Austin's Challenges

How did we get here?
Last December, we noticed that Austin had quit talking. Before Abbey was born, he said mama and dada - normal things for his age. Now, post Abbey he stopped. While we knew that regression was normal when a new sibling arrived, I also had the 'mama bear' feeling that something was just not right. In addition to the language, Austin's activity level seemed a bit higher, his pain threshold a bit stronger that most his age. In January, I called EI (early intervention) for our area to ask questions about his speech. He was evaluated, and determined to be at a 23% language delay. He was sent for a hearing test - failed -went to the Pediatrician and we discovered he had fluid behind his ears. Eventually he had tubes put in the end of April, and we began speech therapy shortly after.

I posted about him on in my online mom's group, and a mom mentioned SPD - sensory processing disorder. He has an EXTREMELY high activity level, and never stops. I discussed it with the EI coordinator and she suggest an evaluation by the occupational therapist. The OT introduced several things to Austin's senses - sight, smell, touch and observed him. In her opinion he had some sensory seeking behavior, but not SPD. We continued ST until the end of July and took a break. He has started speaking more since we stopped - Dada, uh-oh and sometimes mama, mostly when he is upset and begging for intervention :) The sensory seeking behavior has continued and if anything has increased.

At his 2 year check up, something happened that caught me off guard. Austin, like his father, has little tolerance for waiting. We survived the waiting room, but the exam room was like a prison for him. His cars he did not want, sitting with mama he did not want. The only thing that interested was the chair that he could move, until he found the sink. Chair plus sink equaled heaven. Austin LOVES running water. The Dr came in, and we went through the same questions - eating sleeping, the usual. Everything was fine in her book until Austin threw a fit when I took him away from the water. The Dr was concerned about his lack of interaction with kids his age - he prefers to play in his world, but will interact some, especially with Laney. She was concerned about his lack of pointing - which he seemed to start the day after this. Mostly she was concerned about him getting stuck on the water. Her course of action - referring him to a behavior specialist at USA in Mobile.