Is it time to have my DS assessed?

[Anonymous]

Our DS just turned two. Since he was an infant he has been "slow" in gross motor development, he did not roll until 9 months, slow to crawl, started walking at 18 months. Our pediatrician never seemed concerned, but I am starting to become more worried. Specifically, at 2 years old, he is unable to go up or down stairs without holding on, even stepping up one step without holding on brings him to his knees. At his two year visit, our pediatrician said he seemed fine. But I am wondering how long I should wait before pursuing more formal testing. We tried a toddler gymnastics class and he moves like a baby compared to the other kids.
Otherwise, I have not noticed other delays in development, just this one.
Thanks.

[Anonymous]

It's worth it to have him assessed if anything for your peace of mind. What county do you live in? I would call infants and toddlers. It's free!

[Anonymous]

If he started walking at 18 months, everything else is going to be behind...so it makes sense that's you see a difference between him and other children his age who may have been walking much earlier. That being said, calling infants and toddlers is a great idea. They will evaluate him and if need be, provide free physical therapy to help bridge the gap.

[Anonymous]

If you post an e-mail, I can send you a developmental assessment tool that I was given to assess whether my son might have a speech delay. It's called the ASQ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our DS just turned two. Since he was an infant he has been "slow" in gross motor development, he did not roll until 9 months, slow to crawl, started walking at 18 months. Our pediatrician never seemed concerned, but I am starting to become more worried. Specifically, at 2 years old, he is unable to go up or down stairs without holding on, even stepping up one step without holding on brings him to his knees. At his two year visit, our pediatrician said he seemed fine. But I am wondering how long I should wait before pursuing more formal testing. We tried a toddler gymnastics class and he moves like a baby compared to the other kids.
Otherwise, I have not noticed other delays in development, just this one.
Thanks.

Honestly, those symptoms don't really sound like anything to be alarmed about. Walking at 18 months is a little on the later side, but not extreme. As he gets stronger and more confident his stair climbing will improve.

That being said, if you're worried about it, then you should have him checked out by an OT just for your own piece of mind.

[Anonymous]

I also don't think it sounds overly delayed. My DD started walking at 17 months and an early childhood specialist told me that was actually the average age for walking (although it doesn't seem to be). She was always less 'able' at gymnastics until around 3-3 & 1/2. At 4 now, she's just about caught up - just a little more reluctant to throw herself at things than some others. There's such a broad spectrum of development. Stairs are still very tricky for my DS who is now nearly 2 & 1/2.

[Anonymous]

I would definitely get assessed. I went through this as well where we missed all of the gross motor milestones - crawling at 12 months, walking at 18 months, always leading with the same leg on the stairs, etc. - and my pediatrician always said not to worry about it. It turns out that my child has very low tone as well as sensory processing disorder and we have really benefited from early intervention. I would have a physical therapist do an assessment and go from there.

[Anonymous]

I would have him assessed as well. My child has a speech delay that his pediatrician is too rushed to notice.

[Anonymous]

have his vision tested! he sounds like my daughter who is severely nearsighted. she has literally no depth perception and also walked late. she is receiving services as well. (OT and PT)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would definitely get assessed. I went through this as well where we missed all of the gross motor milestones - crawling at 12 months, walking at 18 months, always leading with the same leg on the stairs, etc. - and my pediatrician always said not to worry about it. It turns out that my child has very low tone as well as sensory processing disorder and we have really benefited from early intervention. I would have a physical therapist do an assessment and go from there.

I could have written this exact same post! My first two were late walkers (15 months and 18 months, respectively) and a pediatric orthopedist evaluated them and said they were just on the late side of normal. When my third child was also a late walker, we just assumed he was maintaining the family tradition. By that time we had a new pediatrician who suggested we have him evaluated by Infant Toddler Connection (the Fairfax County Program). He displayed the same symptoms as the PP quoted above. His gross motor delays were greater than 25% and we got a year of PT. It also made us take another look at our oldest and get him an OT eval. They both have low tone (hypotonia) and processing issues. PT/OT has made an amazing difference for both boys. Looking at our kids, you'd never think they have developemental delays. That's why it's so important to have a profession do an evaluation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would definitely get assessed. I went through this as well where we missed all of the gross motor milestones - crawling at 12 months, walking at 18 months, always leading with the same leg on the stairs, etc. - and my pediatrician always said not to worry about it. It turns out that my child has very low tone as well as sensory processing disorder and we have really benefited from early intervention. I would have a physical therapist do an assessment and go from there.

