Speech-Language Pathology Semi-Annual Evaluation

Drew has attended two, hour long, therapy sessions a week since his cochlear implants were activated in June of 2007. He sees a teacher for the Regional Infant Hearing Program, a therpist from the Auditory Oral Children's Center and an SLP from Nationwide Children's Hospital. We attend therapy to learn ways to stimulate Drew's communication skills, but mostly it is nice to have therapists that can gauge how well Drew is hearing and how he is progressing. (As a side note, we will be adjusting Drew's therapy begining in June to one therapy per week.)

Drew's SLP completed his semi-annual evaluation this week. It's hard to believe that time is going by so quickly. Drew has been hearing for nearly nine months now - he's almost been hearing for half as long as he has been alive! Wow!

Drew's progress has been amazing. (I knew it was possible, but when you are wading through all of the doctors appointments and pre-surgical consults, it is hard to believe sometimes that you child will hear! For those in that place right now - it will happen! Hang in there!) The transformation we have seen, even in the past weeks, is remarkable. But it is really nice to see the progress on paper. Below is the report our SLP conducts every six months. Drew met all of his short term goals. Go Drew!

Treatment Plan: These goals have been established to develop the necessary performance components required for functional skills typical of Andrew's age or developmental level.

Short term goals:

Using right cochlear implant, and given no visual cues, Drew will respond to environmental sounds for 8/10 opportunities. Met 9/13/07.

Using left cochlear implant, and given no visual cues, Drew will respond to environmental sounds for 8/10 opportunities. Met 9/13/07.

Using right cochlear implant, and given no visual cues, Drew will respond to voice/speech sounds for 8/10 opportunities. Met 12/13/07.

Using left cochlear implant, and given no visual cues, Drew will respond to voice/speech sounds for 8/10 opportunities. Met 12/13/07.

Monitor ling sound recognition for both ears and each ear individually. Goal is ongoing; Drew currently detecting all ling sounds at a distance of six feet with background noise.

Drew will discriminate between vowel and consonant differences in same length words. Ongoing.

Drew will begin to show a conditioned play response when presented a sound. Drew showed on 2/15/08 two independent uses of CPR. Drew is emerging the skill of participation in conditioned play response.

Drew will produce voicing of any vowel on demand for 6/10 opportunities. Met 10/18/07.

Drew will imitate at least two different vocal lengths of a vowel sound for 6/10 opportunities. Met 12/13/07.

Drew will produce speech level one sounds (/ah/, /oh/, /ow/, /ee/, /oo/, /b/, /m/, /w/, /n/, /d/, /s/, /sh/) in isolation for 8/10 trials for each sound. Met 2/7/08. All sounds produced spontaneously.

Drew will vocalize (with or without accompanying signs/gestures) to gain attention or indicate a desired action/object for 6/10 opportunities. Met 10/11/07.

Drew will use 10 word approximations following a model/prompt. Met 2/7/08. Drew is adding new words to his expressive vocabulary. He has exceeded this goal.

Long Term/Ongoing Goals:

To develop functional auditory comprehension of spoken language and non-speech sounds a a primary means of receiving information and communication.

To demonstrate age appropriate speech skills in order to utilize verbal communication as the primary means of communicating with others.

To use spoken language as the primary means of communicating in all environments and with all communication partners.

Current Status: Drew has made significant progress since his last progress report. He auditorily can follow a variety of commands, answer some yes/no questions and has dramatically increased his spoken vocabulary and sound repertoire. Andrew has made good progress towards extablished goals.