# Liam Speaks! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 9, 2000, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-speaks/44713 "2000-12-09T01:01:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-speaks/44713/1 "2000-12-09T01:01:20Z")
I don’t know if many of you are familiar with the problems my son Liam has had. He’s just turned four years old and so far hasn’t uttered a single intelligible word. It’s been a real struggle for the past few years wondering what’s going to become of him. His school has gone as far as to begin teaching him ASL in an attempt to get him to communicate. But … This evening one of his therapists was working with him at dinnertime, saying “All Done?” and making the hand gestures for it, and you could hear him quite clearly say “Awww Uhhnn” along with her. It’s not quite complete, but the vowel sounds and the “copying” behavior are definately there. I almost started crying right then and there. ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-speaks/44713/2 "2000-12-09T01:05:00Z")
Euthychus, I had no idea about your son’s problems, but I teared up reading your message! What a wonderful, hopeful thing for you all! I have a friend who’s son has a severe speech problem and I know that it presents many, many challenges both for the child and the family and the school, as they try to find a way to help this extremely bright and wonderful boy to communicate with the world. I hope his progress continues in leaps and bounds. Hugs to you all! ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Lord\_Davidson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bc8723/32.png) [@Dark\_Lord\_Davidson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Lord_Davidson)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-speaks/44713/3 "2000-12-09T01:05:29Z")
Congratulations Liam and Euty! I hope this is a good sign for what’s to come! ---
**Author:** ![ShamaFrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@ShamaFrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShamaFrog)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-speaks/44713/4 "2000-12-09T01:17:10Z")
{{{{{{{{Euty and Liam}}}}}}}} Thanks for sharing your son’s great milestone with us, Eutychus. My wishes are with you and Liam in his further verbal adventures. I hope you keep teaching him ASL as well, he would be one of the lucky few to be able to experience both hearing and deaf culture. He’s a lucky kid to have a father like you. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-speaks/44713/5 "2000-12-09T01:23:03Z")
awesome! ---
**Author:** ![Catrandom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@Catrandom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catrandom)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-speaks/44713/6 "2000-12-09T01:24:17Z")
I’m so pleased to hear it! Good for Liam (one of my favorite names, btw); and may he soon be talking your ear off! ---
**Author:** ![Odieman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a87d85/32.png) [@Odieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odieman)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-speaks/44713/7 "2000-12-09T01:29:25Z")
Woo hoo!!! ::Odieman does the happy dance for Euty and Liam:: Great news!!! ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-speaks/44713/8 "2000-12-09T01:34:45Z")
Aw, hon, that’s so awesome 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Demo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demo/32/8472_2.png) [@Demo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demo)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-speaks/44713/9 "2000-12-09T01:36:58Z")
Euty, I didn’t know until I read your story at Teemings. I cried my eyes out when I did. I have three young’uns myself. I’m so happy for you guys! ---
**Author:** ![Rasa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rasa/32/3578_2.png) [@Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rasa)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-speaks/44713/10 "2000-12-09T01:37:46Z")
I read about your sons in Teemings, I think. Or your webpage. Doesn’t matter. I can only imagine the challenges you and your sons face every day, and I truly admire how you handle it. Keep up the good work, Liam. ---
**Author:** ![Rasa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rasa/32/3578_2.png) [@Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rasa)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-speaks/44713/11 "2000-12-09T01:40:16Z")
Aww, shucks… I cried too Demo. If you’re man enough to admit it, so’m I. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![timmar68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/97f17d/32.png) [@timmar68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/timmar68)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-speaks/44713/12 "2000-12-09T02:01:55Z")
Woohoo! They never knew if Greg would talk, either, but now I can’t shut him up! \ Hug Liam for me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-speaks/44713/13 "2000-12-09T02:08:11Z")
Whoo Euty man! I had the apparently common reaction to your post. That’s great, my best wishes to all of y’all. If you’re not already aware of it, you might want to check out Thomas Sowell’s book _Late Talking Children_. ---
**Author:** ![Geobabe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/geobabe/32/3908_2.png) [@Geobabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geobabe)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-speaks/44713/14 "2000-12-09T02:17:28Z")
Yaayyyy! Euty, I’m so happy for you and Liam! Thank you for sharing that with us; it’s so wonderful to hear good news from you! Here’s a big hug for you {{{{{Euty}}}}} and {{{{Liam}}}} and a \ for you for good measure. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-speaks/44713/15 "2000-12-09T02:28:22Z")
Congratulations! Does he use any ASL? ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-speaks/44713/16 "2000-12-09T02:30:58Z")
that’s wonderful!! What a great story! I’m all goose-bumpy thinking about it! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jester/32/8223_2.png) [@Jester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jester)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-speaks/44713/17 "2000-12-09T02:37:10Z")
:):):):):):):)🙂 Yay Euty and Liam! Congrats on the milestone, and thanks for sharing with all of us!! ---
**Author:** ![Scotticher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Scotticher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scotticher)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-speaks/44713/18 "2000-12-09T02:41:49Z")
And I thank the good Lord, Patrick. You are an amazingly wonderful father, a terrific person, and a sweetheart to boot. Congratulations! May your Liam start talking until you wish he would just shut up, already! Scotti ---
**Author:** ![Medea\_s\_Child](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Medea\_s\_Child](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Medea_s_Child)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-speaks/44713/19 "2000-12-09T02:57:23Z")
_snif_ So cute! I remember worrying about my little sister Anna’s development. She didn’t talk for a long time, she didn’t learn to roll over until long after she could walk, she was content wherever she was to simply be. (Her first word was “deja vu”…she’s an odd, odd little thing) Good to hear Liam’s verbal! Hugs and bounces of celebration! ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-speaks/44713/20 "2000-12-09T04:14:39Z")
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! [hijack] I first read the title as “Iam Speaks!” [byejack] [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liam-speaks/44713.md?page=2)