Terrified about 15 mo DD's development

[Anonymous]

It doesn't sound like the pediatrician is disinterested so I'd stick with the pediatrician's advice. I'm not a fan of having children seen by specialist unless and until it's necessary. We have one for whom it was necessary and she absolutely hates seeing any medical professional now. Thankfully, her visits to specialist are over but I dread routine appointments now because she puts up such a fuss.

[Anonymous]

OP I don't know if you're still reading this thread, but my DD is 15 months old as well. I don't know if this will help at all, but here goes...

1) Walking- you mentioned the leg length- I'd go see an ortho. My daughter is not walking- partly due to low muscle tone and partly because her hips are completely dislocated. Her hip dislocation has been completely missed in clinical exams by pediatrician and ortho specialists alike. An xray confirmed it. If you can't get in with Children's, there is an excellent hip doctor at Johns Hopkins. Could be nothing, but it could be something.

2) Talking - my daughter is doing exactly what you've described. We were seeing a speech/feeding therapists as a result of some feeding issues after a very lengthy NICU stay and because she had to have a trach tube for 8 months. Our speech therapists just cut us loose- in her opinion, DD was a bit advanced in her speech development and cognitive skills. We also have an EI PT and just recently had a complete assessment from the county, and they've placed her speech skills at 17 months.

From a speech perspective, I personally don't think you have anything to worry about, but you have to do what's best to ease your own concerns. So get an EI assessment- can't hurt.

[Anonymous]

Call Kennedy Kreiger in Baltimore. The answer line there is staffed with knowledgeable people - describe what you are seeing and the person answering will tell help you figure you out which specialist(s) you should see. Everyone you could need to see is right there and they take lots of different insurance. Most of the people there are quite competent. All this will cost you is a long drive (but there is valet parking, which makes things surprisingly easy) and $50. Call and go figure this out. There is no point in making yourself crazy over this any longer - Kennedy Kreiger will see you, whether or not people here think there's something to worry about.

[Anonymous]

OP, I understand where you are coming from...my DS is sort of "in between" too...and if I go for advice on the SN's forum I basically get laughed at and if I go for advice on the GP forum I get told either I am over-reacting or am an awful parent because I haven't done enough. It is a hard place to be: your child needs help beyond "normal" but doesn't have a labeled diagnosis. And honestly, I feel "terrified" sometimes too...I am sorry you have been flamed about your feelings.

1) ask for a PEDIATRIC ortho consult to ensure that there is not an underlying cause for the foot turnout. Definetly can be normal but should be investigated nonetheless.

2) ask for a developmental pediatrician who can give you some insight intto the needs of your child long term.

3) start ST (speech therapy). They may say it's early to start but get on the list now so that when she hits 18months you aren't waiting around to get an appointment.

4) do you think she has apraxia?

5) can you take her swimming? to a playground? do you motivate her to walk? dance? or do you accomodate her?

6) can you afford littly gym/gymboree, etc? play gyms can really help!

7) does she go to school? maybe some socialization would help her learn to express herself? even MDO would help.

8) tv. I don't mean plant her in front of the tv...engage in the tv show with her and encourage her to sing, dance, and id the characters...30 min of tv WITH you might be worth a try.

Goo dluck, OP.

[Anonymous]

First of all, the brain can only attend to learning to walk or learning to talk. It sounds like your daughter is focusing on the physical first. You have her in PT, which is great.

I have two children who were speech delayed. One has apraxia. Speech delays are often just speech delays. Speech therapy addresses the problem, corrects it, and all is fine.

Don't worry about the flames. I was very concerned about both my kids. Friends thought I was crazy about my child with apraxia. I knew nothing about apraxia but knew something was not right with her babbling since she was my second child.

[Anonymous]

OP, GO WITH YOUR GUT. All of us on this board, or most of us, had a gut feeling something was not right. Some of us had to push and push to get the correct diagnosis. Truly, I have no idea if you are crazy or not, but I believe you love your kid and your observations of other kids tells you something is not right. Just go with it and make the appointment with a developmental ped. If you're wrong - so what? You pay the money and you get piece of mind. Your fears will never be allayed until you see dev ped. Good luck. I mean that!

[Anonymous]

OP, GO WITH YOUR GUT. All of us on this board, or most of us, had a gut feeling something was not right. Some of us had to push and push to get the correct diagnosis. Truly, I have no idea if you are crazy or not, but I believe you love your kid and your observations of other kids tells you something is not right. Just go with it and make the appointment with a developmental ped. If you're wrong - so what? You pay the money and you get piece of mind. Your fears will never be allayed until you see dev ped. Good luck. I mean that!