We've not started assembling yet. I say we I mean OH obviously
He has a wooden kitchen and a wooden push along toy box to assemble... and that's before Thomas opens his wooden garage and other bits
Thomas is slowly getting there thanks. He's not got a fever anymore and hasn't for 2 days. He's not been sick again. He is drinking a little more but he still won't eat
I can feel that he's lost loads of weight. He wasn't a big boy anyway and always had his ribs and spine sticking out but now he just looks... well malnourished. He's still congested (it's disgusting honestly poor boy
) and he has a terrible cough. He's sleeping loads though (and won't use the dummy so I hope we are now FREE of it as I've stopped offering it). Last night he even started playing with some toys so I know he'll be ok for Christmas.
We got Thomas' speech therapy report today. I'm encouraged by what it says. Also, he's at the top of the list for physio so I just have to ring and make an appointment.
Objectives
- Support parents and carers in developing their child's language and social communication skills
- Develop early attention and listening skills
- Develop early social interaction skills of looking and taking turns and choosing
- Develop understanding at 1-2 word level
- Develop vocabulary of early words and signs
Outcomes
- Thomas was eager to participate in all group activities. Though he could be quite distracted he is easily re-directed to the activity at hand and generally appears to 'want' to attend to the activity but his attention and listening skills are not yet sufficiently developed to support this.
- Thomas enjoyed large doll play, though he was noted to struggle to complete an inset puzzle
(to be fair he's only just learned how to do them and it was one he hadn't seen and he didn't have the luxury of playing with it several times by himself!
- Thomas is a very social child who showed great interest in the other group members. He found waiting for his turn somewhat challenging but was not distressed when the therapist or his mother indicated that it was another child's turn. Thomas is also able to indicate his choice between two objects by pointing.
- Thomas' ability to follow one key word level instructions is developing. He appears to find it easier to identify named pictures as objects or toys can distract him.
- Thomas was not heard to use any spoken words during the sessions. Instead he communicated using gesture and facial expression. By the last session Thomas was observed to use the signalong sign for 'more' independently.
Recommendations
- Further therapy
Thomas is a social child who participated fully in all sessions. His file will bereturned to his referring therapist on the PSSN team for further input.
Thomas would benefit from adults in his environment using gesture and modified sign to support his communication
I'm just about to pay £50 for a 10 week course in sing and sign