daddy.

Me: (Give in and give her the orange and wonder if she will ever speak)

Any suggestions???

5 comments:

  1. She will. Don't worry. The important part is that she's communicating. Letting you know what she wants. My youngest didn't say much at first either and when he finally did only I could understand the 'Nash speak'. He's almost three now and talks fine.
    Before you know it, she'll be announcing to the entire Sacrament meeting that she needs to go poo-poo, and you'll wonder where the quieter days went.

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  2. Joshua is kind of the same way. He picked up a few signs really quickly, but when I started prompting him to actually speak, he resisted. The only word he actually wanted to say was "more," because that is what we had him sign when he wanted more food.

    After persisting a little, though, he now says "woof woof" and "mew mew" when he sees dogs and cats, respectively, and he says "Mama" readily. One word he has never said, though, despite my frequent attempts: Daddy.

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  3. We got the same problem here. Always Daddy. I have bought a couple books full of "things" that we can name, but I'm not sure there's more you can do besides that sort of "give them the tools" mindset. I'm sure it will take off. Nathan talks A LOT, it's just jibberish at this point.

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  4. Perhaps if you only asked questions to which "Daddy" is a perfectly valid answer, like:

    Audra, whose turn is it to take out the trash?

    Audra, who should change your diaper?

    etc.

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  5. Just keep introducing her to new words with books and speech coming from you and Ben and don't worry; she'll pick it up. Like most things they don't do it when we are forcing them to or really want them to, but it will happen and she will not turn out slower in school just because she did not talk as fast as you wanted her to, or possibly as fast as others around her have. She is at least understanding and able to communicate with you, that is what's important.

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