Pediatric Neurologist

We saw the pediatric Neurologist yesterday. I was pleased that my personal assesment matched the specialists. The verbal apraxia seems to be our only major issue. AJ has a few other "soft signs" but they are minor and place him on the lower end of the normal range of development. While I knew in my heart that this was probably the case I also needed to hear it from a specialist.

More good news. His new school just held thier first IEP with me. For the most part it went very well. We have some issues to work out regarding the level of coomunication I expect from them. But AJ is doing well. When they tested him (and granted it was less extensive testing) They found him 80% intelligible. This is up from 40% back in January. The new SLP stated that if she hadn't read the initial IEP she wouldn't have inagined he was ever that bad. I am thrilled of course though she and the head of the program at EMU are both questioning the accuracy of the apraxia diagnosis. (Which the neurologist did confirm as apraxia) I don't care what it is because the treatment we have been following for apraxia is working. So I let them know we would be continuing the path that we have been on. Once his teacher gets used to the idea that I will hold her accountable and am not a parent who will not stand by and say "whatever you think is best" we'll be fine. The bar was set very high by his last school and they will have to work to meet the level I have come to expect but it is possible. And he and the other children deserve a full effort.

I think AJ has a crush on Erin- His therapist at the EMU clinic. He wants to go there all the time and is sad when it is not a "speech day" She's young and sweet and gives him one-on-one undivided attention. What's not to like? I love that she can keep him on task and make their work fun. This program has been a life-saver. I have no idea what we would have done without it.

Life keeps going on and on and I am grateful every day for the many blessings in our lives. We have eachother, enough to eat, good health, a beautiful home and a great support network of family and friends. There are so many with so much less than us. I want my children to recognize this fact and be cognizant of how fortunate they are.