Instincts and The Beginning

I posted a picture on Facebook late the other night of a "book" that was recommend to me.  For a few weeks now I have been going back and forth about wither or not I was going to document whats going on in the world of Melanie's development.  Its not that I am ashamed of it, but more that I didn't know if anyone would be interested or not.  Turns out there were quite a few people who after seeing my picture on Facebook asked questions, and gave support.  So for my family, and friends who would like to follow what's going on with Melanie, this will be a little blog where you can stay in tuned.

Here is where our story starts...

Since Melanie was about 18 months I have been concerned with her speech development. I found an online assessment/survey the state provided to see if she was measuring where she should be for her age. At the time, the results were indicating that she was a very little bit behind, but that it shouldn't be a concern. Something I learned through this process is that when I am given a parental prompting I need to follow it! After my mother-in-law, Susie came to visit us in October, I then began to worry about her behaviors, tantrums, meltdown, all that jazz, on top of the still slow speech.  I's say I do enough reading to know that tantrums are a part of turning 2 and that the tantrums can start well before two, so I kind of ignored it. Then just a few days later I went to visit my family in San Diego for my youngest sister Juliette's mission homecoming.

While there Melanie didn't enjoy interacting with anyone but myself, my dad, and occasionally my nephew, niece, or mom. I observed my niece who is 5 months younger speaking much, much more than Melanie. She was at least trying to copy not just what her mom Elizabeth said, but anyone who asked her to say something. Again I tried to push the concern out of my mind by telling myself, "all children develop at their own pace."

However on the last morning of my trip, and a particularly hard morning I realized Melanie really needed help. Help that I just can't offer her, not because I'm lazy, selfish of my personal time, or disinterested, but because I am simply at a loss of what to do, and how to help. I of course went through the period of feeling like I was letting her down, and feeling like I was helpless to my child, but after a few hours crying to Daniel, I picked myself up and made some phones calls. Asked people in my area, and friends who have children with speech delays what, and where I should start.

I had a few people direct me to the Idaho Infant Toddler Program (ITP), which was strangely enough the same place I found the online survey I had taken for Melly when she was 18 months old. So I took the survey again, and same response... she's fine. I wasn't going to take this for an answer because I just didn't believe it. I called an asked to schedule an in person appointment, I wanted someone to see Melanie "run tests" or whatever for them to really evaluate her developmet.

On November 20 almost 3 weeks after scheduling something the first person from the ITP, a case worker, came to our home. She told me about the program and I signed a few different forms, necessary to participate. The program is paid for by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, so it is a 100% free program to use (HUGE BLESSING!). Because it is a government program I had to agree that the data collected on Melanie's development while in the program can be reported to, and used by the State. Then the caseworker took back the small amount of information collected from me, about my concerns with Melanie to, "the team". The team is filled with all kind of developments specialist: Occupational Therapist (OT), Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP), Behavioral Development, and so on.

After they discussed Melanie, I received a phone call from the Developmental specialist who schedule a time to visit and observe Melanie, in ALL areas of a childs development. This appointment was set for Friday, the 5th. We held it in the morning when Melanie seems to be happier, and after an hour and a half, the very nice woman told me that it was likely Melanie would qualify for the program. I asked in what areas, because I knew her speech was low, but wasn't sure if there were more. I was smart to ask (thank you prompting) because she will likely also receive help for her behavioral skills. I was really happy to hear that they would help provide suggestions for developing her behavioral needs! I'm totally open to having trained and educated people evaluate Melanie and provide specific feed back that will help her, and me!

I was more excited and happy to hear that she was going to get help.  If I had been told she was totally fine I would have felt lost, helpless, and just awful, not knowing what to do to help her communicate with Daniel and I.

I got a phone call just a few days later saying that she was going to qualify for the program and will receive Occupational Therapy (OT).

"In its simplest terms, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants help people across the lifespan participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations). Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes."

