ABA Therapy - Counting and Imitating

Kind of a speech update...

Since I've had to sit close to Max this week watching for the signal that he needs to pee, I sat thru all of ABA therapy this week. They were working on counting and imitation, so I video'd a clip to show where Max is speech-wise. He is pretty good at counting to 10, but out of context, I don't think anyone would guess that is what those sounds were ;) Most of his words are more sounds than words at this point, and, need to be prompted. However, progress is progress, right?!

So, in this clip he was suppose to tap on the item as he was counting it. He tends to tap much faster than he can count. I love the part where he is clapping for himself, but needs to set down his spoon to clap better, and then picks it back up.

We just started using an online program called Gemiini (gemiini.org), so I'm excited to track his progress. I've heard amazing results for many, and not much for others, so hoping Max is on the amazing end ;)

Max Speech Update

So, it's been a while since I posted a progress report on Max. His progress is slow, but it is there!
He is doing really well at imitating sounds and words, but he still doesn't understand that he can communicate with them. He only says a handful of words spontaneously. He does use names for the immediate family and the dog, as well as the words/sounds for eat, iPad, all done, milk, more, tv, out (outside), go, and apple.

He is getting better at identifying abc's, and counting to 5, although usually he says one, two, three, go! and doesn't keep counting ;)

Here's a video of us 'singing' the abc song... (along with him showing you his wiggly tooth first).

He's growing up - he lost a tooth and got a pimple all in the same week ;)

"Happy"

Yay!! A new word.

I think the oils are working.

Making a List, Checking it Twice

gonna find out whose talking up a storm, well for Max anyway  ;)

Max is having an evaluation in a couple of weeks to see if he has apraxia. It couldn't be determined before, because he didn't have enough words. When I called to make this appointment, they asked how many words he used. I told them "a handful". Then I decided to make a list of all the words Max does use. Most of the words he can say, however, he only says when you ask him to repeat it, not spontaneously to communicate. Baby steps, right?

So here's the list. I am amazed!

As of May 7, 2014 – age 5

*Approximation

#Uses spontaneously

#*ghee (for again)
#*alt (for all done - he combines the 2 words I think)

#*guh (for milk – I think he’s saying the ending k sound)

#*Idt (for iPad - again, combining the 2 syllables)

#*Pipa (for Piper)

#*t-hee (for tv – he inhales the v sound)

#apple

#Bobby (for mommy)

#Daddy

*ba (for ball)

*be (for me)

*boo (for moo)

*duh (for deer)

*aye (for potty)

*Grandma

*howdy

*I (for bye)

*it (for out)

*ku (for school)

*Lola (the dog's name)

*o (for more)

*ooh (for no)

*ooh (for you)

*ot (for hot)

*ow (for cow)

*popcorn

*stop

boo

car

doggy

go

hi

Should I stop saying he is non-verbal now? Well, really, the only words anyone outside our family could probably understand is daddy and apple ;)

Happy 5th Birthday, Max !!

Happy birthday to the cutest 5 year old around! I can't believe Max is 5. 

F-I-V-E

That's kindergarten age for pete's sake!!!

He has come soooo far this last year. 

Last year on his birthday I was disheartened that he hadn't progressed much at all. He had even regressed a little. He was only saying 'da' for daddy, and a couple of meaningless sounds, mostly guh and buh. He wasn't signing much either. He was very happy, but just didn't seem to get much of the world around him. More details on what he was doing a year ago HERE.

What a difference a year makes (and a whole lotta therapy).

He wanted to look thru the camera screen to see the cards, so that's why his face isn't in this video ;)

And although many of his words sound the same, he is actually saying something!! Granted, he needs a prompt to speak usually, but he is making progress and being more spontaneous as well. And he's started pointing a lot more, and taking our hand to show us what he wants (usually the tv). Huge steps for him!

He says guh for milk - I think it started from trying to say the ending k sound? and he says bobby instead of mommy, but I'll take it!

He seems to have made great strides in cognition as well, like being to follow simple directions. Last year I was doubting that we would get this far. But he's doing it!

At five years old, Max weighs 45 pounds, and is about 46" tall.
Hid favorite food is french fries, but he's a pretty good eater all around.
He is obsessed with two Signing Time episodes - Potty Time, and Box of Crayons, as well as a random nursery rhyme video.
His ABA therapists are just starting the potty training process. He has peed in the toilet once.
He knows many of his colors and will sign them. And knows about 75% of his ABC's. He can't say certain sounds like s , z, and f, and I still suspect he's got a bit of apraxia.
He loves the iPad, especially Temple Run 2, and we don't go anywhere without it.
He still loves his sister to pieces, and is loving the new dog, too.
He still hates haircuts, but he is actually getting better at cooperating for diaper changes.
He has such a big personality and makes us laugh every day.

Sheesh - he can't believe he's 5 either!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAX!

WE LOVE YOU SOOO MUCH!!

and so do your birthparents, Melody and Fred - they always send a beautiful card telling you how much you are loved and missed! and this year, you didn't eat your birthday money that was in the card ;)

I think he's ready for a speech EXPLOSION

Someone on facebook mentioned these "Baby Babble" DVD's for helping with speech. I grabbed a couple at the library this week, and Max loves them!

AND, he is learning from them!

He totally copies the mouth movements and sounds and was even repeating the sounds in his bed this morning when he woke up.

So exciting.

And, one of his ABA therapists got him to say "hi" this week. It was a whisper, but he said it!

I think he might be ready for a speech explosion!!

Max Speaks!

I can't believe it - Max said a real word, and I got it on video!!

He's been doing ABA therapy for four months now. They've gotten him to mimic a few sounds - short a, long e, k, b, p, & d. If you ask him to say the long a sound, he will say the sound for k. Hmm. So anyway, he's really good (and compliant) with the short a sound. So we've taken it a step further and asked him to say "ap-ple". It's taken us a week, but he got it tonight! 

I'm totally doing the happy dance!

He used to say "Daddy", but then regressed, and now only says "da". So this is huge!!!

Wrestling and E.I.E.I.Ooooo

These two love to wrestle on the couch!

And, a new sound Max is making... oooooo!