Average

Posted by Leah

No one wants to hear that their kid is average.  They want to hear the big words like “better, best, greatest, most bestest ever”.  But hearing this word on Monday COMPLETELY rocked my world.

Almost a year ago my son Silas was diagnosed with autism.   The doctor used words like “retarded”, and “non verbal” when it came to speech.  A grim diagnosis, perhaps one that would make one lose hope.

I remember the speech therapist trying to assess him.  She had numbers on her little pictures and all he wanted to do was look at them instead of looking at the pictures and answering her questions.  He quickly grew frustrated, ran to the opposite side of the room and began smashing his head on the wall.  Through sad eyes she said it’s impossible to finish her assessment but she’s sure he’s showing autistic like tendencies and his speech isn’t where it should be, from what she could hear.

Six months later I took my Silas back to the same women, seeking help for his speech.  I was tired of waiting for the government issued person to call and I had some money set aside for him.  She was able to do a speech assessment this time which is already an improvement.

On Monday I got the report!  I couldn’t believe my eyes.

Sentence structure – mild delay

Word structure – average

Expressive Vocabulary – moderate delay

Concepts and Following Directions – average

Recalling Sentences – average

Basic Concepts – ABOVE AVERAGE!

Yes, my little boy who, 6 months prior, had been deemed “retarded” in speech is now more average than delayed.  It’s been another 4 months since that assessment…I wonder where he is now?  I just know his sentences are getting longer, more abstract, more conversational, more complex and more imaginative.  Gosh, it was just this summer when he first addressed me as “Mommy”.  It was just this summer where he started asking for things properly as opposed to echoing.  It was just this fall where he talked back to me the first time and my heart did a backflip and a little cheer.  It was just a few weeks ago where he said “mommy, my oatmeal needs to go back into the freezer because it’s still too hot”.

I’ve never had no hope for Silas.  I’ve never thought he’d not lose his autism diagnosis one day.  He’s going to.  It’s not like I even have to hope for it, I know this so deep within my core that it’s something much more than hope.  It’s happening.

These test scores just go to show what an amazing little boy I have the privilege of mothering.  He’s becoming average and you know, that’s ok with me.