Speech Eval Update

starrysmile18

For those of you helping me through and following Carter's speech delays...

We went to another evaluation today. It was 45 mins in traffic to get there, but the woman has great references and 30 years of experience.

Within the first 15 mins, she basically said that he's got Apraxia, which brought me to tears just because I'm an emotional mess already. 

Carter has never had it easy since birth. Brain edema, followed by 8 days in the NICU for the cooling method and observance , followed by PT starting at 2 mo for low muscle tone, followed by a helmet from 5mo-9mo followed by more PT and now we're battling speech issues. This kid is only 2 and has had a world of services already.

I'm just REALLY overwhelmed and I just want this sweet little boy to be happy and have a few things in life come easy for him.

So now, moving forward we're going to talk to the insurance company and get his new evaluation sent to his pedi to see if we can be qualified to a clinic closer to home.  I guess if I'm asking anything it's to keep my Carter man in your prayers!!!

Thanks for letting me put this here.

hmp1

Hugs! I'm glad you are getting answers and the services to help him. At least one thing came easily to him, a fantastic mom willing to be his advocate! Good job!

MRoxy0628

I agree with what @hmp1 said.  I'm sorry you guys are having to go through this.  I hope he is able to get the help he needs and that you'll be seeing improvement soon! 

Pokedot

I'm sorry. He's such a trooper and so are you. Big hugs! We're always hear to listen.

TiffanyT85

Sorry that you're having to go through this. Hopefully you can find something close to home for treatment.

jenndub

Agree with @hmp1. Good luck with everything and good job on being an awesome mom and making sure your little guy gets the help he needs.

melody921

Just the fact that he's going to get the ST he needs will make all the difference. 

BeebopandBuddy

Hugs for you guys. You are doing all the right things in making sure he gets what he needs. I hope things get a little easier for both of you.

smb+jab

Hugs.  But you seem to be on the right track in getting him the help that he needs.  you are doing a great job!

starrysmile18

@Sahara78- He's been with the EI program (which goes through our school district) since 2 months. For awhile he was getting PT and OT, and we even did PT through outpatient to give him an extra session during the week. He's been getting Speech since May, but only 2x mo if that in the summer months, and now they're doing it weekly, but the lady is not very proactive with him, and it's been frustrating. Each EI group comes in teams and I've looked into getting a new lady for speech but she comes with the "team." Its more complicated than it should be. 

starrysmile18

duplicated post sorry

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Holly_1007

Keeping you guys in my thoughts!

AKB090609

I hope the new eval gets insurance to approve the services that he needs. Good work advocating for your kiddo!

starrysmile18

Thank you ladies. It's been an emotional day! I've talked to his pedi and she's determined to get him the services he needs. That's a step in the right direction . @harti09 We did primarily insurance based private physical therapy and EI was supplementary as well. If we can get approved for ST with insurance, I'd like to do it this way as well. EI is a little to relaxed for what C needs right now.

tinyhumantoe

jenndub said:

Agree with @hmp1. Good luck with everything and good job on being an awesome mom and making sure your little guy gets the help he needs.

This is exactly what I as going to say.  I'm sorry, it breaks my heart for him and for you guys to have to go through this.  You are doing a great job - I think these are the things that they say you have to take one step at a time.  I think it's all too much for anyone to handle, and it sounds like you are doing all the right things.  I will be thinking of sweet Carter and sending him love!

AlinnJo

That's a lot to take in right now! I think you did an awesome job being a advocate for your son. I'll be thinking of you!

linzeek44

Way to be an advocate!
I hope you and Carter see some fantastic results with your therapists.

EI should be teaching you strategies to do with him- or teaching his teachers or caregivers strategies. That's the latest trend in EI. Instead of doing. Therapy work themselves the focus is supposed to e on getting others who are with the child more comfortable with doing strategies that will help. If you feel like you aren't getting that, you really can ask for a new person Or ask for more resources or other approaches or something so that you can feel like it's worth it. I really hope you get the services he needsand that they kick it up a notch and give you quality EI.

miss50

Thinking about you guys. Stay positive and Carter will follow your lead.

cmumama

I know going through so much at such a young age is overwhelming, but it'll all be worth it.  DS1 had issues starting very young as well.  He started PT at 3 months old and is still getting it.  He also gets OT and speech.  He's had several surgeries as well (his most recent surgery was just this past July).  It's so hard as a parent to watch your kid go through so much, but DS1 is doing great and is a happy, thriving almost 5 year old.  Hang in there.  You are doing great!

kelbel527

You're being a great advocate for your little man!  It's so overwhelming to have to go through so much, but he's lucky to have you! 

27boo

He's lucky to have you for a mom. Hopefully all of the help you're getting for him now will make his life easier later on. I'm sure it will. Like @linzeek‌44 said, hopefully they teach you and other caregivers strategies to help as well. DD is currently being evaluated through the birth -3 program and everyone we've worked with has been wonderful. They said they will come to the house and work with her and us and go to daycare a few times so her teachers there can know what's going on as well. I'm sorry your EI program isn't more helpful.

BeachBabe22

My six-year-old identical twin nephews have apraxia.  They were not diagnosed until they were in kindergarten because the doctors always said it was "twin talk" and they would grow out of it.  They've been receiving speech services since they were two but their speech didn't start to get much better until they were diagnosed and now receive services through the county five days a week.  Their speech is also much better now that they are sounding out words and learning how to read.  It's been a really long process and my sister has been very upset about it but their speech is definitely improving a lot over the past year. 

I am a teacher and my other sister is a guidance counselor so we made sure that my sister going through this knew her rights when it came to IEP's and what the boys should be receiving.  It's sad that sometimes kids don't receive the right amount of services because their parent's aren't informed. I hope things get better with EI and he shows a big improvement!