Therapy Solution

We met with Jacob's new and old therapists last week to determine how to proceed with his speech and occupational therapy now that he's 3.

During this meeting, the Early On therapists, Miss Carrie (Special Ed Teacher) and Alex (Speech Therapist) presented their reports on Jacob's progress to the new therapists, Cindi H. and Michelle H. (may be referred to as the Mrs. H's). They presented their reports to Jeremy and I as to how they are going to proceed from this point.

In the reports we found that Jacob is essentially functioning at an 18-19 month old level rather than a 36 month level. Though socially, he is acting at approximately 38 months. They attributed this delay to the submucous cleft palate and the resulting fluid in his ears. The fluid in the ears caused issues with Jay's equilibrium throwing him off balance. Jacob didn't learn all of the things he should have learned prior to having the tubes put into his ears both in development and in speech. Once he did get his tubes, he had to re-learn what he already did know plus go forward to learn new things. My best example is when Jacob started to walk. He could do short spurts by himself but anytime he walked a distance he would hang on to one finger. He did this for about 6 months. He didn't walk by himself until he was 16 almost 17 months. According to the therapists, Jacob wasn't ever certain of his balance and he needed to hold onto something to keep balanced. Now that I look back, this explains why he wasn't a climber, or the typical dare devil. He was unsure of himself and his balance.

Cindi and Michelle seemed to have a very clear understanding of Jacob and his circumstances with the submucous cleft and they explained it to Jeremy and I quite well. They both explained to us their development plans for Jacob and how they are going to strive for those goals.

Jacob will start his new therapy sessions on January 5. He will spend 30 minutes with Cindi, the Speech Therapist, at one school, then he and Daddy will go the another school and spend 30 minutes with Michelle, the Occupational Therapist. We will also have homework. Some exercises to work on with Jacob in between visits.

Miss Carrie and Alex told the Mrs. H's how much they have enjoyed working with Jacob, and that he is one of the cases they will never forget as he truly is a sweet boy. Miss Carrie said Jacob is one of the kids who grabs your heart and she hopes the new therapists find that too! Aw!

I walked away from this meeting feeling so much hope, so much optimism for Jacob's development. I felt like we had finally found 2 more people who really cared about this kid and what happens to him. I knew this was the right place for him and these were the right women to help us. I didn't feel sad for my boy or like a failure as his mom.

Our road with Jacob and his speech/development is going to be very, very long. Our goal, or my goal, at this point, is to have him attend regular classes with only periodic visits to the therapists. I do have time on my side - Jacob is a December baby so he won't start kindergarten until just before he turns 6. Don't get me wrong...it's not a status thing, it's not a perfection thing, if Jacob does have to start school in special education full time, then he does. This is a goal I would like to achieve. If we don't reach it, we'll make a new goal - I just love my kid, I want him to find his place where he fits. Don't we all?