Speech Evaluation Complete

I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again - when you are dealing with Rady Children's Hospital, you are dealing with a bunch of great people.

This morning, Raquel had her initial speech evaluation at their Oceanside Speech & Language Center. I didn't know what to expect, and was a bit concerned because Raquel woke up at 5am, but as soon as I was greeted by Danielle, the speech therapist/evaluator, I knew I was in wonderful hands.

Although she has only been at Rady's for a little over a month, she has worked in a similar position in Los Angeles for, I think, eight years, and specializes in treating preschool aged children, primarily dealing with Autism and Apraxia. She's also trained therapists for the ABA Program, so she was extremely familiar with the therapy structure Raquel had, and was able to provide me with her observations, recommendations, and feedback.

The session didn't particularly start out that great. She took us into a tiny room - again, Raquel doesn't like being confined - and it really wasn't a kid friendly place. Toys were definitely present, but Raquel wanted to play with the phone, the computer, the desk drawer, her files - everything she wasn't supposed to get into. This eventually turned into a game with her: she'd reach for something she knew she shouldn't have and look at me with a big smile on her face. Danielle commented on how her teasing nature was very age appropriate, but then moved us to a different room across the hall that didn't have all the distractions.

Once moved, Danielle tried repeatedly to engage Raquel in some play activities, but Raquel kept coming back to me. Once I told Danielle that it takes awhile for Raquel to warm up to someone new, and that too many toys being out are over-stimulating to her, she decided it would be best to observe her interacting with me instead. She watched how Raquel responded to me reading a book to her. I'd tell her to turn the page, and she would, and she really focused on the pictures and then would look up and make eye contact at me, making the activity a shared one. She also started to talk some, and once she got up and started moving around, the speech increased. Danielle said that this signifies that she is at a specific level of speech development - when gross motor and speech are linked together. This typically happens at the year to year and a half age range.

After being there well over an hour and a half, Raquel became tired and obviously wanted to leave. No tantrum or anything, she was just ready to go. As soon as I stood up and grabbed my purse, she got a big smile on her face, high fiving Danielle as we walked out the door.

Since Danielle treats Autistic kids primarily, I had to ask the question that I've asked all the others: "Do you see Raquel as being Autistic?" Without slight hesitation, she said she didn't, that she understood she was given the diagnosis of Mild Pervasive Developmental Disorder, but feels that was primarily due to her sensory issues. Even if PDD is her true diagnosis, she said that it is on the lowest end of the Austistic Spectrum. Her opinion - at this point - is that this is a seizure triggered neurological condition. And she did stress the importance of the fact that their job is not to make a diagnosis, but to treat the condition. We are also going to be resuming the PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System).

What's next? Danielle has to put together a report and figure out a game plan. She did tell me that she didn't feel a longer session would be to Raquel's benefit at this point because of her short attention span. I should hear back from Rady Children's in a couple weeks to work out the scheduling. I am hoping Danielle will be able to continue treating her, but feel very confident that if it's someone new, they will be highly qualified.