[-]Ok, I'm in shock. We just took 12 mo ds to OT. He's been "late" on quite a few milestones, but has always caught up. But-- at 12 mos, he is still army crawling, hasn't said any words (babbles a lot though) and doesn't have his pincer grasp mastered. The OT sent us home w/ exercises to do w/ him. She wants him tested for "low tone". She said cognitively he seem great, but his motor skills need some work. I don't even know where to begin......
10 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]First don't panic. Second it seems like you are on the right track with working with an OT. FWIW my youngest son didn't walk until his was 19 months. Didn't talk until he was 2 years old. Didn't read until the 3rd grade (P.S. 87). Now 18 and a freshman at Cornell. Not doing great in western civilization but knocking it out the park in biology. Keep working with your son and the OT.
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nope, it's free we have Kaiser, it's an all paid thing. We see the ped tomorrow, and have called ei already. I've said above that he babbles a "lot" but really compared to other dbs, not really he does a lot of ahhhhh ohhhhhhhh nuhhhhhhh. I'm worried. Sorry.
[ Reply | Options ]The OT doesn't care if she gets paid by you or by insurance company. She just wants your DS as a patient. Honestly, your child sounds completely normal for that age. I think she is encouraging you to use her services and will declare that she was successful because your child will develop normally. But if it makes you feel better, then use her. It won't hurt.
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You are potentially being given a very big gift here. Please call Early Intervention for your area and get an evaluation of your child in every area. If nothing is going on, GREAT - they will tell you so and send you home! If something is, you will be jumping on it very early and that is wonderful.
[ Reply | Options ]How is his receptive language? Much more important than what he is saying. Also, with your first you may not understand that certain babbles really are specific words. What is army-crawling? If he moves fast, it might be more efficient than walking for him now. Cognitively great seems like no serious worries to me, but I'd do the intervention so the motor skills catch up.
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[-]A friend just got amnio results that say Trisomy 21. Has anyone been through this? How did things turn out?
10 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]df got same result with cvs and termed. It was a very difficult time for her and dh but now they have 2 normal healthy db's. The decision has got to be sooo tough when you are already 20 weeks. Stay close and let your friend know you are there for her whatever her decision.
[ Reply | Options ]really? I guess 99% accurate isn't 100% then and there is still hope for a "normal" baby. That is good news.
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Trisomy 21 is NOT downs - it is a genetic disorder w far greater certainty of death.
[ Reply | Options ]You're wrong. http://www.ds-health.com/trisomy.htm
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[-]Families in non-public private schools or LD schools...question, when you are reimbursed for tuition or part tuition - what is the expectation of the school for a donation? Our school has made it clear that they are looking for support from the families at the school. Would appreciate any btdt advice. We certainly weren't looking to go the private route, but this school is best for our dc.
2 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]The schools want everyone to contribute whatever they are capable of. If that means your family gives $100 or even $50, because that's what you can do, they understand. But they want everyone to be involved because they have to make up the shortfall of what the state gives them vs. what it actually costs to teach each child.
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[-]My ds has sensory issues and language delays just turned 5, he uses his hands a lot to hit instead of using his words not at school only at home. I was considering buying him a punching bag so that he could hit that rather than his sister. What do you think, good idea or no?
7 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]I think it's a bad idea, but I get the logic behind it. There have been studies of kids told to punch pillows and other surrogates and after doing so they show no signs of being calmed by the act. On the contrary, it raises their aggression (at least according to hormone levels, heart rate, etc.). I would try to get some of your intervention services in the home so that his therapists and SEIT can help DS strategize how to deal with conflicts in the family. If you don't have extensive services, I'd really read up on how you can support DS in this way.
[ Reply | Options ]^^^Maybe you could make a special quiet area (some kind of fort or tent) where only DS is allowed and where he can go when he needs a break. This isn't for punishment, rather for when DS recogizes a situation is too challenging. Maybe he would like listening to earphones, music or stories on tapes, as another way to take a break.
