Friday, July 25, 2008

Iman's Speech Disorder



For those yang close dengan saya pasti tahu apa masalah Muhammad Iman. Secara fizikalnya dia tak ada apa-apa masalah. He's approaching 4yo, to be exact he's 3-years-and-7-months old. A GP nearby commented Iman is of good size for his age. He currently weights 18kg. Tak gemuk. Big size maybe.

The problem is, he doesn't speak as he should be or like other children of his age. He makes sounds nevertheless but in his own language. He says single words like fish, makan, air and kikkor and occasionally a 2-word sentences like apa tu, nak makan, nak mandi. His longest was (and still is) a 3-word which I remember until now Kakak duduk atas (Kakak was upstairs). Nak bercerita jauh sekali. However he is not in his own world, meaning he shows interest in socialising. But I'm quite sure his speech problem may hinder his ability to create friendship to certain point.

His paed said he is hyperactive. I'm not sure if I'm living in denial because to me he's just plain active. Well, maybe extra-active. To get his attention for just a little while used to be such a challenge, let alone to teach him from flash card and the likes. With exception for anything related to cars, lorries, vans and the likes. I think he has toned down a bit tho it is still difficult to get him sit down and engage in conversation. Except mealtimes when he babbles his own language. Maybe nak cakap tak sedap ke, I want more ke. I don't know. Most of the time he leaves us guessing. Failing to guess correctly, he throws tantrum and whatnots.

Tales or stories about hyperactive or active kids and their mischieviousness may be cute. To tell you the truth, it can drain you physically and mentally. Usah haraplah for proper dinner or lunch. Let alone to go on shopping spree. Kalau nak bawak berjalan, always pray he/she will at least behave a bit but also be prepared for hard times. Outing maybe cut shorter than you had planned. But I'm used to that, kind of.

During our last visit to his paed, we were referred to an ENT specialist in APSH. That would be the first step in assessing his problem. Tho we do not think it's due to any hearing disorder, we just follow the flow.

Today we brought him to an ENT specialist in APSH. We were 'scolded', sort of. Boys tend to start later than girls, he said. But 4yo is far too late. We should've gone and seen him 2 years ago when Iman was just 2. I remember seeing his paed and told him our worries but he said it was still early (when Iman was 2). Obviously these 2 doctors have different school of thought. ENT specialist then referred us to another audiologist as he doesn't do hearing test. In Iman's case, he needs BSER test. So far we have 2 options, one in Jalan Ipoh, Innovative Hearing and another one is in Gleneagles Intan. Anyone who has gone through this, I really appreciate if you could share your experience.

If hearing-disorder is ruled out, then speech therapist follows. and maybe phsycologist. and next phsychiatrist. Scary huh? I am not sure if I'm mentally prepared for things to come but I'd better get myself geared up, kan. Plain hyperactive, ADD, ADHD or even autism.

Apa-apa hal pun as a mother, I really hope and pray that Iman will catch up with his age and grow like he should be. Isn't that what all mothers wish for their children anyway?




12 comments:

Tyha said...

Kesiannya Iman,tapi x pe kak,walaupon sepatutnya umur 2 tahun dah kena wat treatment...sekurang2nya Iman masih belum terlambat.Tyha ada sorang kawan yang anaknya turut ada masalah pendengaran. Dlm umur 2 tahun dia cuma boleh sebut Mama dan abah.So my friend refer anak dia pada pakar ENT kat HUKM.Alhamdullillah...dpt kesan peringkat awal ketika budak tu berusia 2 tahun.Skang ni dia pakai satu benda kecik kat belakang telinga untuk membantu dia mendengar.Dan...perkembangannya memberangsangkan...dah banyak vocab yang dia tahu.Ialah selama ni dia cuma belajar bercakap melalui...gerak mulut tanpa mendengar...sebab tu dia jadi lambat bercakap dan x banyak word yang dia dapat. Sabar Kak ye...Inshaallah...walaupon banyak step yng iman kena tempuh...itu adalah lebih baik berbanding tiada perubahan apa2.Moga akak tabah ye.Sesetengah ibu-bapa menganggap anak berat mulut...lepas tu x kisah kalau dia x boleh bercakap dengan betul + hanya pandai sikit sangat vocab.Kena hantar check-up.Mcm kawan Tyha tu...lepas kena desak dengan cikgu2 kat Nurseri...baru dia hantar anak dia check-up.Sebab tu dia selalu pesan....kalau dua tahun anak masih kurang bercakap....kena hantar check...sekurang2nya,kalau dia ok...alhamdullillah...kalau perlukan rawatan...ia akan dapat dimulakan awal.

