Apraxia? How does that affect her vision and hearing?
So today I took Ashlynn to her 5 year checkup at the doctor’s office. Her pediatrician is one I met at a pediatrician’s office, but who decided to go work at a family medicine facility. I love the pediatrician, but having her housed in a general practice creates some challenges….such as today.
The regular physician assistant was out on vacation, so another one was there to fill in. Though she was friendly and seemed good with kids, she really had no clue.
This was the first year they did a vision and hearing screening on Ashlynn. I didn’t know what they were doing until she asked,
“Is she better with shapes or letters?”
Huh? Oh. I realized then she was talking about the vision board. Oh Lord help me, “The shapes I guess.”
Ashlynn knows her shapes, and knows many of her letters, but as I’ve written about before, word recall really gets in her way. I’ve had to tell professional after professional, “You need to have her point for it to be a better indicator of what she really knows.” Today though I thought screw it. Whatever. Let’s just see what happens.
She takes her out into the hallway and has Ashlynn stand back at a distance. She points to a star. “What’s this?”
Ashlynn, “A rectangle.”
Me (talking silently to myself): Oh boy, I can see how this is going to go.
And it went. She missed every single shape. When the P.A asked her simple yes/no questions, “Is this a star?” she decided to answer, “no.” For EVERYTHING.
“Any concerns with her vision?”
Me: “No. She has apraxia. When she gets put on the spot she has severe word finding issues and just gives you an answer trying to please you.”
P.A. looks at me skeptically.
Sigh. I hate apraxia. This girl can spot a spider on the wall an entire room away, notice her daddy’s new haircut within seconds, or when decorations in the house change, within minutes. No…I have zero concerns about her vision.
Back in the room, we wait for the hearing test. She comes back with a hand held device.
P.A. “Now raise your hand when you hear the beep.”
I mean really? I wanted to start laughing. My daughter has global motor planning issues! I should have laughed, because as the saying goes, if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry.
P.A. “Do you hear that?”
Ashlynn: “No”
P.A. turning up volume. Ashlynn’s eyes dance in recognition. “Did you hear that sweetie?”
Ashlynn: “No”
My mind starts to wander. I have absolutely NO concerns at this point in time with vision and hearing. She’s passed all of her school screenings and this girl can be distracted by the tiniest noise. Just ask all of her teachers, including in swimming. This girl can hear. However, here I am watching this and I wonder, how many more professionals will underestimate her? This P.A. was ready to pass on a referral for hearing and vision. It’s not fair. This is why I don’t want a cognitive test in the spring. This is why……
P.A. “Ma’am?”
Okay, reel yourself in Laura.
The rest of the visit went great. Her pediatrician praised her speech and was genuinely impressed. She laughed when I told her about the screening, and said if I didn’t have concerns she doesn’t either. That’s why I love this woman. She has a son with autism, and she knows, just like I know, a mother is your best reporter. She is the expert on her child. She respects my decisions even if she doesn’t agree with me, and that is the kind of person I need helping me and my child.
