This is a picture of the Highlands School, where Nathan will spend his days this summer.  We spent a considerable part of today here as well.  It turns out that Nathan definitely has Dyslexia.  He qualified to be a student this summer and they will be working on strategies to help him overcome the deficits created from that.  Interestingly though,  they found something we had previously missed.  While doing the full gammet of testing, they found considerable deficits in Nathan's ability to identify and discern sounds.  Thiis is more than just the dyslexia we initially thought.  They found he is actually unable to tell diffences in spoken sounds.  So a simple example is the word set Tab and Tap.  These words sound exactly the same to Nathan.  You can imagine the trouble this has caused in using and gaining language.  Anyway, along with that, they are not sure that he is actually hearing all sounds, especally sounds in words.  So, the long and short of it is that tomorrow we are seeing an Auditory specialist who will test not only Nate's hearing, but his auditory processing ability.  This is an actual physician who will give us an actual diagnosis!!!!  :)  This is a huge piece of ensuring Nathan is given instruction that he can actually process and learn from.  So, flights are changed, rooms rebooked and the rental car extended.  We will be here a little longer.  The bottom line from today is that we will definitely be here this summer.  They have already found the dyslexia and all that goes along with that, so they are planning his instruction around the gaps he shows there.  After tomorrow, we anticipate an diagnosis of CAP or Conceptual Auditory Processing disorder.  This will add to the plan for this summer.  Should they find any actual hearing deficits or birth defects (or scar tissue from all of those wonderful ear infections we dealt with in the toddler years) in the inner ear, then we will have an even larger journey. We aren't quite sure what to expect with that.  I have many questions for the specialist if that is found.  Anyway, it seems today wasn't the big day after all.  Tomorrow will be.  Aggghhhh

After all of that was done, Nate and I went to the historic town of Havre De Grace to clear our minds.   It is a beautiful little town on the Chesapeake Bay.  It was peaceful and quaint.  Exactly what we needed to talk about everything that had been said at the Highland School.  Nate is being a trooper and is so willing to do whatever it takes to figure this out.  I truly admire his motivation and positive attitude.  After visiting there, we came back and had dinner and found a local mall. 

Extra days means we needed more clothes!!!  ::P

Cyndi