Where can I get 2.5 y/o evaluated?

[Anonymous]

Well she’s only 2. It’s hardly been years. But if you have older kids and you think there’s an issue you’re likely right. Child find is the first stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well she’s only 2. It’s hardly been years. But if you have older kids and you think there’s an issue you’re likely right. Child find is the first stop.

I know she's only 2.5 but day in and day out and every night it's utterly exhausting.

I'm so tired of all the screaming, crying, tantrums, difficulties with eating and sleeping, fighting with older kiddo.

It's like no matter what I do, I cannot make the 2.5 year old happy. Everything is futile and it's very demoralizing.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know how child find works in your area, I assume it’s a birth-3 program at this age. I’d definitely start there but would also be looking for private providers as well if you have the means to do so.

Here’s the basic breakdown I follow for EI:

Contact birth-3

Contact insurance (they may not cover anything now but will help for you to know what info they need to get services covered). Ask about pre-diagnosis vs diagnosis, some cover pre-diagnosis at this age if behavioral concerns are inhibiting ability to be formally assessed using standard measurements.

Schedule pediatrician to rule out medical issues like hearing, vision, etc. and get possible pre-diagnosis.

Schedule developmental pediatrician for later date /possible diagnosis once you have assessments completed

Look into EIBI program- get behavioral assessment and ABLLS-R- birth-3 May or May not help with this. ABLLS-R should be updated at least every 6 months.

Schedule OT, PT, SLP assessments- birth-3 May or May not help with this. PPVT and EVT are great speech assessments to get and update yearly.

Contact public school regarding IEP at age 3 (even if homeschool you may still be able to use it for SLP, OT, etc). Easiest time to get IEP is 3rd birthday. If you anticipate needing extensive services hire a lawyer and advocate. If you just need speech you should be fine/birth-3 should be able to assist.

I think a nutritionist and allergist can be useful as well to help rule out additional medical concerns.

Keep immaculate records, get copies of everything, make yourself a binder. Record dates, times, phone calls, print emails. Give physical copies from binder to each person on a need to know basis, much easier than requesting office A to send to office B, etc.

[Anonymous]

Developmental ped, speech therapist and parenting classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know how child find works in your area, I assume it’s a birth-3 program at this age. I’d definitely start there but would also be looking for private providers as well if you have the means to do so.

Here’s the basic breakdown I follow for EI:

Contact birth-3

Contact insurance (they may not cover anything now but will help for you to know what info they need to get services covered). Ask about pre-diagnosis vs diagnosis, some cover pre-diagnosis at this age if behavioral concerns are inhibiting ability to be formally assessed using standard measurements.

Schedule pediatrician to rule out medical issues like hearing, vision, etc. and get possible pre-diagnosis.

Schedule developmental pediatrician for later date /possible diagnosis once you have assessments completed

Look into EIBI program- get behavioral assessment and ABLLS-R- birth-3 May or May not help with this. ABLLS-R should be updated at least every 6 months.

Schedule OT, PT, SLP assessments- birth-3 May or May not help with this. PPVT and EVT are great speech assessments to get and update yearly.

Contact public school regarding IEP at age 3 (even if homeschool you may still be able to use it for SLP, OT, etc). Easiest time to get IEP is 3rd birthday. If you anticipate needing extensive services hire a lawyer and advocate. If you just need speech you should be fine/birth-3 should be able to assist.

I think a nutritionist and allergist can be useful as well to help rule out additional medical concerns.

Keep immaculate records, get copies of everything, make yourself a binder. Record dates, times, phone calls, print emails. Give physical copies from binder to each person on a need to know basis, much easier than requesting office A to send to office B, etc.

Thank you very much, this is super helpful!

It has been daunting to try and figure out the processes and the general overview of it all. And being exhausted (and currently sick) makes it even more overwhelming!

I am really appreciative of you outlining this all!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Developmental ped, speech therapist and parenting classes.

Not attacking, just curious to know why you added parenting classes in your list?

[Anonymous]

I didn't mine at children's hospital Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders

But they told me 2.5 is still very young, so they could possibly rule a diagnosis out but couldn't confirm one

[Anonymous]

Call Children’s Hospital and Kennedy-Krieger and tell them you want a full neuropsychiatric exam. They will put you on a waiting list. Tell them that you would like to also be on their cancellation list so that if someone doesn’t show up your child can be seeen sooner.

Kennedy Krieger is in Baltimore but is a top facility and worth the trip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Developmental ped, speech therapist and parenting classes.

Not attacking, just curious to know why you added parenting classes in your list?

Because every child is different and the youngest may need different parenting than the oldest. It may be an issue with the kid, or normal two year old behavior that needs consistency or a combination of both. We regularly had to change our parenting at different times as there is no one size fits all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Call Children’s Hospital and Kennedy-Krieger and tell them you want a full neuropsychiatric exam. They will put you on a waiting list. Tell them that you would like to also be on their cancellation list so that if someone doesn’t show up your child can be seeen sooner.

Kennedy Krieger is in Baltimore but is a top facility and worth the trip.

Too young for a neuropsych. Developmental ped.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't mine at children's hospital Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders

But they told me 2.5 is still very young, so they could possibly rule a diagnosis out but couldn't confirm one

I appreciate your reply!!

Just out of curiosity, and you don't have to answer if you're not comfortable doing so, what was your child being evaluated for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Developmental ped, speech therapist and parenting classes.

Not attacking, just curious to know why you added parenting classes in your list?

