speech evaluation: step 3

Today we met with Tracey, the speech pathologist. She was very nice which has helped in this process a lot.

She listened to Tristan tell her about the zoo (we visited yesterday)...or tried to understand when he was saying. I caught "penguins" and that was about it.

Then she wanted him to sit down, look at these pictures in this book, and answer questions about them. i.e. These kids have jackets on, can you show me her jacket? Can you point to the animals? Can you count the bears? etc Fine and dandy but he got bored/the questions got harder. She said when the questions get harder, the kids try to flee when they're this age. I also think he just hates sitting still for so long unless it's a book he's familiar with.

She had some toys for him to play with and had him do some things with. i.e. The bear is thirsty (wanting him to give the bear a "drink"). Can you put some of these blocks over here? And letting him play with a wind-up toy, wanting him to ask for help (but he didn't because he just made it jump by himself and then moved on to a different toy).

It was interesting to me some of his answers. Once he called a horse a car (he knows horses although sometimes mistakes them for cows). He gave me a cup and said "mommy's" but doesn't seem to know other possessives. Has no idea what "my" or "mine" means. Sort of understood "his" and "hers" (although he doesn't necessarily get who is a boy and who is a girl - he said I was a boy this morning and he whistles when you say girl...like we taught him LOL). He used the spoon to "stir" the cup like he sees his daddy do when he makes his chocolate milk. Moose surprised Tracey by knowing how to count and knowing his colors - that was awesome.

I do wish she would have had methods to getting him to sit down better. Mostly it was me holding him while he's saying "up up" (which means up/down/off/on). It can't be easy working with 2-year-olds. She said he has all of the sounds that he should at this age (b m n w and maybe some more, I can't remember).

I asked what she thought and she didn't want to give me a definitive answer because she wanted to run all of her data and make a report. So I guess I'll hear at the big meeting. I'm stressed about all of this; I think it reflects on me, you know? It's hard to see your child being evaluated. Big A says that's why he thinks it's jumping the gun to have this evaluation at this age, but I figure that if they see a problem and we can fix it, the earlier the better (not knowing if there is a "problem" right now).

Now we just wait for step 4: early childhood education specialist (or teacher?) and then the big meeting.

Comments

At least he has all his sounds down! Aiyana was missing a few at her eval. Do not stress, you do not want to worry about it and find out everything is okay. 2 year olds have a hard time paying attention, so getting though evals is pretty difficult.
Erin said…
Don't sweat it! All kids learn at different rates and what's most important is that your child is progressing and continuing to learn new things!! Trust me I've had the same brain waves when it came to Christopher walking and talking and all that. Sounds like he's doing great!!!
That sounds so stressful...keep us posted!
LadyBug-Kellie said…
I know this must be hard for you...but I really would not worry too much about it! It sounds like he is doing really well and has a lot of skills that other 2 year olds do. If anything, they may find he needs a little extra help, but that's not a bad thing. It's a good thing to get them help now instead of when they are already in school, etc.

I have my Daughter's 3 yr checkup this coming month and it makes me nervous...as Parents it is hard to watch our kids struggle or see others question their skills.

Good luck with your next appt!
Vicki said…
We put our then 2-year-old in speech therapy for a couple of months because of bad ear infections in the first year of her life. It didn't take her long and now you would never tell. Whatever the pathologist comes back with will only be designed to help your child. Maybe that will make it a little bit easier...:)
EmmaP said…
i was worried because my oldest couldn't say his L's or R's. They both came out like W's. There was a speech pathologist that lived in our neighborhood. She told me that she could still understand him, and that most "toddler impediments" will correct themselves when they learn to read and sound out phonics. I think you are smart to check him out before kindergarden, that's for sure. I know a lady whose first son spoke just fine. Her second son had a horrible time with lisping and with r's. someone tried to tell her. She got way defensive, said he was just a toddler. Well, then child #3 came along, and guess how he learned to talk? yep, from big brother. By the time they were elementary school, the peech pathologist had a hard time with the 2nd child. the mother now says looking back she wishes she didn't take it so personal and hadn't become so defensive. poor thing. It is definitely hard to watch our kids go through stuff like that. Good luck!

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