Joshua's progress, CI kids with LDs

Hmmm... I seem to focus a lot on Josh. We've recently identified issues we need to work on with Matt's speech and comprehension, but I think that will be easy enough. But Joshua, Joshua, Joshua. What to do?

Can't tell you how thrilled I was to be at the workshop in NH last Friday (ref: last post). They hit the nail on the head: HI issues vs. LD issues. I think Josh's delays are due in great part to his deafness and inner ear malformations (esp. balance/vestibular problems), but even without that I think he'd be prone to motor processing delays and other problems. At the workshop I learned symptoms of delays due to Hearing Impairment, and those related to Learning Disabilities. Sometimes they're so similar that a teacher/evaluator not familiar with both can easily misidentify problems. That goes for well intentioned friends and family as well.

Josh had four therapists in WA, each coming at him from a different background and point of view, and I think each would give him a different "diagnosis". I trusted the input from two on his LD issues more than the others, mostly because I felt I could trust their experience more, hence their opinions. Very confusing for a mommy at times. And these therapists each only saw him for an hour a week! Even though Josh had his therapies over a good deal of time, I don't know if any of them quite got a good picture of his true weaknesses and abilities. Well, the two I trusted were much closer, anyway.

I'm happier and more comfortable now that his teachers see him two full days a week. With their experience I think we'll better be able to figure out where Josh's strengths and weaknesses lie, and how best to help him. I'm hoping he can stay in the program he's currently in, but am open to looking for options if he needs them. I was afraid that because he may have learning disabilities that he may not be appropriate for his current schooling. Then a teacher (not his) pointed out that many kids in the programs there have LDs separate of their HI, too. So far I'm very thankful that even though Josh may have some hurdles to overcome, he seems cognitively and socially able to handle his schooling.

Note about well meaning friends and family. I am much happier when they ask me about my boys, how they are doing, and truly listen. I've heard everything through the years, not much shocks me. But as well meaning as the friends and family may be, many times they are way off base with their observations and opinions. This weekend I was truly blessed to spend sometime with a sister-in-law who really talked with me about the boys. She is a very intelligent, caring lady, and it was a total joy to not just talk about all three of them, but to answer her questions, too. Many people are just afraid to talk/ask questions, form opinions on their own with very little real knowledge of the boys/issues. I don't know about all parents of disabled kiddos, but I'm one of the most open parents, and love opportunities to educate people about deaf/hoh/ld issues. I think the topic scares people sometimes, like they are afraid to ask thinking it may hurt me to answer. No, not really. Maybe in the beginning, but this has been my life for years, and now my passion to find ways to best help my boys. Sometimes a parent become their own children's specialist. I have a BS in Biology, but a self acquired Masters in CI Mommy Studies. :)