Make it double

Now that Andy is 3 therapists and doctors are more comfortable making a diagnosis.  After a weeks worth of testing it did not come to a surprise that Andy was diagnosed with severe apraxia of speech along with gross and fine motor dyspraxia.  This is a place we have been before with Abby.  Abby as a reminder was diagnosed with moderate CAS and fine motor dyspraxia at the age of 3 1/2.

Andy's experience is much different then Abby's even though they are both diagnosed with the same motor planning disorders.  Abby was a lot more social and little more "willing" to learn.  Andy is a bit more stubborn and although he craves social interaction typically refuses to use the words he has to communicate.  Andy does use sign though which is something Abby never needed to do.  He has multiple adapted signs.  We call them adapted signs because along with not being able to speak age appropriately Andy also has a hard time with fine and gross motor planning.  This includes his finger movements and hand movements.  So to sign "water" you may make a "w" with your fingers and bring them to your chin; Andy makes a "L" with his fingers and sometimes makes it to his chin and sometimes makes it to his cheek.  If you see Andy frequently you will recognize his generalized signs but it is probably more the truth that as someone who is not frequently around Andy that his attempts at communicated will not be understood.

Andy receives private speech therapy twice a week and private occupational therapy once a week.  He has been receiving these services since he was 15 months old.  Now that he is school age he also gets speech at school a long with occupational therapy consultation to teach his teachers and paras how to help him within the classroom.  This is a lot of therapy.  We are making progress but the process is very slow in Andy's case.

I sometimes wonder what he will say when he finally learns to use the words that he knows.  I wonder if he will express how amazing cars, trains and planes are to him.  I can not wait to have a conversation with him like the conversations I have with his sister.  I hope though that he will never lose his handsome facial expressions.  I always want to see that dimpled smile and the sparkle in his eyes.  I will always cherish his open mouth smile and his handsome little pout.  I may not know what exactly he wants but I am thrilled that most of his expressions are ones of joy.  I must be doing something right.