As many of you know I'm in the process of having my 3 year old dd diagnosed. She has been tested for speech and showed a severe receptive/expressive language disorder with echolalic characteristics (she ranked in bottom 2 percentile). She started ST 3 weeks ago with two 30 minute sessions a week. Meanwhile, her pediatrician has referred her to a ped neuro for further evaluation to see if and where she may fall on the spectrum or if the language disorder stands alone.
The thing is since she's started ST, she's become noticably more verbal, using pronouns correctly a lot more and much much more spontaneous speech. She is also much more interested in her toys and has been actually playing with them in pretend play, which is getting increasingly more sophisticated (instead of just using them while reciting from a book or tv) and making up little scenarios and even dressing up. She is also doing and willing to try lots of things she just never did before; I can't even keep up with all the things she's doing now that she wasn't. It started when I was first worried about her a few months back and started researching and "working" with her at home. There was a noticable difference in her then right from the beginning. It's been like watching a little flower slowly but surely blossom.
But since seeing her ST it's been incredible. Today the ST made a comment (without any prompting or asking from me) about how much more verbal dd is (even from just last week's session) and how she's talking in 3-4 word sentences with much more spontaneous speech (that's up from 1 or 2 word spontaneous sentences)- and this is in ST with her therapist even, not just at home with me. Her echoing and reciting have dropped markedly. She also pretty much answers all questions now which used to be just met with silence and looking away or a firm "no".
DD has only had 5 sessions. She's already mastered some of the concepts she's working on, although she certainly still struggles with others. She loves her ST and approaches the whole thing like it's some big fun adventure but also like she knows she learning something that will help her (I can't explain that part, but it's something I sense. Like she knows her ST is there to help her and she takes the learning seriously). Her incredible success (combined with the dr. saying dd's unusual fears categoriezed as "normal") has me really wondering if there IS any more to this than a language disorder. I think no matter what her dx ends up being, she is intelligent, loving, a quick learner, very determined and just a joy - I can't help believing that come what may, she will be fine. I couldn't be more proud of my little girl.
I was just wondering if any one else's kid had such a marked reaction to ST outside of sessions that generalized to other aspects of behavior? I'm still going through with all testing and seeing this through to the end, just curious how others responded to ST. As always, thanks so much for being here through all the ups and downs!
I just wanted to let you know how happy i am that your DD has made so much progress!!! THAT IS ABSOLUTLY WONDERFUL!!!!!!
Karrie
I too want to extend a HUGE congratulations on a job well done.
Now, for your question about others w/ st and improvement. I have noticed the same thing. Ds has only had 2 sessions so far, and in the last week or so I have noticed a big improvement in him. He has started trying to mimic more and even doing more "normal" play and less of his constant strange repetitive play. He has seemed to try to repeat our words. He is interacting more. He still does his tongue thing, which I think is an oral stim, a lot. Now outside of home he is still basically the same as far as not social and what not. He still has tantrums, but they seem much milder lately. I don't know if it is all due to his St, or if it is something else. Maybe all along I've been going crazy over nothing and he's fine. Just a phase maybe? I have same questions as you as to what's up lol. I did take some online tests though that did put him barely in the autisitc area and on pdd test said he fit in the moderately pdd spot. So I am still going to persue checking into evaluation. I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors. I hope that she continues to do well and that it is all only the language disorder, which is probably in itself going to be a challenge. Sounds like she and you are both on the right path for a bright future ahead.
Amber
After Nate's first session we noticed a dramatic improvement. He had much more spontaneous speech, began pointing, and seemed to understand so much more! His echolalia decreased and his behaviors became much milder. After about 10 sessions now, he's becoming the same ol' Natey! Not to discourage you at all because the advice that our ST gave is that "In the beginning we unlocked the door for all of the information and knowledge that Nate had, and now that we can get the information out we need to unlock the door to TEACH him new information." It's almost like three steps forward and one step back. He's perfect for the basic information we wanted to get from him...basic personal info "How old are you?", "What's your name?", etc. but when it comes to concepts like, big/little, asking for needs, etc. he's still having difficulty. Not that it can't be done, but IT WILL BE DONE! just takes more time. Afterall, now I feel like I can communicate with my son! That was my MAIN goal...we've accomplished that!
Good luck! I'm sure that you will continue to see progress, even gradual...no matter how small, it's still forward progress! Congratulations to you and glad to see how far you've come!
~Hollie
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