Am I better off staying nonverbal?

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I feel sad that you're so frustrated about this. It is possible though that you have appeared to reach a plateau, but that actually your brain is continuing to really work on oral-motor skills, and is kind of reorganizing itself a bit. Think of when a computer is giving you the message "processing... processing..." and you can't see what it is doing but there is actually a lot going on under the hood. You may have a plateau for a while, and then suddenly make a leap forward. I'm glad that it sounds like you have a good SLP.

When I get frustrated and feel like I'm at a plateau in something I'm working hard on, I try to remember Dori from Finding Nemo: "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming..." I have faith that if you keep going, you will break through this plateau and maybe even have a nice jump in skills.

It is hard, but your 13 year-old brain is still plastic.

Yes, keep at it. The temptation to quit is normal. But don't. Unless you want to live a chronically disabled life (which I sure hope you don't), it is necessary that you learn to speak verbally.

P.S. And you're not going in circles. Circles are a prelude to a major breakthrough.

You can also use alternative communication, like those iPad apps where you can type stuff in and they convert it into speech. Try to speak as well as you can, but at times when it's harder to do so, you can use the alternative methods.

Oh I'm chronically developmentally disabled special needs whether I get the speech part down or not.
That is just one of many problems I have. I was supposed to be completely nonverbal and in a wheelchair because of all my motor dysfunctions. I mean that's what the diagnosis was when I was little. I did not learn how to walk until I was past 4 years old. So yeah, if you saw me in real life you would know I was disabled right away.



Okay thanks, that sounds good and encouraging.



Right and do already. Tech is one reason why I'm tempted to chuck the speech therapy.
It's like who needs it when I have all this stuff to use?
.

Hi Ezra.

I hear what you're saying. I believe, growing up in an N.T. world, it's all about THEM, not us. (My bias shows)

It's: Learn to speak like everyone else. Learn to behave like everyone else. Etc., etc.

What could be worse in a N.T. world than not wanting to be an N.T.?

Did you know (I'm pretty sure you do) that there are a number of religious orders in which a vow is taken NOT to speak; gestures use (etc.) is common? How do they do this (?), is there a mystery(?), or is it possible to communicate effectively without words (obviously so)? Perhaps there needs to be an Asperger "order" somewhere?

Personally I think words are overrated but N.T.s are addicted to them and the wordy-ist people are elected and become successful politicians. This is considered a sign of capability and intelligence. (what?????)

Hang in there buddy; regardless of where you go and what you do, you have a very capable thinking instrument there; please treasure, protect and enjoy it.

denny

I know I am.

Then I say go with how you feel about it. Try to learn the things that you absolutely need to say in certain situations where it will be more difficult for you to use the technology. If you feel like you can achieve your goals in life without having to speak at all, then you can just use the technology. If something is extremely distressing for you to learn, then don't learn it. Try to do a cost-benefit analysis; see if learning the skill is worth the cost of time and effort that it is taking you to learn it.

BTW, the notion that we all need to fit into a certain norm in order to succeed in society is wrong. Self-advocacy and/or having other people to advocate on your side goes a long way. If you know how to do something, then good for you, but please don't underestimate the effort that it might take a different person to learn the same skill. If we all buy into ableism, then society will never become more accepting, even though it has LOTS of potential to include a huge diversity of people. Stigma is the real problem at hand. It's not inherent in the disability, but it's in other people's perceptions of these disabilities/differences.

I think if people thought you would not walk and you learned to, Ezra, that you are not done surprising people.

I think it's really frustrating fighting through whatever blocks you BECAUSE you are trying so hard against something difficult, and I think you are crying and having meltdowns from the frustration because this IS something you want. Otherwise, you could tune this out and not melt down.

So once you own this as something you want, it can help. Just my opinion. But meltdowns for me come from frustration not getting what I want or frustration/confusion over other people's behavior, and doesn't seem like you feel the speech therapist could do better for you.

Just what I get reading your posts, take this if it helps, discard if it doesn't.

I really enjoy your perspective Ezra. I'm sorry you are struggling. I think you will come through!

I wish I had some answer for you, but I was thinking about you at work today, sending you good wishes.