ZOMG. Summer.

Summer is ridiculous.  There is really no other word for it.

It started out sort of mellow, with only one class two days a week and then three clients and one group on the other two days.  Then, we finished summer 1 and summer 2 came knocking at my door.  Talk about a whirlwind.

I’m down to two clients and one group with two classes four days a week, and diagnostics on Fridays.  Doesn’t seem that bad?  Add on the fact that these classes are four hours long.  Can you say overwhelmed?  Yes.

My clients this semester are -really- interesting.

I get to work with a client who has a 1/10,000 birth disorder.  Rett’s Disorder!  She’s so awesome.  Seriously, it’s one the rarest ones you’ll see, ever.  Right now, with her, since she’s completely non verbal, we’re working on eye gaze and learning vocabulary words.  Her mother really wants her to be literate (her mom is AWESOME) so we’re figuring “Why not?”  Let’s give it a shot.  Unfortunately, my supervisor is out for the rest of the semester, so I’m on my own.  That said, I have full access to her via e-mail.

My other interesting client uses an eye-gaze device to speak with.  He’s pretty awesome.  He had a traumatic brain injury over 20 years ago when he was a child.  He just recently got his device (about two years ago) and is still working out some of the kinks.  He is able to verbalize, but he presents with spastic quadriparesis as well as spastic dysarthria.

In other news, I got my practicum assignment for the Fall.  I’ll be in a private clinic which focuses on pediatrics.  I can’t wait!  To top that off, we still have classes and such, but I think it will be an amazing experience.

Polyps Are Disgusting!

I feel like I should write something, or express something profound… but honestly, my mind is fairly blank.

My client’s mom actually smiled at me today!  That’s something that hasn’t really happened yet.  Maybe she does like me after all.  She’s pretty intense.  Her child is finally starting to grasp certain things.  We had a bad session on Monday due to him being inappropriate and me having to reprimand him.  My supervisor even came in and talked to him.  Poor thing, he just doesn’t get that talking about burping and farting in therapy is inappropriate.  I try my best to discourage it, but it still happens.

We used a schedule on the board and I definitely think it helped.  He lost focus more at the end of the session, but it’s 45 minutes and he comes straight from being at school from 8 to 3… so you can understand that he’s probably tired and ready to just get his hands dirty and play outside.

After my voice disorders class the other night, I swear I’m getting reflux polyps or something.  Seriously, polyps have to be the most disgusting thing that can happen to your vocal folds.  Don’t believe me?  Watch this. My entire class just cringed at that video.  It looks like freakin’ popcorn!  I can handle vocal nodules, cancer and paralysis and such… but polyps just give me the willies.

On a less disgusting, more awesome note… I’m finally mostly moved into my new apartment.  Just a lot of unpacking and such to do.  Whee!

First Day!

Today was my first day back and it was overall a great day.

My new  client is super adorable.  The poor thing only said maybe 5 intelligible words in the whole session, but he’s so cute.  I’ve got a language sample to begin transcribing and see if I can make sense of some of what he said.  Naturally, expanding his vocab is a must.  My supervisor said I did great today, I was laid back and followed his lead.  Otherwise, I ran into my client from last semester and got a -huge- hug from him.  His mom is a bit sad that I’m not his clinician this semester, but I’ll be checking up on him.

I have therapy tomorrow with my other client and I think I’m prepared for it.  I’ve got to raid the cabinet tomorrow to find some materials, but I think I’ll be alright.

Classes started out well, but I’m pretty bummed about the research course, as I’ll have to actually read the book.  (I don’t generally learn from reading, I don’t retain the information.)  But otherwise, it’s going to be interesting.  It’s on the fourth floor and stairs are -not- fun.

My Language II professor is amazing.  I had her last semester for Phonology and she’s hilarious and tells all sorts of funny stories.  It helps to keep my attention.

Tomorrow, I just have my client and a meeting with my supervisor.  Our Diagnostic kiddo canceled for her evaluation on Friday, so I’m not sure what we’ll be doing instead.  Hopefully nothing too strenuous.  That means I won’t be leading another diagnostic until February, but at least I’ll have a chance to learn a bit before I get my feet wet.

Lessons learned:

• Be aware when speaking to children if they fully understand the metalinguistics you’re putting into your sentences.  Make sure you teach metalinguistics and that they fully understand what you’re asking of them before prompting them.
• Find the elevator before waking up four flights of stairs…
• Client’s schedule changes next week, be prepared.