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When Your Kid Seems Different
I can still remember how our daughter's new pediatrician slightly rolled her eyes. I had just explained that we'd left Eva's first doctor because he wouldn't take our concerns seriously. At 18 months, Eva still seemed unsteady on her feet, and she drooled a lot. For months, my husband and I had been worrying about these and other subtle signs that something was wrong. Otherwise, Eva was a bright and happy child, and she looked perfectly normal sitting on the exam table. "I'm sure she's fine," the doctor said as she led us to a stairway and asked Eva to climb a few steps. Unable to tackle the first step, Eva dropped to her hands and knees and struggled to pull herself up.
That's when the pediatrician's expression changed to one of surprise and concern. "I'll admit, I thought you were another neurotic new parent," she said. I don't know if I was more relieved or frightened. She referred us to a pediatric neurologist, who diagnosed Eva with hypotonia -- a lack of normal muscle tone that was most likely related to oxygen deprivation during her difficult birth. We were told that it would affect not only her ability to walk and run but also her speech and fine motor skills speech and fine motor skills such as drawing, writing, and using scissors. Fortunately, by the time Eva started kindergarten, she had largely caught up with her peers -- thanks to two and a half years of physical, occupational, and speech therapy provided by our state's Early Intervention Program.
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I have a 9 year old daughter who has been in therapy since she was 2 1/2 years old and still struggles with letters and numbers. She goes to speech and language therapy 2 times a week...in school and private. The school diagnosed her with intellectual disability(i.e. mental retarded). She is not that by far, however, it is an everyday struggle to get her to do any academic work. Anyone got any ideas or thoughts.
9/17/2010 07:00:30 PM Report AbuseI too have a son who is 18 months old he cant walk talk or eat by himself i took him to his 18 month check up and the doctor suspects autism i was shocked my son is currently in ECI as well an i would like to know what form of autism he has. thanks reading you alls comments makes me feel i am not alone
6/14/2010 11:10:28 AM Report AbuseI was ignored by drs for 15 months before my son had a 45 min grand mal seizure..then they couldn't deny there was something wrong. He lost all skills after his MMR and within a month was diagnosed with Autism. His sister shared some of his traits so I wanted her evaluated and had to fight for three years before I found our wonderful pediatrician that saw it ON THE FIRST VISIT without my mentioning it! She was diagnosed with Pdd-Nos about a month later. Now I am watching my 3rd child like a hawk
6/14/2010 09:55:23 AM Report AbuseYes, it is nice to know that I'm not alone. Like the writer, I have a son who was diagnosed with low muscle tone and my husband and I had to advocate for him(we knew something was not quite right). He currently has weekly appointments with a physical therapist and a occupational therapist. I wish there was more info. about this condition. We were told by the Doctors that low muscle tone is hereditary. I had a very good labor ~ no complications and no pain relief (i.e., epidural, etc...). Thanks!
6/4/2010 12:53:39 AM Report Abusei was so glad to read this acticle. i have a child with development delay who just started EI. it helps to know i am not alone.
5/14/2010 11:22:49 PM Report Abuse