Speech Therapy

J had a speech therapy evaluation last week. It went really well, if speech therapy evaluations can go well...

:)

Miss Jane is J's new therapist. Nice lady. She was surprised at how well J spoke. She had prepared one test but realized after talking with J for 2 seconds that she needed the other one, the one she uses only "once every five years or so". She couldn't find it but improvised to get "a score". J, she maintains, is the highest functioning Aspie she's met in a looooong time :)

I think it's because we sold/gave away all our TVs. (We still watch DVDs and videos on our computer, though. But only on weekends!)

J and V have recently begun communicating more together on their own. I enjoy listening to their playful chatter as they interact. Miss Jane says it's wonderful that J has a playmate like his sister and that we should continue to encourage and direct role playing to help him (and her!) learn how to handle everyday social situations.

So, since we have insurance that covers it, we're going to take J to speech therapy once a week for half an hour...for maybe six months? J just needs some help brushing up the finer points of communication :)

I guess he has a lisp, too. I never realized it, but Miss Jane's going to work on it.

If J had been born 20 years ago, Miss Jane tells me, he would've been mainstreamed, become an engineer, and been considered quirky! This is why I am coming to the belief that Asperger's is not a syndrome, but an extreme personality type (especially since I believe I'm an Aspie, too, but that's for another post).

:)

J's Diagnosis

(I picked this picture in spite of the dirt that he enjoyed throwing all over his head, not because of it :) )
It's official - Asperger's, a mild form of autism characterized by social awkwardness and obsessive interests (sea creatures, in J's case). It's a relief to know, on many levels.

We need to see the developmental pediatrician on post to get enrolled in EFMP (Exceptional Family Members Program). We need to call the local school system about a full evaluation, though I don't know how that all works with homeschooling.

I talked with a long-time friend of mine who is a pediatric occupational therapist. She works mostly with autistic children and reminded me of several things:

1. God knows what He's doing and has great plans for J.
2. Hubby and I are Judah's best teachers and therapists since we know him best and love him most.
3. Good therapists will be a great help in showing us issues we don't see and giving us strategies to help him overcome obstacles.

It's not hard or overwhelming to think about these things, just different. We're ready and willing to do whatever it takes to give J a good education (spiritually, academically, socially, etc) and the same shot in life we're going to give his younger sisters. It's not going to be bad or burdensome, this new journey, just different...and very, very rewarding, I have the feeling.

Sooooo....here we go!

Now he's writing!

J just came up to me and informed me that he had written the word "fish". I come to the whiteboard in the kitchen and find this:



After I get over my shock, I grab the camera and capture the momentous, uh, moment!

Minutes later he tells me he's spelled "cat".



He then proceeds to write Nemo, Marlin, Dory, Mr. Ray, and Tad. He's so smart!



(sorry this pic is fuzzy.)