Anonymous
06/26/2014 13:59
Subject: Re:7.5 month old starting early intervention for multiple concerns
OP again. Anyone have any tips for dealing with the anxiety of waiting? I feel like I can't enjoy being around my daughter, because I'm just constantly wishing for her to do things that she is not. She sleeps horribly too, and I am sleep deprived and not dealing with this particularly well.
Anonymous
06/26/2014 09:49
Subject: Re:7.5 month old starting early intervention for multiple concerns
Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone. Another weird thing ... the EI evaluator seemed really weird about BFing. She was like "great, how long did you breastfeed for?" And I was like "I'm still breastfeeding." She seemed like that was pretty strange. DD isn't even 8 months yet!
NP here: what are the evaluator's qualifications? Some of what you mention may be concerning, but honestly, some isn't (as PPs have noted). The comment about a six month old (!) not responding to her name making her "heart hurt" would give me pause to trust this person's opinion. Six months is too early for that milestone.
Yes, EI is great and I'm not trying to dissuade you from getting the services. They won't hurt your daughter. But both for peace of mind and to get a better picture, I'd seek a second opinion, *in addition* to pursuing EI. Good luck.
Anonymous
06/25/2014 23:30
Subject: Re:7.5 month old starting early intervention for multiple concerns
Thanks everyone. Another weird thing ... the EI evaluator seemed really weird about BFing. She was like "great, how long did you breastfeed for?" And I was like "I'm still breastfeeding." She seemed like that was pretty strange. DD isn't even 8 months yet!
Anonymous
06/25/2014 22:53
Subject: Re:7.5 month old starting early intervention for multiple concerns
I wouldn't read too deeply into the problem solving flag for now. If the hip dysplasia left her core weak and she doesn't get much tummy time to strengthen it, she may be affected in the upper body too. That it to say, she may know what she wants to do but physically is having a hard time getting it done.
Anonymous
06/25/2014 22:12
Subject: 7.5 month old starting early intervention for multiple concerns
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:How do 7 month old babies "problem solve"? You should get a second opinion.
That's holding own bottle and stuff... you put a piece of food in her hand and she won't eat it she'll just fling it around etc. etc. sigh..
It isn't abnormal for a 7 month old not to hold her own bottle.
Yeah to be honest I thought it was overreacting but it freaked me out. The evaluator even suggested we could double track evaluations and contact an autism center.
Wha?? That seems overboard.
I know right?
I suppose I would rather qualify for the services in case she has an issue.
Anonymous
06/25/2014 22:06
Subject: 7.5 month old starting early intervention for multiple concerns
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:How do 7 month old babies "problem solve"? You should get a second opinion.
That's holding own bottle and stuff... you put a piece of food in her hand and she won't eat it she'll just fling it around etc. etc. sigh..
It isn't abnormal for a 7 month old not to hold her own bottle.
Yeah to be honest I thought it was overreacting but it freaked me out. The evaluator even suggested we could double track evaluations and contact an autism center.
Wha?? That seems overboard.
Anonymous
06/25/2014 21:34
Subject: 7.5 month old starting early intervention for multiple concerns
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:How do 7 month old babies "problem solve"? You should get a second opinion.
+1
That was one of the categories on the evaluation sheet - "problem solving." for babies it means pretty limited stuff like figuring out that you need to tilt the bottle up to get the milk, etc.
Anonymous
06/25/2014 21:33
Subject: 7.5 month old starting early intervention for multiple concerns
Anonymous wrote:It is WAAAAAYYYY to early to be discussing autism. Just because of that I would be second guessing the person who was evaluating. Either way, please know that on these tests, just one or two "wrong" responses can make your child look/test more delayed than he or she actually is. Like one of the PP's said, you are getting in very early to intervention which is great. The next level would be to receive services. The specialists will leave suggestions with you so that you can work on stuff while they are not there. If your child doesn't show progress in a few months then you might want to look into a developmental pediatrician.
I agree. To be fair, what happened there was that I probably freaked out and glazed over when she was super focused on the speech regression thing and said I could pursue double track evaluation simultaneous to EI, and should contact [name of center], which has autism in the name but also deals with development generally. The evaluator herself said it was too early to really say autism, and DD's extremely social personality doesn't exactly scream autism. I have a friend who diagnoses autism who let me know that the social stuff don't foreclose autism spectrum, however (and has a sister who meets that criteria).