Because every child is different and the youngest may need different parenting than the oldest. It may be an issue with the kid, or normal two year old behavior that needs consistency or a combination of both. We regularly had to change our parenting at different times as there is no one size fits all.

Thanks for your reply!

And yeah, they are 180° polar opposites in pretty much everything. I know our older was a unicorn baby and is a unicorn kid in so many ways.

My younger has just broken me as a person and parent. I feel like I can't do anything right.

I also need to do something because the relationship with my older is suffering she to the constant attention needed for the younger.

I'm all ears for any recommendations you may have!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know how child find works in your area, I assume it’s a birth-3 program at this age. I’d definitely start there but would also be looking for private providers as well if you have the means to do so.

Here’s the basic breakdown I follow for EI:

Contact birth-3

Contact insurance (they may not cover anything now but will help for you to know what info they need to get services covered). Ask about pre-diagnosis vs diagnosis, some cover pre-diagnosis at this age if behavioral concerns are inhibiting ability to be formally assessed using standard measurements.

Schedule pediatrician to rule out medical issues like hearing, vision, etc. and get possible pre-diagnosis.

Schedule developmental pediatrician for later date /possible diagnosis once you have assessments completed

Look into EIBI program- get behavioral assessment and ABLLS-R- birth-3 May or May not help with this. ABLLS-R should be updated at least every 6 months.

Schedule OT, PT, SLP assessments- birth-3 May or May not help with this. PPVT and EVT are great speech assessments to get and update yearly.

Contact public school regarding IEP at age 3 (even if homeschool you may still be able to use it for SLP, OT, etc). Easiest time to get IEP is 3rd birthday. If you anticipate needing extensive services hire a lawyer and advocate. If you just need speech you should be fine/birth-3 should be able to assist.

I think a nutritionist and allergist can be useful as well to help rule out additional medical concerns.

Keep immaculate records, get copies of everything, make yourself a binder. Record dates, times, phone calls, print emails. Give physical copies from binder to each person on a need to know basis, much easier than requesting office A to send to office B, etc.

Thank you very much, this is super helpful!

It has been daunting to try and figure out the processes and the general overview of it all. And being exhausted (and currently sick) makes it even more overwhelming!

I am really appreciative of you outlining this all!

It’s very overwhelming at first but it does get easier once you have people helping you. The paperwork aspect never gets better, unfortunately, that’s why I mentioned keeping good records.

I’ve met 18 month olds that screamed almost all day long, couldn’t speak until age 3, and had huge issues with sleeping and eating. Through a LOT of hard work, consistency, and parents doing everything they could the progress was incredible. As they aged the gaps between them and NT peers became smaller. This type of progress takes a huge commitment at this age but change is definitely possible.

A good intensive EIBI program is worth its weight in gold. The first year will be the hardest and progress might start slow but don’t ever lose hope. Deal with the behavioral issues first, then the language, then attending, then play and social. It will all come together if you have competent people leading you.

Find a group of great professionals and listen to them. Don’t skimp on your research/interview process when finding someone, especially the BCBA. Look for home-based early intervention experience and verbal behavior experience as well as experience addressing sleeping and eating issues and parent training. If you can afford it then find a BCBA that can provide at least 15-20 of the hours themselves, especially in the beginning.

Supplement with a nanny that can be trained to help with consistency, or get someone to watch your other children so you can learn from the professional and do what’s asked when they aren’t there. Record sessions if you have to, but 1:1 sit in time for the first few months is most useful. Consistency and time will be the key to progress but you also need to act quickly and intensively at this age.

I don’t disagree with the PP about a neuropsych, and KK is great, but sometimes at this age a full neuropsych is almost useless. If behavioral concerns are most prominent issue these have to be addressed first before formal testing can take place. You don’t need a diagnosis to start a private pay EIBI program, or at least start the assessments to see if this type of program would benefit you. Get on the waiting list for KK but don’t wait to start home EIBI services. Time is very important when addressing the things you’re concerned about.

Regarding parenting classes, parent training is hugely important, but a good BCBA can cover this with you in a more individualized way than a general parenting class could. You can certainly sign up for one but might not need it if you find an experienced BCBA.

Never give up hope, people that can help you exist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Call Children’s Hospital and Kennedy-Krieger and tell them you want a full neuropsychiatric exam. They will put you on a waiting list. Tell them that you would like to also be on their cancellation list so that if someone doesn’t show up your child can be seeen sooner.

Kennedy Krieger is in Baltimore but is a top facility and worth the trip.

Too young for a neuropsych. Developmental ped.

Thanks for your reply! If you have any recommendations, I'm interested to hear them

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Developmental ped, speech therapist and parenting classes.

Not attacking, just curious to know why you added parenting classes in your list?

Because every child is different and the youngest may need different parenting than the oldest. It may be an issue with the kid, or normal two year old behavior that needs consistency or a combination of both. We regularly had to change our parenting at different times as there is no one size fits all.

Thanks for your reply!

And yeah, they are 180° polar opposites in pretty much everything. I know our older was a unicorn baby and is a unicorn kid in so many ways.

My younger has just broken me as a person and parent. I feel like I can't do anything right.

I also need to do something because the relationship with my older is suffering she to the constant attention needed for the younger.

I'm all ears for any recommendations you may have!

Carve out 1-1 time for each child even if it is just reading 19 minutes a day. Watch the nanny shows with time ours, behavior charts and more structure. But, I’d start with your ped or developmental ped. They don’t do neuropsych say this age. And, a separate speech evaluation. Be very consistent and don’t give in. It could be something that needs addressed like speech or just the terrible twos.