I could have written this exact same post! My first two were late walkers (15 months and 18 months, respectively) and a pediatric orthopedist evaluated them and said they were just on the late side of normal. When my third child was also a late walker, we just assumed he was maintaining the family tradition. By that time we had a new pediatrician who suggested we have him evaluated by Infant Toddler Connection (the Fairfax County Program). He displayed the same symptoms as the PP quoted above. His gross motor delays were greater than 25% and we got a year of PT. It also made us take another look at our oldest and get him an OT eval. They both have low tone (hypotonia) and processing issues. PT/OT has made an amazing difference for both boys. Looking at our kids, you'd never think they have developemental delays. That's why it's so important to have a profession do an evaluation.

How do processing issues affect gross motor skills? I'm wondering about my own child with a motor delays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would definitely get assessed. I went through this as well where we missed all of the gross motor milestones - crawling at 12 months, walking at 18 months, always leading with the same leg on the stairs, etc. - and my pediatrician always said not to worry about it. It turns out that my child has very low tone as well as sensory processing disorder and we have really benefited from early intervention. I would have a physical therapist do an assessment and go from there.

I could have written this exact same post! My first two were late walkers (15 months and 18 months, respectively) and a pediatric orthopedist evaluated them and said they were just on the late side of normal. When my third child was also a late walker, we just assumed he was maintaining the family tradition. By that time we had a new pediatrician who suggested we have him evaluated by Infant Toddler Connection (the Fairfax County Program). He displayed the same symptoms as the PP quoted above. His gross motor delays were greater than 25% and we got a year of PT. It also made us take another look at our oldest and get him an OT eval. They both have low tone (hypotonia) and processing issues. PT/OT has made an amazing difference for both boys. Looking at our kids, you'd never think they have developemental delays. That's why it's so important to have a profession do an evaluation.

How do processing issues affect gross motor skills? I'm wondering about my own child with a motor delays.

PP here...one more question to those posters whose children with gross motor issues were found to have processing issues...how was the OT/PT able to determine that there were processing issues? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the advice. I have thought about calling infant and toddlers program to have him assessed, but my DH is against this. He thinks that I am just being an obsessed parent and that there is nothing wrong with DS. He thinks that it is not a big deal that at 2 he can't walk up step. He attributes his slow crawling and walking to the fact that he is just large for his age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the advice. I have thought about calling infant and toddlers program to have him assessed, but my DH is against this. He thinks that I am just being an obsessed parent and that there is nothing wrong with DS. He thinks that it is not a big deal that at 2 he can't walk up step. He attributes his slow crawling and walking to the fact that he is just large for his age.

I don't think it's uncommon for two year olds to hold on when they go up the steps. But I'm in the better-safe-than-sorry camp.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would definitely get assessed. I went through this as well where we missed all of the gross motor milestones - crawling at 12 months, walking at 18 months, always leading with the same leg on the stairs, etc. - and my pediatrician always said not to worry about it. It turns out that my child has very low tone as well as sensory processing disorder and we have really benefited from early intervention. I would have a physical therapist do an assessment and go from there.

I could have written this exact same post! My first two were late walkers (15 months and 18 months, respectively) and a pediatric orthopedist evaluated them and said they were just on the late side of normal. When my third child was also a late walker, we just assumed he was maintaining the family tradition. By that time we had a new pediatrician who suggested we have him evaluated by Infant Toddler Connection (the Fairfax County Program). He displayed the same symptoms as the PP quoted above. His gross motor delays were greater than 25% and we got a year of PT. It also made us take another look at our oldest and get him an OT eval. They both have low tone (hypotonia) and processing issues. PT/OT has made an amazing difference for both boys. Looking at our kids, you'd never think they have developemental delays. That's why it's so important to have a profession do an evaluation.

How do processing issues affect gross motor skills? I'm wondering about my own child with a motor delays.

Auditory processing issues can affect the child's vestibular system, which is responsible for balance. My daughter was the classical type of that, scared of the smallest noises, very much overwhelmed by her surroundings and had terrible balance. she didn't walk until she was 16 months, and took another 8 months to actually become a stable walker. she still has issues with stairs. Her OT was able to observe this pretty quickly because it was so obvious.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vestibular_system