Hearing Test for Tigerbaby

Tigerbaby hasn't talk much. Not more than 10 words at the age of 2 years old and 3 days.. If to my memory these are the words she knows:

1. Ball
2. Crystal
3. There
4. More
5. Mum..  (depending on her mood)
6. PoPo (meaning: Granny in mandarin)
7. All Fall Down (it goes together...to her it is like One word)
8. No (very occasionally she uses it...)

We took her to a speech therapist. Dr Elaine Kelly at Moonee Ponds. Consultation is about $120 per session and she went twice. Her comprehension skills are fantastic as evaluated by the doctor but indeed she is slow for her language (she is only at 1.5 years old stage) *I thought they suppose to have more words that stage anyway. Neways are comprehension skills are far exceed her level (she hit 2yrs 8mth stage). 

Dr Elaine ask us to go for a hearing test , eventhough tigerbaby has one while birth but as expert say, as time goes by they may get ear infection that parents don't realise and which may effect their language or speech skills. As those who know me, I am quite a "kan cheong" a.k.a paranoid mother. With that, my alarm bells went off and tried to find an appointment for her. 

The medical system in Australia is very "different". Seriously, I wonder are these audiologist so busy? Are there that many people go for hearing test? Unbelievable. And the best, they need referral letters. With that it links back to the Dr which the Dr need to write up one letter and fax it to the respective <department> and then the respective <department> call you to make an appointment. How Bazaar from my prespective but then that was what had happen. Dr secretary fax in the referral last wed and when I called in this tuesday the lady say they didnt receive the fax. And I called back the Dr and got voicemail and when goose hunting for another number to contact the Dr. Finally got the Mobile and the secretary say he did fax and i say could you fax again.  The next day I rang or so, i received a call from the Eye and Ear hospital and saying they receive a note that stating I want to make an appointment and say i need to get the referral letter in but i say dr already fax it and say she didn't receive.. oh in summary a tennis game and I was like going around bushes.  On Wed, Dr secretary rang and say he found a spot for me at Melbourne Diagnostic Center on thurs. So I rang up hubby to check whether he can make it. No pick up. Called back Dr secretary say i would take it as he wanted me to call back him so he call back the center to confirm. And when i did, he say better i call direct. Fair enough, called center and guess what???  the lady say the slot was on Hold by Dr Secretary but it was given out already. It was less than 5 mins from dr call to me and for me to call back!! That is not call on HOLD missy!! Arggg.. but she manage to find one spot on friday so .... Finally we managed to get one appointment today friday at 9am!! 

Off we went to the Melbourne Diagnostic Center to do a hearing test for tigerbaby. We went into a "vacumm" room. Did the tests within 15 mins and out we go! The audiologist say she is fine and the bill is $100 and she would send a copy of the report to the Speech therapist and one to my mailing address. 

Speech Assessment for Tigerbaby

11/8 Today is the first consultation for tiger baby speech therapy with Dr Elaine Kelly. Where it is called a "psyhological assessement" which we know she is fine but then as it is in Australia, process! need to do this first before next .... so anyway. The asssesment was called "Bayley Scales of Infant and Toodler Development. It has 3 parts:

• Cognitive Composite score - 63rd percentile, 25 months - Average to High 
• Language score - Receptive Communication - 25 months ; Expressive Communication - 18months
• Motor score - Fine Motor - 31months; Gross Motor - 21months. 

For fine motor skills they would test on putting blocks together,  putting all sort of shape in the right place so it does work on brain coordination, observation,  concentration and listening to instructions.

For motor skills they test on asking you to kick a ball, walk on a blue line , jump across a line (which she failed as she dont jump much and definitely in this manner)

And was ask to do another hearing test as sickness may effect her hearing so it is better we do so eventhough I don't feel it is necessary but it is part of the process so off we need to send her for a hearing test and guess what, it require the doctor referral which means the dr would have to ring up the facility and make an appointment which I find it quite weird as how would she make an appointment to suit a slot with our time. Anyway.. that was what was told so we listened and head off and wait for her call,

Next assessment would be next week which would be on language. Gosh and I thought they do it today which was the main reason. Anyway, what needs to be done needs to be done, will have to make another trip :(

18/8 This is her 2nd consultation.  Its called the Preschool Langauge Sacle 4th ediction (PLS-4) which compose of 2 subscales. Auditory Comprehension and Expressive Communication.

AC - 88th percentile.Equivalent of 2yr 3 months So she passed
EC - 18th percentile. Equivalent of 1yr 5 months. so she failed.
with an overall of AC and EC, she is on the 55th percenile, equivalent of 1 yr 9 months.

Earing test is recommended.

And guess what the total bill came to for 2 consulation and a report AUD 440! Do hope private insurance do cover as it state on his broucher or else BlurDad would be very unhappy....