It all makes sense now. Duh!!

A couple of months ago we would look at Marissa and ask her to say "Mama" and "Dada" and she did. Since then she has only been saying those words while she is babbling, not purposefully. Recently, when we sit her down and ask her to say those words, she says "Rara". We try to pronounce them very slowly and deliberately, but still all she can say is "Rara" for both Mama and Dada. I was getting concerned last night until I remembered my sister Michelle had similar problems as a toddler. I brought it up to Jeremy and he told me he also had speech issues as a toddler. Well, both Michelle and Jeremy had recurring ear infections and had tubes placed. After they got their tubes, their speech improved. This is because they were hearing the words incorrectly before they got the tubes! Ear infections are due to kid's ears filling with fluid and not being able to drain properly. Can you remember going swimming as a kid and getting water in your ears that just wouldn't drain? All day long it sounded like your head was still under water. This is what is happening to Marissa. She is pronouncing the words just like she is hearing them!
Poor Kiddo! August 8th can't come soon enough.