Congrats to Brooklyn!

I don't think I have ever blogged about Brooklyn and the speech therapy she started this summer. When she turned 2, I noticed that she wasn't talking as much as most of the 2 year olds I was around. Our pediatrician didn't seem concerned since her understanding of language was so good. (she understood everything at an early age and used that to get by instead of talking) A good friend who is a speech therapist did an informal evaluation and it was determined that she was a little below average, but not severe enough to qualify her for therapy. She suggested giving her until she was 2 1/2 and then re-evaluate. We also did a hearing test at that time and her ears were perfect.

I did not see a big improvement between 2 and 2 1/2, so I contacted the Early Intervention program (which is free to those who qualify) to ask if she could be evaluated. I chose Children's Therapy TEAM to be her provider (after some recommendations from friends) and they evaluated her speech and language skills. Brooklyn was placed with an awesome therapist named Jessica, who I ended up recognizing from college and we had some mutual friends. She was nothing but great with Brooklyn over these past 3 months. Brooklyn has been going 2 days a week for 45 minutes each day and has loved it. Jessica made it so fun for B. There was never a day that Brooklyn hesitated going back with her. I can't blame her. She got to color, paint, play with bubbles, and use chalk during her therapy. As rewards after, she would get to choose between the swings, trampoline or ball pit. This place is fun! Emma asked every time we dropped B off if she could go back there and play. Unfortunately, she wasn't allowed back.

As of today, Brooklyn graduated from speech therapy! We are so proud of her and the progress she has made. I believe part of it is age and the decision to begin talking, but a huge part has been the therapy. She is talking in partial sentences now and asking questions. Her progress in numbers is amazing too. She had a 78 on her expressive score in May and today scored a 114. She went from being below average for her age to normal. Her articulation scores are still a little low, but leaps and bounds above where she was. She had scored a 65 in May which was considered "severe" and she is now at a 84 which is just slightly below the normal for her age. She is doing great and I can hear her speech improving daily. It is so fun to finally hear her sweet little voice!

Thank you to all my speech friends and to Jessica. I have a new respect for therapists in all the different areas after being up at that clinic 2 days a week. They all seem to have a passion for helping people and really work hard to do their job and make it fun.