Anonymous
06/25/2014 21:25
Subject: 7.5 month old starting early intervention for multiple concerns
Anonymous wrote:How do 7 month old babies "problem solve"? You should get a second opinion.
+1
Anonymous
06/25/2014 21:11
Subject: 7.5 month old starting early intervention for multiple concerns
It is WAAAAAYYYY to early to be discussing autism. Just because of that I would be second guessing the person who was evaluating. Either way, please know that on these tests, just one or two "wrong" responses can make your child look/test more delayed than he or she actually is. Like one of the PP's said, you are getting in very early to intervention which is great. The next level would be to receive services. The specialists will leave suggestions with you so that you can work on stuff while they are not there. If your child doesn't show progress in a few months then you might want to look into a developmental pediatrician.
Anonymous
06/25/2014 20:59
Subject: 7.5 month old starting early intervention for multiple concerns
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:How do 7 month old babies "problem solve"? You should get a second opinion.
That's holding own bottle and stuff... you put a piece of food in her hand and she won't eat it she'll just fling it around etc. etc. sigh..
Hardly problem solving.
Of course it's problem solving, for a 7 month old. What do you expect?
Yeah I think the idea is connecting what your brain wants to what your hands do. So like, she can physically put her pacifier in her mouth and has done it when calm, but when she's crying, she never connects anything to "solve" that problem.
That seems like a lot to expect from a 7 mo old baby. If she is progressing in fine motor skills why focus on putting a pacifier in her mouth when she is upset?
Anonymous
06/25/2014 20:49
Subject: 7.5 month old starting early intervention for multiple concerns
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:How do 7 month old babies "problem solve"? You should get a second opinion.
That's holding own bottle and stuff... you put a piece of food in her hand and she won't eat it she'll just fling it around etc. etc. sigh..
It isn't abnormal for a 7 month old not to hold her own bottle.
I agree. DC#1 never held her own bottle and she's a thriving 6yo now.
Anonymous
06/25/2014 20:47
Subject: Re:7.5 month old starting early intervention for multiple concerns
OP,
Now that you've provided a bigger picture, I can see why you're concerned. Your DD may end up getting PT/OT through early intervention and that's a good thing. It sounds like the complications of the hip dysplasia is a big culprit, but it is important for babies to progress in physical development to connect those neurons. I think you're taking the right steps.
I would also try to find a doctor who specializes in hip dysplasia, e.g.:
http://www.kennedykrieger.org/patient-care/faculty-staff/ranjit-varghese
Now that you've provided a bigger picture, I can see why you're concerned. Your DD may end up getting PT/OT through early intervention and that's a good thing. It sounds like the complications of the hip dysplasia is a big culprit, but it is important for babies to progress in physical development to connect those neurons. I think you're taking the right steps.
I would also try to find a doctor who specializes in hip dysplasia, e.g.:
http://www.kennedykrieger.org/patient-care/faculty-staff/ranjit-varghese
Anonymous
06/25/2014 20:03
Subject: 7.5 month old starting early intervention for multiple concerns
Anonymous wrote:I would not worry about holding a bottle and some of that stuff but early intervention is only a positive thing. My son never held a bottle. He could do it but he refused. One day I put the bottle in the middle of the room and hid around the corner. Sure enough he drank it. But, when he saw me, he put it down and demanded to be held...We always cuddled so that was his time to cuddle. Try different sippies. I never did tummy time. Cruised at 8 months, walked at 11. We do have other delays though.
Thanks - that is ultimately what I have been told and what I believe as well. And at least I feel like if there is a problem this is the best thing I can do for her.
Anonymous
06/25/2014 20:02
Subject: 7.5 month old starting early intervention for multiple concerns
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:How do 7 month old babies "problem solve"? You should get a second opinion.
That's holding own bottle and stuff... you put a piece of food in her hand and she won't eat it she'll just fling it around etc. etc. sigh..
Hardly problem solving.
Of course it's problem solving, for a 7 month old. What do you expect?
Yeah I think the idea is connecting what your brain wants to what your hands do. So like, she can physically put her pacifier in her mouth and has done it when calm, but when she's crying, she never connects anything to "solve" that problem.