Updated Word/Sound List

A-ay, ah

B-bob, ball, bee, banana ("nanana"), bye-bye, baby, buzz, bounce ("bow")

C-cup, cat ("tat"), cool, cookie ("cookie")

D-Dad, do, dee, dog ("gog"), down ("dow")

E-eat ("ee"), Eli ("E.I.")

F

G-ga-ga, go, goat

H-ha, hoo-hoo

I-"i"

J

K

L

M-moo, meow ("beow")

N-nah, nee

O-oh

P-pee, piano ("iano"), pop, poop

Q

R

S-shhh, school

T-tee

U-"ue," uh, up

V

W-water (wa-wa), woof-woof

X

Y

Z

Best Day Ever

"Best Day Ever."  That is what his daily report card said Friday.  Sean used the words to name 23 of 24 vocabulary cards and he used the sign for the one card he didn't name, "shoes."  And did he do it just once?  Oh no!  His speech therapist was so blown away she brought the preschool teacher and Sean showed off by naming all the objects, again.

He also had great days at Occupational and ABA therapies this week.  He was in a really great mood all week and that always improves his performance.  I have a sneaking suspicion the good mood may be in response to the new house.  I think Sean is pretty excited about the move and he really seems to like the new house and his new yard.

We have started another new therapy.  It is a child-directed play therapy recommended by his psychologist.  I went to a class to learn the techniques and I do it at home.  The therapy is geared around increasing social interaction and spontaneity.  It also helps teach "normal" social interactions.  The great thing about this therapy is anyone can do it with him.  In fact, the more people, the better since we want Sean to enjoy socializing with everyone and not just me and Jonathan.  So the next time his grandparents visit, they can take 15-20 minutes and give it a whirl.  

Keeping Steady

Sean's improvement comes in spurts.  Things were pretty slow the last few weeks.  We worked mainly on maintaining the words and sounds he had been using.  Tonight, Sean knocked our socks off by answering correctly what sounds a dog, cat, owl, and chicken make.

He has been doing fine at school and his ABA therapy is progressing.  Unfortunately, his improvement at Occupational Therapy has come to a crawl.  It seems to be mostly related to his attitude.  When he is in a good mood, he can do the tasks asked of him fairly easily. But lately he has been in a bad mood at OT and is very obstinate about performing the tasks.  He seems to have decided the whole thing bores him.  He even gives the therapist repeated fake yawns, and the appointments are at 10 a.m. so I know he is not actually tired.  Boredom is always a huge obstacle with Sean.

At his psychologist's urging, we have started a new kind of play therapy with him.  It is designed to help him with his imitation and social skills.  I like the ideas behind it and am excited to see if he makes improvements with it.

He has added "hi" to his vocabulary but he doesn't often use it spontaneously.  He also has a near perfect "cookie" which he does use spontaneously.