SPEECH THERAPY FAMILY

We received some good news from the Occupational Therapist for Hunter and Mason. They no longer need services!! They have finally caught up with their peers in this area. It came as quite a surprise. I am sure that 1 year of gymnastics/tumbling with an OT also helped, as well as the in-school therapy and out-of-school OT. YEAH!!

Now, we focus on Speech. All three boys were evaluated again and they still need services. Hunter is age 6 years and 3 months in his pragmatic language (his real age is 10 1/2). Mason's needs are different; articulation and social skills. Of course, Ryder needs everything.

It's so strange that each kid has different needs/challenges when they are from the same gene pool. You'd think they would be a little more similar. I guess that's why they call it a SPECTRUM.

Bill is getting ready to start Speech himself. He has difficulty with pragmatics and social skills. He has learned throughout his life to "copy" how other people survive socially, just to get by--but finally he is able to get the therapy that he needed so long ago.

I'll have to post a conversation we have had as an example. It really is humorous at first, then absolutely frustrating to no end later as these conversations continue every day. Hunter is the most annoyed with it. Well, I guess he's right up there with me. Hmmm...Let me think of one...

Bill: "Hey Steph, when was my last physical with the doctor?"
Steph: "I think it was last May"
Bill: "You mean a year ago last May, or this past May?"
Steph: "No, just this last May."
Bill: (clarifying...) "You mean a YEAR ago in May, or this PAST May?"
Steph: (trying to contain my eye roll) "Just this last May...How hard is that to understand?!"
Bill: "That's what I'm trying to find out. All I want to know is if it was a year ago, or this past May?"
Steph: "Just a few months ago".
Bill: "A few as in three or twelve? It depends on the context, you know"
Steph: (by this time I have pulled out all of my hair) "Now I don't want to tell you!"


Whew!! Ok, ok, so I exaggerated a little bit, only at the end, but it is TRULY frustrating. You can only imagine when Bill and Hunter go at it. It always ends up with Hunter stomping off and coming up to me with daggers in his eyes and he says, "See?!"

I think Speech Therapy will be FANTASTIC!!