Communicating With The Boy

As part of The Boy's re-evaluation with the school the Speech Pathologist sent home a list of questions for me to fill out. In my strange obsessive way I couldn't just scribble a few things down and send it along. Instead I typed out all the questions. Then, over a period of a couple of days, started typing out my answers. I wanted to give the best possible answers, in hopes that it will be the most helpful. I have been watching him closely all weekend and keep added and changing thing around. I thought I would share what I have so far. The tenth question is to list all his words out. Again with the obsessiveness I created an Excel spreadsheet for that. That will be coming soon.

1. When William communicates at home, what kinds of reasons does he seem to have for communicating with you?

For the most part I would say he communicates to have his needs met. He also will communicate to show someone something that he is seeing. He likes everyone to see what he sees.

2. Requesting: Does he ask for objects he wants? Or, does he ask for help when needed? If so, how?
Yes and Yes. He often asks for things by signing or saying whatever it is that he is requesting. If he doesn’t have words for them or is being lazy he’ll point. When he wants help he’ll bring me the thing he wants help with and sign “help.” On the other hand he is fairly self sufficient and the older he has gotten the more he has tried to do things on his own. If he wants something he’ll figure out a way to get it, without asking which can cause problems.

3. Getting Attention: Does William have a way to get your attention when he wants to communicate something to you? Examples?
If he is in the other room he’ll call for whoever it is he wants. Sometimes he doesn’t specify a name and will just yell to get attention. If he is right next to me he’ll grab my face and turn it towards him so I can see what he is trying to say.

4. Commenting: Does he point out or comment on things to you just because they are interesting? Examples?
Yes. This usually happens when he sees something in a book or on T.V. or sees something outside. Sometimes he uses his own language to jabber on about whatever he is seeing. He knows what he’s saying but we usually don’t. Other times he’ll say or sign something about what he is seeing. The type of animal, the object, the mom or dad, etc. When he is doing this he usually is very excited about it and excited to for others to see it as well.

5. Rejecting/Refusing: Does William have a way to communicate that he doesn’t want an object or doesn’t want to do something? Examples?
Definitely. If he doesn’t want something he shakes his head no, says no and/or tilts his head to the side. If he really doesn’t like a response he has gotten, and is having a particularly sensitive day, sometimes he’ll lash out and throw something, start whining and/or throw himself on the ground. Which often hurts making him cry harder.

6. Giving information: Does he ever tell people things that they didn’t already know about something that is not present or happening right then? Examples?
In his way, yes. The more he learns and discovers about the world around him the more he seems to point it out to me and others. Sometimes he’ll see a letter somewhere and grab my hand or my face to show me what he is found. To him it is new and he wants to show me something that he knows.
Also if he needs his pants changed he’ll sign the word “toilet.” Other times if he hears his sister crying he’ll come and sign “crying” to me.
These things I don’t think necessarily fall in the category of things I don’t know but he doesn’t know that I already know.
Another example is on the first day of a full day of school, packing his lunch was such a novelty to me, when he came home I asked him what he had for lunch and he said “sandwich” using his made up word/sign.

7. Seeking information: Does William have a way to get others to tell him things he doesn’t know? That is, have a way to ask questions? Examples?
This is question is a little harder to answer. I would say for the most part, no. Although there are times he’ll run in a room and ask for a certain family member looking around. In his way asking, “where is…?”

8. Expressing Feelings: Does he have a way of telling you how he feels, either physically or emotionally? Examples?
William is usually very expressive. We can tell how he is feeling by the look on his face. If he is excited and happy about something he jumps, has huge smiles and/or shouts of joy. Which can get a bit rowdy. If he is upset about something he usually cries or whines. If something is hurt he’ll grab the arm, leg whatever and cry. And go to the freezer, or lead me to the freezer, to get his ice pack. If he is upset and needs some snuggle time he’ll sit on the couch and pat the spot next him, indicating he wants me to sit there with him.

9. Social Routines: Does William greet people, tell them goodbye, excuse himself, and apologize? Examples?
He is very friendly and will say “hi” and “bye” to strangers and friends alike. He’ll sometimes reach his hand out to shake hands with people, this is usually at church. And when we ask him to say “sorry” he’ll sign it on the person he is apologizing to.

So, how did I do?