Breakthrough!

Ember had a breakthrough in therapy yesterday!

See, Ember talks but generally does not communicate with words. She uses echolalia, which is repeating what you (or the TV) have said, but she does not understand what she's saying most of the time. At other times she'll say phrases that have some words she understands, (like "splash in the water") but she would not be able to take out one of those words to use in another context. That was the extent of her speech.

Not so anymore!

While working with a toy piggy bank that would say "open" when you opened its door and "close" when you closed it, Ember finally grasped the concept of asking for something verbally! She said "open" and we opened it. That was huge. But she went a step further - she generalized it, asking me to "open" the raisins, to "open" the snack door, and to "open" various other things requiring that word. She has since asked for "juice," "hot dog," and "stars" (her star-shaped snacks).

While we realize that most of these words are tied to food, still, it's a major start! Ember is beginning to communicate, and after only 5 sessions with Birth To 3. She had another session today, and has just 4 more with Ms. Megan before she turns three. :( Hopefully she will have just as much, if not more, success with the school.

Yay Ember! lol (And yay for singing pigs.)