Anonymous said...

akak, this is actually quite new to me. when i first read about iman, i pun buat some research on hyperactive symptoms and i know it was quite difficult to tell sebab knowing boys memang lasak kan. anyway, just hope that iman will be treated as good as possible in any ways. and insyaallah he will be fine. and of course doa from umminye which i think you have done it since he born, rite...

Anonymous said...

K.tie, banyak2 bersabar.. Kita doakan semoga lepas treatment Iman will be better & show improvement.. julie

Zuraimah Ismail said...

Salam. Alahai, besar sungguh kasih sayang Allah dekat akak dan keluarga sampai diujiNya mcm ni. Banyak2 kan sabar dan doa ye. Insya-Allah, akan dipermudahkan Allah.

Anyway, walaupun akak kena marah ngn doc kat APSH tu, still saya rasa akak dah try d best for Iman. At least now dah start check masalah die kan..

So, be strong ummi. I believe, lots of prayers for the lil iman after this entry..:)

y@tipruzz said...

hope the journey will be a smooth-sailing one tho it sounds hard n daunting. keep up ur strength kak!

aida said...

i hope iman is OK.. insya Allah
of course, rasanya tinidewi pun ada masalah pasal speech anak sulung dia. then pergi hantar speech therapist, skrg ni kalau bercakap.. huh, dia kata dulu risau anak tak pandai bercakap, skrg cam bertih jagung

ops.. related to the story ke? i hope so

Farra Da Smiley said...

call u just now but no answer..i will call u later ok ..interested sgt ni

NeroEcha said...

I'allah iman will better n better..kita doa sama yer kak..kak dah buat ape yg terbagus utk iman..amin

Ummu Auni said...

hopefully everything will be turned out to be okay...Alhamdulillah bawa imaan cepat dah tu...

Hany FF said...

Just read about this. Tak sangka pulak Iman begitu (ya lah, kita jarang jumpa sejak Hany lahirkan Nufayl & lepas akak lahirkan Iman), apa pun...doa dan salam ke atas Iman dan ibu bapanya. Moga perancanganNYA yang terbaik mengiringi. Ameen.

nurminah said...

salam ummimon,

Iman saya pun ada problem lebey kurang sama.Cuma tambah lagi dia diagnosed with myoclonic epilepsy(bukan jenis yg pengsan-mulut buih).Sekarang umo Iman dah 4thn 5 bln.Belum pandai cakap lagi.

Alhamdullillah dah setahun tak kena sawan.Hyperactive toksah cakap la.Mmg susah nk pegi sana sini bwk dia.Kalau tinggalkan die kat umah kesian pulak.

Sokmo kena makan ubat.Dulu makan Ritalin tapi now Dr dah stopkan.Improvement-skang ni dah tambah vocab.Dulu boleh cakap 'Abah' jer.Tapi blom bley combine 2 words lagi.At the momment cuma Occupational Therapy, itu pun sebulan sekali kat HKL.Lepas baca blog akak ni, saya pun mcm nak hantar dia pegi speech therapy pulak..thanks kak for sharing Iman's story.

nurminah.blogspot.com

tak selalu update tapi ada sket2 citer pasal Iman saya.. :)

kaezrin said...

KAK TI..

sy harap semua ok...ade hikmah benda nih semua ok...
tp i really cant hekp in terms of nak advise or what sbb nih first time come across this..