One year in

On 11/22, we had our third 6-month review with our therapy provider. In actuality, it was a review of a little over one year since the first review was after only a couple of months. This spanned Sept 2010 until November 2011.

This last 6 months has been really huge for B. A couple of really key things have clicked: imitation and VERBAL skills like requesting and imitation. He has also made some huge strides in self-care. (NO MORE DIAPERS!!) So,  I was thinking we'd have a fairly positive review but I still felt like it was unlikely that we'd be looking at "best outcome" results. Remember those boxes they check in these reviews that indicate where the kiddo is tracking as far as outcome? Last time, he was "progressing" but did not meet the criteria for any of the 3 best outcomes. This time, he moved UP into 2/3 best outcome! This is amazing news.

Developmentally, he gained an average of 1.4 months of development for every month. This is the ticket. This is why we are working so hard and so intensely. In our initial review at intake (2 months shy of age 3), B was at a developmental level of a 5 month old! This was hard, hard news to hear. Shocking, actually. His cuteness and young age masked the autism in many ways. Now he is around 24 months. Still 2 years behind but he is learning faster than a typical rate. His IQ equivalent is actually increasing! Our team pointed out that this doesn't happen with "typical" people... if we measured our IQ at age 5 and again at age 30, it'd be roughly the same. And they admitted that they were pretty uneasy about B's prognosis in the beginning because his IQ score was actually really, really low. We believed and still believe that he was at a much higher level than the testing showed. We have a smart little guy on our hands - we just have to figure out how to teach him. Nonetheless, he clearly had a huge developmental gap.

And the best part... they have a chart that shows his progression IF he continues learning at this rate. It's 3+ more years of this hard, hard stuff but it showed him CATCHING UP! As in going to school, as in functioning at the same level as his peers. It's a lot to hope for, yes, but it is invigorating. This is not an easy lifestyle and it definitely takes it's toll but we will happily press forward if it means a better life for our precious boy.

All in all, we felt re-energized, hopeful and so very proud of our little man.

We have lots of new goals and a new focus to try to combat all of his many self stimulatory behaviors that are developing and interfering. But we have renewed hope, a great team and one very special little boy in our corner. I'm hoping for an even better review in 6 months!