It is no new news that Ashton lights up any room he enters! I am still so proud of my little man...but quite possible more so now than ever before!
First of all, Bink broke. "Uh-Oh", Ashton will say each and every time he sees it, or is asked about it. I thought, that with his most prized possession no longer in working condition, that he'd have a rough go for a while...or at least until I gave in, but he surprised me. The picture is a timeless shot of Ashton with his Bink and Blank glued to him, while riding the Big-Wheel...classic!
Secondly, and the purpose for this post, is that we met with Ashton's neurodevelopmental team of doctors up at the Child Development Clinic this week. He greeted them with a wave and a enthusiastic "Hi!" before darting down through the halls with all of us, yes including the doctors, chasing after him! He finally stopped to play with his Physical Therapist, who had a ball to interact with him to start his analysis.
After about an hour of interaction with the doctors and discussion about his different areas of strength and weakness, the doctors explained Ashton and his progress like this... His gross and fine motor skills are all there and being practiced, however there is a mild delay over-all. He was rated at a 24-27 months age equivalency in that area...he is 31 months now. The doctor that worked with him in motor skills explained that he sees Ashton making the progress that should be there and sees him progressing just fine and eventually being right on track, however, for example he'd like to see him at this age jump higher, further and be more stable. His fine motor development is similar, just a few hairs short. He didn't want to show any discouragement, he was actually VERY impressed with his progress from the last time we met with him a year ago. So to that he said, just keep on doing what we're doing and those areas will catch up and fall into place. No concern at all. Yay!
His strengths were noted as being very social, tries to verbalize, and has supportive Early Intervention services that has helped him leaps and bounds. They were so impressed with his social that they wonder how his appointment with psychology next month will go...meaning they wouldn't be surprised if he's re-evaluated as not having Autism...and even less on the spectrum! Yay!
One area of concern is language delay. He is receiving some help from the Early Intervention program that he goes to twice a week, but they felt after watching him, and me expressing my concerns, that additional individualized speech and language therapy would be helpful. I explained Ashton as being a little bi-polar...no offense intended to anyone...because he is completely ecstatic about how life's treating him one moment and completely loosing it, hitting his head on the wall or floor and screaming/crying, the next. Only one or the other, happy or enraged. He did not display his angry side at his appointment, but after talking with the neurodevelopmental pediatrician about it we all felt that this is most likely due to the inability to communicate his wants or needs...or his ability to understand others at times. So off to additional therapy we go. I've contemplated this for a while now and to have the doctors confirm it was a good step.
As I talked with the pediatrician about Ashton's delays over the past 2 years, we both agreed and wonder if it is true that his delays may have started following his traumatic episode at 4 months old. That incident could have stunted his progress, only for a time, and now he's starting to catch back up. Dr Winter agreed that that could very well be. They have discussions there amongst the doctors about the fairness of diagnosing a young child with a label like Autism, Aspergers or PDD, and why it shouldn't just be noted as delays? They feel that in most circumstances it is beneficial to have some kind of diagnosis to be able to get the help needed...like through schooling and therapies, and we have learned that this is true. They mentioned Ashton is so good off right now, in fact, that they could move him on out of their clinic...but are leaving the mild delay diagnosis as it stands in case there is need for any other services along the way. Thank you Terry and Dr. Winter!
The doctor's all agreed and said Ashton was a delight, and a bit of fresh air that they don't regularly see up there. They thought he was so polite saying hi and good-bye, and were entertained by him... Most people that know Ashton seem to feel the same way, and he portrayed that in a one hour appointment! Great job Ashy!
Their other recommendations for Ashton were to continue through early intervention, other follow-ups as needed, and the re-evaluation of psychology to see where his diagnosis now stands. That appointment for all who are interested in knowing is on August 27th @ 10:30am.
A special thanks, and luvs, to all those who are active in Ashton's welfare. He has benefited from all those that spend time in his behalf and support him. Ashton has many followers that want to see him fully recovered and continuously progressing each day! We all love you Ashy! You are the twinkle in my eye!
