Post #6: Private Speech Therapy

Pat and Dan did not want to wait to start helping Eli.  Instead of waiting they started private speech therapy for Eli.  At this point he was 2.75 years old. No results came from the private speech therapy because Eli wouldn’t interact with the therapist. He could look at calendar and the therapist would try to put meaning to it but all Eli cared bout were the numbers. The therapist did show Pat and Dan how to try engaging Eli in imaginative play instead of repetitive play. They stared making turn taking a regular thing around the house along with other interactive “games” but he was not interacting.  Eli just didn’t hear private therapist.  She (the therapist) knew he needed more help.  It wasn’t just a speech issue.  Eli could literally count to 1000 out loud if he wanted to.  He just didn’t want to talk most of the time. 

When Eli turned 3 in December he was no longer eligible to receive services from Help Me Grow though he was still on the waiting list to receive speech therapy. Once he turned 3 Early Intervention was the name of the county run agency working Pat and Dan.  Eli started preschool right away with an IEP.