“What your son is dealing with isn’t just a speech delay,” Dr. Vasquez said gently.
“It’s Ammonia Overload. And most pediatricians have never heard of it.”
She pulled her chair closer.
“Between 1 and 3 AM, your child’s liver tries to process a toxic buildup of ammonia. When it can’t keep up, that ammonia floods the brain like a shot of adrenaline. That’s your 3 AM wake-up.”
“And that same ammonia is stripping the nerve insulation your child needs for speech.”
“Wait,” I whispered. “The sleep thing and the speech thing are connected?”