Family Update: Megan

Megan started speech therapy last month. She loves it and loves her therapist Melissa. We go for one hour each week and Megan basically gets to play games and play with toys. The therapist first taught her some sign language and Megan probably has 15 or so words that she will sign, like ‘more,’ ‘all done,’ ‘book,’ and ‘go.’ The therapist also uses patterned brushes in Megan’s mouth to increase sensory input which is supposed to help train her brain to know how to use those muscles, and that has helped Megan talk more.

The therapist thinks Megan may have a condition called apraxia, but doesn’t want to diagnose her officially until she has seen her for more time. Developmental apraxia is difficulty forming sounds into words because the brain has a problem coordinating all the muscles used to speak. Whether Megan has apraxia or not, the therapist is confident that her speech delay can be completely fixed.

The therapy seems to be helping. Megan babbles more than she ever has. Most of it is nonsense, but she is says “Daddy” and “Mama” sometimes and is says “bug” and something that is very close to “poopy”. Her biggest problem is consistency, which is a major symptom of apraxia.

Therapy has also taught Megan how to blow, something she has never been able to do. Some kids with speech delay also have a hard time blowing because it is the same muscles/brain coordination, but Megan can blow now and it is so cute to watch her blowing on her food or blowing kisses. Now we are working on b, m, and p sounds as well as puckering lips to give kisses and licking lips. All of these things are related to apraxia.

We got her a princess table and chairs to do all her puzzles and coloring and projects on and she loves it. She has so much fun rearranging the chairs and having her friends or stuffed animals sitting in the other chair.

 

Megan transitioned from her crib to a bed last month. We decided on the spur of the moment to try it one night and we were pleasantly surprised! She loved it – no crying, no tantrums, no getting out of bed, no making us lie next to her until she falls asleep. She doesn’t even want a nightlight or the door open a crack. This wonderful situation has repeated itself every night since. In fact, I’ve got her so programmed from the crib that she won’t get out of the bed in the mornings until I come in to get her. I’m sure that won’t last for long once she thinks it through, but I am enjoying it for now.

Megan getting ready to say prayers

Megan enjoyed her new view out the bedroom window -
we've since moved her bed to the other wall :)