Cynthia's Cyberspace

Big news around here, the Los Angeles Unified School District has been spending alot of time here assessing the boys and their “special needs” Psychologists, occupational therapists, behavioral therapists, physical therapists and speech therapists have been running every diagnostic test known to man on my two little boys. Here are their findings:

Sean: Is most definitely NOT autistic or mentally retarded, he passed all of their cognitive (intelligence) tests with age appropriate flying colors and although his expressive (speaking) language skills are still significantly delayed ( about the 12-18 month level) his receptive language (understanding) skills are at age level. He has been accurately diagnosed as having a speech delay, most likely due to apraxia (motor planning) difficulties and affects of Fetal Valproate Syndrome due to his exposure to anti-seizure medication during his interuterine stay. He will receive speech therapy in a LAUSD preschool starting this fall. Although he is slowly making gains in the area of speech his personality (STUBBORN) is giving his speech therapist a run for her money.

Steven: Freakishly high IQ at 146. Psychologist referred to him as having “extraordinarily superior” intelligence. The 146 is “open ended” as they never reached a “ceiling” (five question in a row incorrect). After 1 1/2 hours of testing (they got to the question- “show me a picture of parallel lines”) He firmly informed the psychologist that although he’d be more than happy to start asking HER questions he was in fact finished answering anymore. She found this extremely cute, mama found it sassy. After the announcement he crawled into my lap and begun sucking his thumb and true to his word would not answer one more question no matter how much she cajoled. So, the 146 while high, is not entirely accurate because he did not finish the test.