Re: I need input.... at what age did you go to a dev. pediatrician?

[Guest guest]

I would say to go ASAP. Even if they don't diagnose immediately, the sooner

they start monitoring care and development, the better. The *thorough*

reports I got from our specialists (developmental ped, pediatric neuro, SLP

who specialized in tough cases, etc) in my son's early days (age 2 1/2) were

so valuable for documenting where he was at that time. I still refer to

those initial reports for information. Some professionals don't diagnose

after one visit but rather after several visits and some tests, they take a

stab at a diagnosis so that you can get services. Another reason I would

seek specialist opinion sooner than later is becuase it is good to get some

professionals on your side prior to your child starting school. I went into

our first IEP meeting with an apraxia diagnosis which helped secure

intensive speech therapy. Throughout our trials with insurance, school,

etc. It is the diagnoses and letters from professionals that made all the

difference in the world in getting our son what he needed.

I can't stress how helpful it was for us to go to the specialist early on.

If your regular doc challenges you on it, ask him what the risks are of

going to a specialist " too early " . On the flip side, ask him what the risks

are of going to a specialist " too late " .

Tricia Morin

North Carolina

Hello Everyone,

When did you see a specialist? Do you wish you had gone sooner?

Later? My son is already receiving services. My dr. said to refer

at the age of 3 but I do want answers. This is making me crazy.

However, the dr. said it is hard to get an accurate diagnosis prior

to age 3 as it is hard to say what is developmental and what is a

problem.

Thank you.

[Guest guest]

Hi --

I'll only speak for myself, but I'm sure there are a few on this list

that will echo or agree with me (...and some won't, but that's okay.)

In my opinion, don't wait until 3. I took my son to see a

developmental pediatrician at 27 months, and was sorry I didn't do it

a little sooner, like shortly after turning 2. My son Drew was

diagnosed with speech delays at 19 months and started EI services at

21 months, but didn't get his apraxia diagnosis until 27 months, when

I had decided that I really wanted to know what was at the root of

these delays. Man, am I glad that I didn't wait any longer than I

did! Knowing exactly what was causing Drew's delays made a huge

difference to me, and also to his teacher (he has a special ed

teacher whose specialty is speech, but she is not a speech

therapist). Once I got her up to speed about what was going on, she

made some adjustments (minor ones), and between that and adding some

OT (which the sped teacher figured out was needed, and he was

approved literally days before formal diagnosis by the dev. ped.--

who totally agreed with his EI-OT assessment), Drew has excelled and

made incredible progress. We go for a " checkup " in late March to see

how he's progressing. He has his IFSP annual next week, so we'll see

if ST will be starting anytime soon, or if we'll wait until he turns

3 and include it in his IEP. A big part of that decision was that

Drew did not start to have the focus or attention span needed to

truly get anything out of ST until very recently, and a lot of that

was hard work on the parts of Drew's sped and OT, as well as his dad

and I.

But I'm glad I didn't put it off, because that has allowed me to be

much more knowledgeble about what my son needs now and in the future

for him to make significant progress. In just 3 months, he was

barely saying anything, to making a lot of noise, making a lot of

attempts at speaking, and has learned his colors and alphabet. When

he was diagnosed by the dev. ped. in late September, he was put at 18

months old developmentally (with higher scatters-- verbal was

dragging his score down). With the adjustments-- and adding the

omegas to his diet as well, and starting OT-- he jumped from being 18

months old developmentally to 27 mo. overall in just 3 months, and

his receptive and cognitive skills were placed at age and higher at

30 months. So it's made a world of difference for us.

I will tell you, however, that our developmental pediatrician did

agree that we were already on the right track with his EI services,

but did add a few other things that helped, such as adding a gym

class, adding the fish oils to his diet, and referring us to the Late

Talker book (that's how I ended up here). I've been told that for a

dev. ped., making those additional recommendations, let alone making

an apraxia/DSI diagnosis, was pretty progressive, and I'm glad of

that.

My recommendation is not to wait-- you may not make any drastic

changes in your services just yet, but you'll be plenty prepared when

you do have the opportunity to do so when your child is 3.

I hope this helps!

le in NJ (SAHM to Drew 2.7, apraxia and DSI)

> Hello Everyone,

>

> When did you see a specialist? Do you wish you had gone sooner?

> Later? My son is already receiving services. My dr. said to refer

> at the age of 3 but I do want answers. This is making me crazy.

> However, the dr. said it is hard to get an accurate diagnosis prior

> to age 3 as it is hard to say what is developmental and what is a

> problem.

>

> Thank you.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi le!

I for one so agree with you as you know. Also I know the only

downside of Early Intervention is missing it -and by not seeing a

neurodevelopmental MD -you may not be aware of all that can benefit

from early therapy. If your child ends up just starting to talk and is fine -

there are no labels -there is only a talking child that everyone

wonders " was he just a late talker that would have talked anyway? "

Starting therapy and getting labels for a school age child

however, and wishing you knew about EI sooner...that's another story.

