Kyliava loves sitting at her toddler desk and doing worksheets!
So at 18 months old, Kyliava tests on the cognitive level of a 3-year-old, yet scores ZERO in verbal skills. She amazes her therapists with the things she can do at her young age... but she just won't talk to us. Half the time it's like she's deaf, she just seemingly doesn't hear anything you say to her, even loud noises don't scare her.
She can use 104 words in sign language to communicate... not watered-down baby sign language, but real American Sign Language. She even teaches it to her therapists! I was always skeptical of teaching babies sign language, I could see how it could CAUSE language delays. But at 14 months I started teaching it to her (I had begun learning it in Middle School) and she picks up on everything SO quickly! I only have to show her a sign once or twice for her to use it correctly. Most children her age can say 12-15 words consistently... Kyliava won't talk, but has an amazing "vocabulary" with her 100+ words in sign language. We were shopping in Lowe's the other day, and employees and customers gathered around her to watch her "talk" for about 20 minutes!
She can tell you the sound that each letter of the alphabet makes... that really astounds people! (I wonder if the local kindergarten could use her to teach the 5-year-olds LOLOL!!!) She can draw circles, triangles, squares, and other things that you tell her to, and she is *this close* to writing her name. She knows her colors and shapes.
She does many things very well that children more than twice her age are just learning... so why won't she TALK?
Is our Heavenly Father showing us more of His sense of humor in Kyliava? I thank Him every day for this very special child He has given to us!!!
