We finally were able to get Christian's FM system hooked up today via our private audiologist. Despite the added length to the aids, he seems to be adjusting to it well 2 minutes into me wearing the microphone, Christian decides he needs to grab it, and breaks the clip. Fantastic. I have rigged it with a hair clip and hair tie while I am Googling searching for another clip. If anyone knows where to get new Phonak microphone clips, please let me know!
We plan on using the system in noisy situations, like playgroup, class at Imagination Stage, the car, and the grocery store.
It was yet another day of shuffling the monkey around from doctor to doctor. After the audiologist this morning, we came home for a couple of hours to play and have lunch. We then were back up to Hopkins for a mid-afternoon appointment. Today we had our Auditory Skills Assessment. This was the first appointment that we had in this entire process that I left feeling unsure and not confident at all. I have great respect for the teacher we met with today--I just think that it is impossible to get to know my son in one hour. She mentioned to me that she wants us to continue to work on high-frequency sounds with him. I'm just not sure what else I can do, or what my Early Intervention can do. I feel like I know Christian better than anyone, and I truly feel that he is giving us all that he can. I know as his Mom, I certainly am.
So, ugh. We have to go BACK up to Hopkins bright and early tomorrow morning for our Psychological Evaluation---our last appointment in the candidacy process. The team up there will then meet next Tuesday to discuss Christian, and recommend our next steps. I just want an answer. I am really looking forward to our EI appointment tomorrow afternoon (yes, another day with two appointments) so I can chat with our teacher about all of this. Miss M, is amazing. She has a hearing loss herself, and is a Mommy. I feel like she just gets Christian, and our family. I feel so fortunate to have such an amazing EI team on our side. Every single person in Montgomery County Infants and Toddlers has always jumped leaps and bounds for my son. They make our hard times just a bit easier. I'll take anything that is easier these days, since everything seems to be difficult for us.
2 comments:
hey there,
I feel your pain and remember those crazy weeks of appointments so well. My drive to DC to River School zaps my energy (and what little natural patience I posess). I know how stressful each appointment is and it has to be such a mixed bag of emotions in that you want him to do well, but not too well that people dismiss his needs. I completely agree about Miss M - she's fantastic and fits our family so well. I'm glad you've had a good experience with EI - it makes a big difference. Being in limbo is not a fun place and hope that your answer comes very soon. Hang in there & stay in touch. We should get together for a Pinot party!
take care,
michelle brown
Hey Christina,
A speech pathologist wrote a great post on Rachel's blog, go check it out. She discusses just what you've said and what I have been saying for years...no one knows our kids better than we do and an hour long visit certainly can't convey much especially when our kids are so little and moody. You know Christian, go with what you observe and explain that to the professionals. I spent eight years arguing my son's abilities to people who were "unable to reach the real Jordan" Be prepared and advocate.
Throw back those shoulders and plunder on..and make time for a date night, don't do what I did and NEVER leave your kid with a babysitter...just the mil. Really, make time for each other throughout all of this, don't just give each other "time off." xoxox, Jodi
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