HA! So in our ever ending trips to specialists for my son I think we are done seeing the specialists! We have racked up these diagnosis's. Global developmental delays, sensoring processing disorder, tourettes and anxiety problems and he is at risk for ADHD. He's only 4. Anyone else have young kiddos with so much going on? The thing is, I am not even feeling too bummed about it. We have known for a long time that he has "issues" but he is making improvements and hopefully will just grow out of some of it. Just wondering if anyone else has a kid with so much going on, and how do you manage all the therapies along with trying to give your kids a normal life? And I have an almost 2 year old who is too smart for her own good! LOL!
well, my computer is slow but basically I was going to write what Dawn just wrote!!
My son is now 5.5 - as I look back at some of the things he did/didn't do even a year ago I smile at the progress!
Good luck!!!
Just plow on into the early intervention thing, K.. Your attitude is actually very good for you because you aren't bogged down with the enormity of it. Get those speech/OT whatever-else-appointments scheduled, and jump right in with the therapy, and learn how to do the home programs. You will shine! As you work with each thing, you'll see how it helps all aspects of your son.
The therapy will help him "grow out of it" so much better and easier. And he will appreciate it down the line - even if he doesn't realize it!
Dawn
Those diagnosis will actually help you in the long run because they open doors to programs, funding and school-paid specialists that you wouldn't have access too without them.
I know undiagnosed kids and diagnosed adults with each of this issues. Granted none are the whole package :)
The thing to keep in mind is that this diagnosis' don't change anything really. Your kid is still the same boy he was last week. All these do is widen your son's life path and allow you to meet people that will help you help him have them best, less stressed life possible.
As for making life 'normal', what is normal? Normal is your routines, your interactions, your family gathering for birthday's and holidays. Normal to you may not be normal to me. That doesn't mean that either is wrong. My kid's were invited last minute to a birthday party on Saturday for a 2y. The older sister saw them outside and said come over! My kids didn't stay very long. They said that there were mainly adults, most were drinking beer (we don't drink), and watching a movie with lots of fighting. He was just shocked that that was their version of a kid's birthday party. So it wasn't normal to him, but may have been normal to them.
Well first off I'm glad you have such a positive attitude, that is important!
I have an ADHD girl with general anxiety disorder and an older girl with an auditory processing disorder. The both get resource help at school, and my youngest is about to finish up a year of therapy for her anxiety issues. Neither one of them is on any medication (though I won't rule it out if one of them really needs it at some point) and they are both very sociable, healthy girls who are doing fine in school, ages 13 and 16.
My advice for you? Don't expect him to "grow out of it." These are very real conditions of cerebral chemistry. They don't just go away. What will happen is your child will grow up learning how to manage these issues, and as his mom, so will you. Management means treatment (medical, physical, behavioral and/or psychological therapy.) Your son sounds like he's got a lot going on so I imagine you have a future filled with visits to different kinds of doctors and therapists, especially once he starts school.
So keep up the positive attitude, you'll need it! And read, read, read as much as you can about these disorders and treatments. You will not only feel better but empowered, there's a lot we can do to help and support these kids! Fifty years ago they would have just been labeled lazy, stupid troublemakers, but no more, and the schools now have services to help them succeed :)
My grandson has a tentative diagnosis for all those conditions. It all boils down to he has issues that interfere with his ability to learn. His specialists state outright that there is no way of actually giving all of those diagnosis as fact. They are all common conditions to have at the same time and to have within one child. They are interrelated and can be dealt with under one heading such as developmental delays.
If you're not already involved with the school system, I suggest you do so. They will focus on teaching skills and providing care that will help him be a success in school. At 4 they may put him in a therapeutic preschool.
My grandson's issues are co-ordinated thru a developmental pediatrician. His mother was dealing with different specialists before she discovered the developmental pediatrician. Life is simpler now that she's involved and after having seen all the specialist, participated in all the therapies he now only sees the physician.
Participating in therapy is a normal life for a child with these sort of issues. I hope that you're not considering dropping the therapy. My grandson started getting attention for developmental issues when he was 2. He's now 8 and in a school for special needs children. Without the treatment he would probably not be able to be in school at all.
It is a struggle to keep up with all the strategies but it is worth it in the long run. What is important is for you to continue with your great attitude, accepting that this is his normal. He is handicapped, just as the child confined to a wheel chair is handicapped. We make adjustments based on the child's needs.
My soon to be four year old has been diagnosed with alot.....and we are only scratching the surface.
He has High functioning Autism, Opposition Defiance Disorder, Sensory Processing disorder and ADHD.
Yikes. Sometimes I am not sure if I am coming or going with him.
He has OT and Speech once a week on different days........Which is a pain in the rear end because we drive forty minutes away for both.
We are just getting started with the Autism Clinic trips.......Which will be often.
He is my joy though. I have to love every minute when he is not making me pull out my hair.
You can just see though that he is in a different world. Even when he is trying to engage with other kids..
It is so hard when they are still this young and you know what you are dealing with already.
Give yourself ALL the information you can on ALL of the diagnose's and then start researching how you can make a ''normal'' for him, that can meet his CAN DO level without any unreasonable expectations. The more you try and encourage him through the tough times the easier it will be dealing with them:)
Above all just love him for who he is:) And breathe through the rest:)
love that child with all you have....
My son is 5 and is currently officially diagnosed with autism and he is nonverbal. However the subset of that is global developmental delays, sensory processing disorder, expressive-receptive language delay, sleeping issues and possible seizure disorder.
Prior to the age of 3 he was in occupational, speech, feeding and physical therapy. Upon entering school he continued with his OT, ST and PT. After the first year he was able to drop the PT. He still gets OT and ST twice per week in school. I understand all of this is overwhelming and seems like so much but ya know what? My son is normal in every way. He's a typical boy that does typical boy things, is extremely intelligent but yes lacks in areas other neurotypical 5 year old chidren do not.
I say try to make the best of everyday with you son and do not worry about him being normal. Be proud of who he is and always know that so long as you're willing to work with and accept him for him he will thrive and be a happy child who I'm sure can grow into an amazing adult.
my son was diagnosed with ADHD, early onset bipolar disorder, OCD and we are trying to rule out some sort of stress seizure. all before he turned 5...my son sees a psychiatrist 2 times a month, a behavioral therapist, a neuro, and occupational therapist. there have been times I've mixed up his appointments. as far as a normal life, I've had to adjust my life a little but we don't treat my son any differently then if he didn't have any of this. it was hard at first but his dr once said to me that this is how God made him.
hi, K., I'm in Denver, with a now 17 year old daughter with multiple diagnoses - Asperger's Syndrome, Nonverbal Learning Disability, Sensory Processing Disorder, Anxiety Disorder. Yes, we started PT and OT at 11 months, speech therapy at 18 months. The best way I have to manage all this is our wonderful Parent to Parent of Colorado organization - www.p2p-co.org . (disclaimer - I am a founding member and on the board.) We have a wonderful website with tons of resources, and a 1500 member listserv where you can find lots of info from other parents, and even find others in your neighborhood. I hope you'll check us out, or just email me directly if you have more questions. take care, S.
How many vaccinations has he had? And, how many of his symptoms mysteriously appeared immediately after his vaccinations?
