Concerned Mom to 4 yr old Gabe

by Denise
(Ohio)

Hello, my name is Denise, My husband and I have a four year old boy Gabe. We have had a couple of challenging years with Gabe. To begin, Gabe was Speaking basic words at 1 year. Around 13 months he began getting ear infection after ear infection. We ended up having to put tubes in his ears around 18 months.

When the tubes were put in his ears, the doctor said they had to suction out his ears b/c he had build up in them that was like the consistency of Jello. Needless to say, he wasn't hearing much from about 13 to 18 months of age. For the next year, Gabe still wasn't speaking as much as we thought he should, and life for him became very frustrating. He had a hard time trying to express his needs and wants. It was pretty much a guessing game for all of us. He would have tantrums every time he was frustrated.

We began speech and Occupational therapy in February of this year. Gabe was three and a half when we started therapy. They thought he may have SPD. After months of therapy, they just aren't sure if it is just a speech delay or something else. He has improved, and the more he communicates, the better he behaves. He is getting all of his words down, and now trying to process the words into sentences. He goes to preschool 3 days a week, and seems to enjoy it.

I am still very concerned. We are getting him evaluated at the Ohio State University in December. We have been on a waiting list for about a year. I know Gabe totally comprehends what I say. I can ask him to go get certain things, and he knows what I am talking about. He responds to instructions very well. He can count, say his ABC's... recognize some letters and numbers, and he loves when I read to him... he just can't verbalize what he wants to say all the time.

He repeats a lot of things we say to him instead of answering the question. If I ask him what his name is, he won't tell me his name, he will ask me what my name is. Everyone once in a while he will say his name is Gabe. Gabe is also a picky eater, having problems with textures. He will eat, apples, grapes, Chicken nuggets, green beans, ice cream, french fries, pop tarts, dry cereal, Brats, hot dogs and cheez-it, and pretzels. He has no problem taking gummie vitamins.

Our other boy is 6 and he will eat just about anything we put on the table. Gabe is allergic to eggs, and slightly to peanut butter. He can have things that have eggs baked in it, he just can't have scrambled eggs.

Gabe is a very loving and affectionate little boy. He has good eye contact with just about anyone he tries to talk to. He loves playing with other kids.

Hopefully we will figure out soon what is going on with him.