Here is an archived message on more (and le -let Nas the new

parent know about the preschool you are looking into -it sounded

great!):

" What type of apraxic like speech behaviors are you seeing that

makes you and the SLP suspect your child has apraxia vs. a simple

delay in speech? Is your child talking at all yet? At your child's

age -without speech, it's difficult to diagnose verbal apraxia -they

could " suspect " verbal apraxia and begin treatment just in case,

which wouldn't hurt your child if he ended up just having a simple

delay. Just a few questions before we could provide more accurate

answers:

Does your child have signs of oral apraxia? (for example, can he on

command smile, imitate funny faces, blow bubbles...if you put peanut

butter anywhere around his mouth can he lick it off no matter where

it is?)

http://www.cherab.org/information/speechlanguage/oralapraxia.html

Does your child have any neurological " soft signs " such as hypotonia

or sensory integration dysfunction?

http://www.cherab.org/information/speechlanguage/parentfriendlysoftsi

gns.html

Who else evaluated your child? Was it only the SLP through your

town school or was he also in Early Intervention through the state?

(birth to three) Was he evaluated by both a speech pathologist as

well as an occupational therapist? Was/were they knowledgeable

about apraxia? (If your child wasn't diagnosed by an occupational

therapist as well and professionals suspect apraxia -I highly

recommend you request that too either through both the school as

well as private through insurance for many reasons)

To answer any questions you may have about taking your child to see a

neurodevelopmental MD if he has not yet been to one and apraxia is

suspected... in one word - " Yes!!! " I would have your child diagnosed

(private) by a neurodevelopmental medical doctor (developmental

pediatrician or pediatric neurologist) who is knowledgeable about

apraxia and other neurologically based multi-faceted communication

impairments for numerous reasons. Reasons include (but not limited

to)

*having a " hero " on the outside of the school who can assist in a

therapeutic plan and oversee your child's development over the years

*advocacy support with the insurance company

* ruling out or confirming any neurological soft signs or any other

reasons for the delay in speech

*help those that ask " why isn't he talking yet " understand this is a

medical condition -and has nothing to do with your child's cognitive

ability. (if in your child's case it doesn't. Apraxia in itself

does not affect a child's cognitive ability -and speaking early or

late is no indication of a child's intelligence. Also contrary to

popular belief -most who have speech impairments have average to

above average intelligence)

I would also have at least one private " out of pocket " (if possible)

exam with a knowledgeable speech pathologist as well. This SLP can

coordinate with your child's MD, and school therapist and other

professionals, and again be there to assist in a therapeutic plan,

help set goals and oversee your child's development over the years

if needed.

Networking with parents of other speech-impaired children is also

possibly one of the best moves you could make in your child's

recovery. Others will steer you to the " right " professionals and

programs in your area -and you won't feel so alone. I would HIGHLY

recommend joining a whose goal is to unite parents and

professionals. This group

/ is through CHERAB

http://www.cherab.org

The speechville website also has message boards so that you can talk

to other parents on particular topics.

http://www.speech-express.com/boards/

Check your state resources at Speechville to find local support

groups and resources.

http://www.speech-express.com/regional-resources.html

http://www.speech-express.com/communication-station/regional-support-groups.html

(BTW -for anyone who is either running or starting a support group -

due to The Late Talker book and the many who will see your group,

please make sure your info is up at this website and accurate)

For all your other questions including what type of testing -just

read " The Late Talker " The book is available

either online or ask for it through your favorite bookstore or

library.

http://www.speech-express.com/late.talker.html (OK so I'm one of the

co-authors -but it's hard not to recommend this book when so many of

the

questions asked are in here!)

You are not alone and we are all here for you. We wish you the best

in your

journey! "

=====

[Guest guest]

-

We went to a ped. neuro. when Josh was 18 months (had a febrile

convulsion and needed MRI's to check to see if any other reason for

seizure activity - nope). We went to a dev. ped. shortly after that

and received terrible news from the " evil Dr. ____ " (won't mention

names). We were told by other doctors and therapists that the

diagnosis the " evil Dr. ___ " made when Josh was 19 or 20 months old

was not a diagnosis that was possible as it really can't be made

until a child is probably around 5 (the " evil Dr. ____ said Josh had

mental retardation - have learned since that apraxia is oftentimes

misdiagnosed as MR when kids are young - hhhhmmm). When Josh was 3

1/2 we went again to a different ped. neuro. who disagreed with the

dev. ped. and diagnosed the apraxia (also confirmed hypotonia and

sensory dysfunction) - went to Shriner's when Josh was 5 for genetic

testing and to make sure there was nothing orthopedic going on and

just had a follow-up on that (nothing genetic showed nor is there

anything orthopedic). We also had an eval done by an educational

neuropsychologist in August (Josh was 5.3 yrs).

Going to a dev. ped. at 3 should be fine but do your research and

don't be freaked out by a diagnosis that's offered at that age as

there are conditions that really may not be diagnosible (is that a

word) at that age and there may be conditions that won't show up

until the kid is older.

Good luck!

Sherry