[ Reply | Options ]If only I had the space but I will definitley work on it sounds like a great idea.....The music on tape would be a great thing I am trying to get him onto a listening program
[ Reply | Options ]It sounds really tough but it's obvious that you're a really engaged parent so DS is really lucky. I used to teach and had a number of children with challenging behaviors and so many parents prefer to label and judge children. It's nice that you're not fixating on what a "bad" boy he is and strategizing punishments.
[ Reply | Options ]It is tough but I really believe that punishment is not the right way to go as I feel bad enough that he can't get out his words and that he is resulting to hitting. Treating him as he is bad for hitting is not necessarily the wrong thing to do in this case I don't think it is the right thing to do. Thank you for your help and encouragement
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[-]Question to mamas: I'm 14 wks into pregnancy, and just got my nuchal screening results. My risk is very low (1/2,000 for DS) and want to skip amnio altogether for fear of MC. Do you think this is a wise idea? Do you know anyone who's had positive nuchal results, only to give birth to baby with DS? Thank you for taking a moment to respond. Happy Thanksgiving!
23 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]yes, i have heard of good nuchal results and resultant DS. the question you have to answer is what would you do with the information? would it be helpful for you to know that you would be having a special needs child ahead of time?
[ Reply | Options ](original poster) Thanks for your reply. I DO know what I would do with that info. I would choose to terminate the pregnancy, alas. The problem is the risk: It's greater for amnio-related MC (1/200) than it is for DS (1/2,000). Which is why this is so difficult...and why I'd love to hear from other mamas. Thanks again!
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Having a baby is a gamble. The odds are with you having a totally fine baby. If you think you can relax without the amnio, avoid it. There's just way too much intervention in pregnancy.
[ Reply | Options ](Original poster) I want to agree with the poster above, about the gamble. My mother had me, in 1971, at the age of 37, with nothing more than a good doctor and a leap of faith. I want to believe that today's screening tests are pretty reliable...but still can't help but want to know whether mamas out there, with odds as 'good' as mine, ever lived to regret their decision not to do further diagnostic testing.
[ Reply | Options ](poster above) Definitely, people have lived to regret not taking every test but given the odds above, more have lived to regret having the test, no? You've done the tests I did (36 yo) and they've come back great. Life is unpredictable, I was totally relaxed with a great nuchal too then DD came 2 mo early. So all the testing in the world won't make childbearing 100% guaranteed.
[ Reply | Options ]It's really about whether you are ok with the uncertainty. I had similar results at 35 w/ baby #1 and opted for no amnio, but later in the pregnancy, (probably b/c of crazy hormones) I started freaking out and wished i had done the amnio; with #2 at age 28 nucal results were still good for age, but I opted for the amnio and felt better about it. Made it hard to resist finding out the sex of the baby though.
[ Reply | Options ]But how would you have felt if you'd had the test and it caused a mc and you found out the baby was 'normal'? There's a much greater chance of that happening. I wouldn't let any dr put a needle in my belly when everything says the baby's fine. Dr love to recommend all these tests, safe or not. OP. just remind yourself of the odds and try to relax.
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It's simple math, really. Decide on a number of how bad it would be to MC due to the amnio. Then decide on a number on the same scale of how bad it would be to give birth to a Down's Syndrome baby. Multiply the first number by 1/200 or so, and the second number by 1/2000. If product 1 is lower than product 2, skip the amnio.
[ Reply | Options ]If you would terminate (I would too) then the risk of having a Downs baby is too high. Get the amnio. You have the best hospitals around to do it. I had much better results fro the nuchal with my first, less than 1 in 10,000 chance, but my OB made very, very clear that the nuchal is not diagnostic and it can happen. In fact, she noted there have been cases in her practice in which the mother got great nuchal results and gave birth to a baby with DS.
