Gracelyn's Evaluation

Gracelyn was evaluated Thursday, August 18 for possible treatment/therapy. She was tested on many areas: adaptive, personal-social, communication, motor, cognitive and language. It took about an hour and she was totally exhausted towards the end. The therapist had all sorts of activities that Gracelyn was asked to do and she was able to do and enjoyed many of them. G was asked to match smaller blocks to the larger version, also match the blocks of the same colors, and with 3 objects in front of her, a shoe, ball and utensil, Gracelyn was asked which she put on her foot, played with, ate with. The lady gave G a crayon and asked her to draw in linear and also in circular motions. Looking at a picture book Gracelyn was to tell her what the objects were and the lady put a cheerio in a slender jar to see if G could retrieve it. Lots of different games in the hour and lots of questions for mom about what all Gracelyn does.
At the end of the hour I was told that Gracelyn does not qualify for the treatment, which is great! She has to be lacking by 25% in 2 areas or 50% in 1. She is "normal" for her 22 month range and even above her age range in some areas. The therapist said G is actually above the 22 month range for communication. While it's great that she does well with communication, it's definitely not by talking. She signs, points, takes us by the hand to show us, or just repeats "baba" "gaga" "mama" over and over and over. The issue is that she doesn't articulate her words. Because Gracelyn attempts to say words (and isn't mute like most younger siblings are when the older siblings speak for them) the therapist believes she knows them and has them but cannot say them, whether it's from lack of mouth muscles stemming from botulism or from her frequent ear infections, leading up to tubes back in the Spring.
Either way Gracelyn needs help and that is what we will do. The therapist gave me lots of tips to work with Gracelyn at home. We have begun them and we think G is really responding. The pediatrician had told me to stop responding to Gracelyn's signing. Gayle, the therapist was NOT happy about that. She said if that is how G is communicating and I'm ignoring her then she will shut down completely. not good. So encourage signing still, even make up more signs for everything. When Gracelyn signs, repeat that word 5-10 times. Also give her lots of milkshakes to drink with a straw and even put a straw in pudding, blow bubbles, give her chewy foods and encourage chewing on specific objects such as a toothbrush (in her chair, not running around with it.) All of this will work mouth muscles.
So our household pretty much sounds like birds, with Ryan and I repeating single words and now even the boys "help." Gracelyn is definitely talking more and can say "me" with the long "e" sound. That is great for her because it's been sort of an "a" sound like "may".