What did you say??

This is Jack's newest face. I think it's perfect to accompany this post. We've been working with our local county school board to get Jack evaluated for speech therapy services. During his first evaluation, his ears failed the tympanometry test. (Tympanometry is one aspect of immittance testing, can assist in the detection of fluid in the middle ear, perforation of the eardrum, or wax blocking the ear canal.) Jack was referred to an audiologist for a more detailed examination.

First the audiologist looked inside Jack's ears with an otoscope, an instrument that contains a light and a magnifying lens, to examine the ear canal and eardrum. She said his ear drums looked dull. Normally, they would be shiny and pink. She administered a second tympanometry test. In this test a graph is generated which should look like a bell curve. Jack's right ear made what amounted to a flat line. His left ear had a slight curve, but not significant.

The GOOD NEWS was that when Jack was put into a sound-proof booth he heard almost every tone in the test. Jack sat on my lap and faced forward. Then speakers to his right and left produced a variety of tones and low levels. If Jack turned when he heard the sound a little toy would light up. He thought the test was a blast. He heard every sound on his left and only missed one on his right.

Based on this assessment Jack has been cleared to move onto speech therapy. We are really looking forward to getting him on track with his language. He continues to excel with sign language and astounds us with his memory for all the signs.

I feel lucky because one of his few very clear words is Momma. I do know that Craig longs to hear Daddy. It will all come with time and as we approach our one year mark, we are just grateful for everyday we've had with him.