with all the craziness of Jovie’s Autism and now Rett Syndrome journey, I must admit that I wasn’t ready to face possible challenges that Jasper might have. sounds a bit slack, doesn’t it? yeah i think that too.

a couple of months ago, i sorted myself out enough to find a speech therapist for Jasper. his speech, at 4 and a half, is still unclear to others, he repeats himself alot to get a sentence out and there were just a few other things that I wanted to check on before he heads to kindergarten next year.

he’s been diagnosed with a mild language and speech delay, and is working hard every day to improve his skills. our homework for this fortnight is practicing ‘in front’, ‘behind’ and ‘next to’. and we’re still trying to keep his tongue back in his mouth, so he doesn’t lisp as much when he speaks.

i still wonder how much of it is ‘just Jasper’, how much of it is ‘normal’ and how much isn’t. whether having a non-verbal sister has effected his development, whether he’ll just grow out of it. i still have a referral for Jasper to see Jovie’s developmental paediatrician, because there’s a tiny part in me that wants to be cautious. but there’s another part of me that says that he just needs time and support.

so maybe i’m right and he’ll be fine, or maybe i’m wrong and will be called into the principal’s office next year. but i think he’s doing the best he can, so i’ll keep doing what we’re doing because it’s all for him, and we can’t forget that.