Speech and Mapping

Nov 21, 2008-we went to CHOP in Philly for Morgan's Speech therapy and mapping. We first started with the speech therapy at 9 am, we got taken back right away. Morgan's teacher Sherri from Clarke came with us today, and let me say thank goodness for her being there or it would have been a total disaster. She is the best!! Sherri came with a big bag filled with a bunch of toys and listening games. I need to remember to do that for the next visit. Marybeth was her speech therapist today...Morgan is a little on the shy side when she first meets someone and it takes her a little while to warm up, and unfortunately there is no time given to warm up. They take you back and start drilling right away. They were asking Morgan questions about pictures that I didn't even know the answer too. One was a picture of a girl and a boy both in rain coats and boots with hats on..."Morgan which one is the boy?" My gosh I couldn't even tell. Another one was a boy with and umbrella standing in a rain puddle, a boy on a bike, and two other pictures, I can't remember. The question was " Morgan Paul's shoes are wet, whats it doing outside?" I was like oh my gosh this a 2 yr old we are talking about here. So needless to say I walked out of the speech therapy room a little disappointed because I know Morgan could have answered, and done a lot more for this therapist is she wasn't so rushed and knew her a little better, I didn't know how she was going to score. As we were walking out to the waiting room where my Mom was waiting for us Sherri kept assuring me that Morgan did great and that we know her better than anyone, and we know what she knows how to do. Sherri was a great peace of mind, as my Mom could tell I was ready to cry. While we were waiting to get mapped Marybeth came out to us with Morgan's results. Expressively Morgan measured at a 2 yr 6 mo old....right at her age level and receptively she measured at a 2 yr old which is right were she should be for that. Pretty awesome that she was able to make up almost 2 yrs worth of language in a years time. After the test results I was feeling a little better, even though the therapist had some things she wanted to watch for, like a nasal sound, and the repeating questions. I figure for the first year of her life we were trying to get her to repeat everything and now we don't want her to...geez. Overall Morgan is doing EXCELLENT! I am so proud of everything she has done. Shortly after Michale Jackson her audiologist comes to get us. We started in the booth. Sherri, my Mom, and myself were all in the booth with Morgan. Michael gave us a huge bucket of Mr. Potato head stuff. Yet again thank goodness for Sherri and her bag of toys and expertise. Morgan first started with her listening check which she did very well at, next Morgan had to repeat the sounds that Michael was saying from the other side of the booth through the two way mirror...Sherri pulled a play microphone out of her bag and Morgan sailed through that one too. Next Michael dumped all the potato head pieces out and there were so many parts. He wanted her to put the different pieces in the potato head. I was very sceptical as Morgan does not play with Mr. Potato Head very often, and with the million pieces to pick from it was hard for even me. Thanks to Sherri after a bit she decided to put Mr Potato Head together and then ask Morgan to take the particular part off that Michael asked her too. She did awesome at that. Finally done the booth. Then we went in to be mapped...not many changes where made as her programs were pretty good. Michael was able to alot of testing due to Morgan being so cooperative and doing really well with the listening game. Sherri had a puzzle in her Mary Poppins bag and she played the listening game with Morgan using the puzzle. The listening game for those that don't know is where Morgan would put the puzzle piece or a block etc up to her ear and listen for a sound, beep, ling sound, almost anything. When Morgan hears the sound she puts the puzzle piece in the puzzle or a block in a bucket etc. or they may do ling sounds like "ahhh" "eee" "sss" "shhh", and then Morgan repeats what she hears and then puts the puzzle or block piece in. See all this repeating they want her to do and now they don't want her to repeat things....lol. After about three hour of being at CHOP and Morgan being on her best behavior we took Morgan out to lunch and did a little shopping!