Speech Assessment Results

Toby's language skills were assessed in a series of visits during July to Western Michigan's clinic in Kalamazoo.  His score for expressive language was 1 year 11 months- or just slightly below his adjusted age at that point of 2 years.  They felt this was appropriate considering his medical history.  His receptive, or comprehension, was higher at 2 years, 3 months and he was not tested to his "ceiling" on this portion.  So the overall good news is that his language skills ARE developing appropriately.  It was suggested that he might benefit from therapy or that we could just allow him to keep chugging down this track since he is moving so well in the proper direction. 

We chose the latter option.  And in the past couple months, Toby has continued the forward progress in his expressive language.  That's a fancy way of saying he talks more and more.  He is not shy about telling us what he wants.  He also has been using complete sentences and referring to himself in the third person.  Some of his favorite things to say?  "Toby did  it", and also, unfortunately, "Toby broke it."

There continues to be evidence of low muscle tone in his face.  That's a fancy way of saying he drools quite a bit for a gentleman of his age.   But it is a definite plus in the praise column that it is not a major concern at this point. Yay!