I was born with Autism, and could not speak until I was 8 years old. This was very frustrating, as there were many things that I wanted to say but I could not connect my brain to my lips. My first and second grade teachers were concerned that I may have been deaf, as all I could do was mumble or make noises.
When I was 7 years old my Dad came home with a tape recorder. He turned it on, gave me the mike and told me to make whatever sounds I wanted. I suddenly got the brilliant idea to turn on the TV. Eyewitness News was on, and I slowly began to imitate the announcers, though in a monotone voice. One day I went up to my Mom and said, "Hi, Mom - what's for dinner?". She almost fell on the floor when she heard me speak.
By the time I got to the third grade, the teacher was complaining that she couldn't shut me up! I had so much to say, and went from one extreme to the other. I eventually graduated high school, went on to college and then landed a job on a local radio station as a disc jockey. Today you still can't shut me up LOL.
Bay Shore, NY