[ Reply | Options ]With those odds I would not do amnio. I had a higher risk than that and decided not to do it. It just depends on whether you're comfortable with your risk. My OB's advice was that if I was still worried about it after a week, to go ahead and do it. You can also wait until the 18-20 week anatomy scan. If you have a healthy scan, plus the low Down's risk, chances are good the baby will be healthy.
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[-]Does anyone have experience with newborn failing ABR but being able to hear? 3 month old is babbling and seems to hear fine but was diagnosed with mild/moderate hearing loss at high frequency sounds by ABR. Can results be incorrect?
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Hi; Does your husband have ADD/ADHD?? If he does.. and mine certainly does, you might want to check out the support group he says has helped alot... They call it the Manhattan Adult ADD Support group.. The only time I can get him out of the house is when he attends meetings...They're having one next Thursday....
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[-]My son has been diagnosed wtih amblyopia... basically his eyes wont focus... anyone btdt... any advice in particular having a hard time getting him to keep his glasses on... TIA
8 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]Ask the opthomologist if there is a mother of another child with amblyopia who you can speak to for advice.
[ Reply | Options ]how old is he? if he is older, maybe he'd be willign to wear some cool, fashionable goggle type glasses. if he's a baby, not sure how to help you, though goggles with straps might work for a baby too.
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[-]Anyone have PHCS or Meritain and get speech therapy covered? Any hints or Dx codes? Thanks.
1 reply [ Reply | Watch | Options ]Haven't been on this site ina while, so don't know if it'ss till an issue, but(and this is generally teue for most insurance)you will need ped to write a letter of medical necessity, stating that reason for speech is not developmental delaybut medical condition (ie otits media).Then, when they OK it, have ICD-9 codes that conform, ie codes for whatever medical condition and list those first. You can putin speech delay code at the end. Tehy will liekly deny medical necessity first time, have doc wriyte another letter. It worked for us finally. Good luck!
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[-]Can someone recommend a social worker specializing in working with children in NYC? Thanks!
18 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]Can you be a little more specific? Age? Problem? Why you want a SW instead of psychologist etc.
[ Reply | Options ]would like a child psychologist too, but they seldom take insurance. we have oxford. 3 yo has problems connecting and socializing in school. he talks and interacts with us a lot at home but at school he shuts down.
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he started schcool this fall. had him evaluated for ei twice and did not qualify, bc evaluations never take place in group setting. i hear that a child psych eval is very costly, so we are trying to avoid it, given that we already had him evaluated twice and we and the teachers can tell a therapist what the issues are.
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hmmm, I would no go social worker at this point, but that is simply my opinion. A three year old boy is allowed to do this. IF you are really worried, I would find a psychologist to just check him out once or twice. Chances are all is well. I met a great man once at a seminar - I think the organization he worked for was Park East Associates. Something like that. He was a child psych and he just totally got children and didn't get hysterical about small children and small things. I wish I knew how to find the number or address. I think its on the east side (obviously) in the 40's. Anyone?
[ Reply | Options ]op - thanks! trust me, we have been anti-therapy all along, but the teachers brought it up. i think he is fine, and he takes a LONG time to warm up, but the teachers think he is not reaping the benefits of going to school and he may need a little more help.
[ Reply | Options ]you know what, maybe he doesn't need to be in school at age 3. I think the man who gave the seminar also worked with IPS preschool - the main location is in the 40's. If you call them and tell them you are looking for a child psych and you think they gave seminars there and the name is something like Park East Associates, you might hit pay dirt. Also, have you read Preschoolers At Risk? You might want to pick that up too. Parenting is so hard, best of luck to you and your little guy.
[ Reply | Options ]Listen. Your kid is 3 years old. Don't listen to that teacher. My kid was exactly the same at that age and she was like that for 3-4 more years. Then she came out of the shell and became a social butterfly. Let him be. Don't make it an issue. I know it is hard because it is brought up in every single parent-teacher conference but you know your child better.
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