In October, Jocelyn began outpatient therapy with Children's Hospital. She had two 30-minute sessions a week. In December, Jocelyn's therapist was impressed with how far she had come in two months and reevaluated her. From that evaluation we learned that Jocelyn's speech was nearly age-appropriate and her therapist reduced sessions to once per week! We were excited!! Everyone I came into contact with who knew anything about Apraxia and who knew Jocelyn never agreed with the diagnosis. They would say that if it was true it was a very, very mild case. I of course wanted to agree, but didn't want to be a blind parent who ignored the "truth" and didn't get my child the help she needed. The therapy surely wasn't going to hurt Jocelyn. She continued therapy twice a week at Children's and once in our home through the Alliance.
In November, to get ready to transition from the Alliance (a program for children birth through 2) to the 3-year-old program DART, she needed to be reevaluated. She didn't qualify for services! That's a good thing because it meant that her speech had been improving and she no longer showed a 25% delay. Jocelyn had her last session with her therapist from the Alliance right before her third birthday. It was very weird saying goodbye to the therapist who had been working with Jocelyn in our home every week since she was nearly 2-years-old. Todd and I couldn't have been more thankful to have had her helping Jocelyn and helping us help Jocelyn. We are forever grateful! Below is a picture of Jocelyn and Maureen, her therapist through the Alliance.
Now for the BIG news! Yesterday at Jocelyn's session, the therapist informed me that she doesn't foresee therapy lasting much past Valentines day. She said her speech is age appropriate and she is progressing wonderfully. She still struggles with specific speech sounds, but those speech sounds are the sounds that children her age typically struggle with. She will most likely overcome them on her own as she gets older and with a little help from us. This is wonderful news! It almost seems surreal that soon I won't have to take Jocelyn to any therapy sessions. It's bittersweet, though, as I think Jocelyn is going to miss it. She really enjoys going to speech to "play".
As for the diagnosis of Apraxia: I'm thinking it was a misdiagnosis. Typically children with Apraxia do not overcome it as quickly as Jocelyn has. Am I upset that she was misdiagnosed? No. She was able to get more therapy with the diagnosis and that certainly has helped in her quick progression. I was warned by many that I was not allowed to blame them when Jocelyn was talking and wouldn't shut up. We are most definitely at that point now, where we can't get her to shut up, but I still am only thankful for her progression. Ask me again when's she's 8...
that is wonderful darling. i knew she didnt have that
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