The looong road to nowhere

We began Austin's speech therapy in February of '08.

The SLP (speech-language-pathologist) was to come once a month, and a person called a developmental interventionist was also to come once a month.

The SLP was a man, and I liked him, for the most part, well until he grabbed Austin's ankle and wouldn't let go. I wasn't too comfortable with that, but I made myself believe it was because I babied my son too much.

The SLP explained to me that part of Austin's issue was that as an only child who stayed home, he pretty much was free to do what he wanted when he wanted and I was there to meet his every need, so he didn't have to talk. I brought up the autism thing, one more time, because I wanted as many opinions as possible. He actually laughed " I shouldn't say this officially because he's still so young, but off the record, there is NO way that child has autism. I've worked with kids with autism and they're very different"

He explained that we needed to make Austin frustrated in order to give him incentive to speak. Austin was having a great time climbing up on the chair, sliding down, and then climbing up again. The SLP said "I'll show you what I mean" As Austin tried to climb up again, the SLP grabbed his ankle so that Austin couldn't climb. Austin looked at the man, then looked at me, as if to say "what's going on with this guy?" The SLP tried to get Austin to say "no" to him. Austin wouldn't do it, he wouldn't even fight, he just kind of went limp and refused to look at either of us.

The SLP explained he believed it was usually the parents who set up an environment that allowed the child not to talk, and I needed to really make Austin ask for anything before I gave it to him.

I'm making him sound mean, and he wasn't mean. He was kind and seemed very intelligent. I felt what he was saying might be true. Austin WAS an only child, my first child, and I did spend all day, every day, catering to whatever he may need or want. I didn't allow him to do anything he pleased. I did discipline him, but as far needing to compete for my attention, that was non-existant. There was no competition, he was my total focus.

Frustration and tears resulted for those two months, but no progress. In fact, if anything, Austin was LESS willing to make sounds to communicate and much MORE likely to throw a fit.

I was concerned about this, and I was concerned there was no progress when I thought he should be making HUGE strides.

I decided to switch pediatricians at this time, because a.) even though I don't think it was really her fault, or that she was a bad doctor, I couldn't get over the fact that I had told Austin's pediatrican that he snored all the time and she had told me it was nothing, and b.) I was hoping another pediatrican might help us get more help for Austin.

Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time...