 Melly is going to have 12 sessions, 1 hour each. While I was thrilled for any help, I still want the speech addressed. I thought that was the biggest factor in the behavioral issues (I was wrong) so I was surprised when the team recommended OT.  I did request a Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP) come after a few sessions of OT because I really want the speech to improve!

This first OT session was set for Tuesday the 6th at noon, and it couldn't have come on a better day.  It was probably my hardest parenting day to date.   That's a different story, one I'm not proud of so I won't be sharing. Enter Kamber, our Occupational Therapist...
This session was mostly a Q&A for me asking about Melly's senses. Turns out Melanie has what is described as Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).

"a condition that exists when sensory signals don't get organized into appropriate responses.  SPD is likened to a neurological "traffic jam" that prevents certain parts of the brain from receiving the information needed to interpret sensory information correctly. A person with SPD finds it difficult to process and act upon information received through the senses, which creates challenges in performing countless everyday tasks. Motor clumsiness, behavioral problems, anxiety, depression, school failure, and other impacts may result if the disorder is not treated effectively. "

It was mind blowing for me to have someone observe Melanie for an hour and pick up on things that she likely often does, and instantly give me suggestions for helping her calm down, and feel the physical release her body craves. Three suggestions she presented me before leaving were the following.

1- Chewy Tubes. Melanie still take a pacifier, but I realize now that its not because it soothes her, rather she has a serious oral fixation. She chews them to pieces. The only time she really sucks on the pacifier is at night/bedtime and for naps, other than that its just a chew toy. Thus the suggestion to get away from the pacifier and introduce the Chewy Tubes. I'll go more into detail on a different post about her Oral fixation.

2- A Squish Box. Here is a description for you first... Put pillows, blankets, and stuffed animals in a box/bin/big tupperware; then have her sit inside of it. Often times after Melly has a meltdown she then comes running for us to be held and comforted. It has been so confusing for us because at times she does not want to be held, and times she does. Turns out she needs the embrace as a sensory release, so when she has a melt down or goes into timeout if we put her in the Squish Box she then she doesn't feel abandoned. She will have a sensory release, and can better think about the action/choice she made that was wrong, rather than be overcome with only thinking about her senses. (I asked the OT her thought on timeouts, because I was curious if it is affective at this age. She said that its more important to punish a child for actions and not behaviors. Found that interesting.)

3- Books. The first is called Understanding Your Child's Sensory Signals, and the other Your Essential Guide to Understanding Sensory Processing Disorder. Both are written by Angie Voss.
The first of the two books gives a TON of different SPD issues and then several suggestions to help those specific problems for example...  
Walks on Toes (Toe Walking)- Sensory Explanation:  Toe walking is often a sensory signal that the child is trying to self-regulate. This often serves as a sensory anchor. Toe walking increases proprioceptive feedback and in turn promotes self-regulation.  This can becomea habit for the child due to muscle memory and how the brain learns specific gait patterns.

• Be sure this is assessed by a PT or OT to determine any other possible factors contributing to the toe walking such as muscle tone or decreased range of motion.
• Use weighted shoe pockets or weighted belts.
• Encourage jumping activities such as trampoline, BOSU ball, hippity hop ball, marching, hopping, and skipping.
• Encourage climbing slides.
• Encourage walking up hills.
• Try other types of joint traction and compression activities.

The second book breaks down what SPD is, and how it works. I'm only a few pages in, but as I learn more specifically about Melanie I will share things about her.

I am feeling very excited and relieved to be getting some help. Speaking with my sister Elizabeth on the phone the other day she said something that was so true... When you hire a dog trainer, its more for the human to learn how to help/train the dog. She then compared it to what my OT will be doing, Kamber will be teaching me what to do to help and teach Melanie how to process things that come into her everyday life.

In its simplest terms, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants help people across the lifespan participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations). Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes. - See more at: http://www.aota.org/about-occupational-therapy.aspx#sthash.n5Rqyvw9.dpuf

n its simplest terms, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants help people across the lifespan participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations). Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes. - See more at: http://www.aota.org/about-occupational-therapy.aspx#sthash.n5Rqyvw9.dpuf