Participant Name: Child S
Date:
Activity Level/Sleep
Patterns:
S’s activity level and sleep
patterns have not changed. He sleeps 10
hours a night and loves to play outside with his friends. He still makes “little noises” but maybe not
as often as before the program.
Motor Skills:
I don’t know if this fits in
the motor skills area, but before participating in the program he couldn’t
figure out how to do other things if his hands were full (i.e.- if he was
holding things in both hands he couldn’t think through the process of putting
something down so he could use a hand for something else). Yesterday I saw him, without thinking twice,
place an item between his arm and ribs so the he had a free hand to open a
door. Before the program he would’ve
gotten frustrated and upset that he “can’t” do it. This is big!
Speech/Language:
This is where we see the
biggest improvement! He no longer
forgets what he wants to say and is able to talk at a normal “pace” instead of
struggling to stay focused on what it is he wants to say. We noticed this change after day one of the
program and he hasn’t struggled since.
Amazing!
Perceptual/Cognitive:
S was able to re-tell a story
he read which is huge because he has always had trouble with reading
comprehension and being able to voice what he wants to say. Hearing him do both at the same time was
wonderful!!
Emotional/Behavioral:
S’s frustration level is so
much better. He used to get frustrated
and upset at least a couple times a day and now he rarely does. Of course, I believe this is because things
are coming so much easier for him he has less reason to be frustrated. He hasn’t gotten “needlessly” upset or to the
point of crying since going through the program either. Also, he gave his aunt a beat hug when he saw
her at the beauty shop….never would have happened before!
Social Skills:
This is one area we haven’t
see much change. He’s still pretty quiet
and shy around others. I asked him to
tell his teacher something for me and he said, “I can’t just walk up to people
and start talking!” I can understand him
feeling that way about strangers, but his teacher!? Maybe we’ll still see a change here?? Time will tell.
General:
We are VERY pleased with S’s
progress and the program! We didn’t know
what to expect or where/if he would benefit, but he has and it’s AMAZING to me
that it was so easy to improve his confidence and life! Thank you Susie and Barb!!!
S’s
Mom
An e-mail response to
potential client from a parent whose child participated:
To answer your questions---no,
the therapy was not difficult to S at all.
He looked forward to it beginning and never once complained about having
to go or had trouble getting through the sessions (other than some of the
colors making him tired, but they have ways of working through that which he
was always willing to do). There was
nothing unpleasant about the therapy and to our surprise the drive and extra
time spent in
We are seeing new changes in
other areas. He used to get very
frustrated and upset while doing his homework.
He became mean (which isn’t in his character at all) and it would end in
tears and taking time to sit on his bed to calm down. I think most of that came from his continual
frustration of both not being able to concentrate and not understanding what he
was reading. Over the past month or so,
he has started coming home, having a snack, and sitting down to do his
homework…without being told! If he needs
help he asks and is very willing to listen and learn—more new changes! I can’t remember him being frustrated at all
in the past month or so and it used to be several times a day. He has much more patience (especially with
himself) and willingness to learn than ever before.
Another change we see in S is
that he used to be sensitive to other sounds in the house. He wasn’t overly sensitive like I understand
(some?) ADHD kids are, but rather they were a distraction to him and he wasn’t
able to concentrate on whatever task he was trying to do. I’m having trouble describing it but I’ll
try…numerous times a day he’d be distracted by the noises—even if it was in the
other room. He’d ask for someone to stop
talking or for the tv to be turned down, or whatever
the sound was(the talking, tv
volume, etc. were not at a volume that would distract the average person). The 1st time I realized it was
changing was one night when he was practicing typing on the computer (he’s new
to typing) and Monday Night Football came on in the other room. It took me a couple of minutes to realize
that he was completely focused on what he was typing and wasn’t even noticing
the (I call it obnoxious) music from the other room. I later commented about it to a friend and
said that maybe he didn’t notice it because he was concentrating so much on his
typing. They almost hit me over the head
with “LISTEN TO WHAT YOU ARE SAYING!!!...he was CONCENTRATING on what he was
doing and wasn’t distracted by the other noise!!” What a great moment it was realizing they
were right and I was unknowingly making excuses for why he wasn’t distracted!
Seth hasn’t had any regression
but rather increased happiness and confidence.
It is so good to see him smiling more and having the confidence to do
and say things without being afraid of “failure”. Of course he sees the changes in himself and
I was so proud of him the day he came home to tell me that another 5th
grade class had their hearing checked that day.
He knew the following day would be his class’ turn and he was afraid
they’d make him put the headphones on.
For him to come home and ask me to write a note to remind his teacher
that he is not to use headphones meant the world to me. He KNOWS how much it has helped him and
doesn’t want to do anything to backslide.
I’m sitting here with tears of happiness as I remember the wonderful
benefits he’s received.
Barb and Susie were very
knowledgeable, friendly, and loving.
When there was something they weren’t sure of they didn’t hesitate to
call the people in
S’s
Mom