handsful

See…anything and everything can function as a step stool.

Lainey had her in-home evaluation by our state’s Small Steps program.  She is eligible for services through them based on her cleft issues and will be in the program until she ages-out at 3 years old.  At that time, we’ll go back to private speech therapy.  We had the program coordinator, an occupational therapist, and a speech therapist come to do the evaluation.  Lainey was shy at first, but quickly warmed up to them…especially when they brought out a few toys and pictures.  Oh, and the cake sprinkles (used to test her fine motor skills) were a bit hit. 

So, this is what the play kitchen is for??

At the risk of sounding like a proud mama, she did amazingly well.  I believe the words brilliant, amazing, and precious were used…no kidding :)  They were extremely impressed with how far she’s come in 5 short months of hearing and being around the English language.  The speech therapist said her receptive language skills were wonderful, right on target if not above.  Her expressive language skills…and this one surprised me…are also on target.  How?  She only uses approximations for about 5 words?  The therapist explained that her use of sign language “counts” towards her expressive language, and she is beginning to put 2 signs together, like most 2 year olds put two spoken words together. 

Are you okay with this, mama?

After the evaluation was over, we discussed the short and long term goals for her therapy.  Basically, we’re going to work on her using a straw, increasing her vocalizations, and increasing her use of words or approximations of words.  Eventually, she’ll need therapy for certain sounds, but for now the focus is turning her language skills into speech skills.  We are so happy with where she is, so soon after joining us.  Her capacity for learning just amazes us, she’s drinking in everything she hears, sees, and experiences.  She’s definitely making up for lost time.  :)