Please let me say that I have been overwhelmed by all of the responses that my message received. I am very anxious to talk with Ped on Wednesday and I am going to request Early Intervention Evaluation. I appreciate all of your concern and will keep you posted with updates.
Thanks,
Michelle
I, too, was dismissed as being a neurotic new mom. He is too young for a dx that will stick but he is NOT too young for intervention. Whatever is going on with him it is possible that OT, ST, PT or other interventions MAY be very appropriate. Go with your gut.
pat
My son was showing signs from as young as two months. He wouldn't orient on my face like normal babies, he would prefer to look at a toy or a fan etc. He didn't cry when in a group of babies at playgroup, if one cried they all cried except him. He didn't look at other babies when he saw them. I have observed that babies as young as 6 months or even younger attempt to interact with other babies.Hi, everyone. I am a mom to a 6.5 month old boy. I do not know where to exactly post this message on this board, but I hope someone will respond to this message.
I have been becoming increasingly more anxious over the last couple of weeks re: Jordan's development and I am now to the point that I feel overwhelmed with what is going on (more specifically, what is NOT going on!)
He will be 7 months old in 9 days and has NEVER responded to his name. I can say his name until I am blue in the face and he will not even turn to look. The majority of the time, he will not turn his head when he hears either of us talking to him. After being in his crib all night, when I go in his room to greet him in the morning, I stand above his crib and talk to him and he won't even look at me. Over the last few days, he has started to responding to me entering his room more quickly, though.
Another concern is that he doesn't consistently respond to sounds, i.e. clapping of hands behind him, etc. I know that he does hear b/c he will cry when the dog barks or if his daddy is using the electric razor.
He does make decent eye contact, but isn't the most cuddly baby. He allows me to rock him to sleep but doesn't cuddle beyond that. HE does smile and laugh, but a lot of times seems to be in his own little world.
He has been doing really well with motor skills. He crawled on all-fours at 5.5 months, sat himself up around the same time and has been pulling to stand for 2 weeks.
I am taking him to the peds for eval on the 7th, but am afraid I will have these concerns of mine dismissed (when I told her at his 6 month appt that he wouldn't look for me in his crib or respond to name, she just said that he is too young to do this, yet).
I would appreciate anyone's input into this. I just feel like I am crying about this all the time now.
Thanks,
MIchelle
Hi Michelle. Welcome to the board. I do agree that it is kind of early to tell if there is something wrong. My son also reached his physical milestones on time if not earlier than most depite the fact that he was born with spina bifida and had surgery at 6 months. After his surgery we thought we were in the clear and that things would be fine with our son as he only has a small chance of losing his abilty to walk as he gets older while the nerves in his back stretch as he grows. It was the fact that he wasn't communicating with us and that he seemed deaf that we noticed something could possibly be wrong and brought it to the attention of his neurosurgeon. In retrospect, I can see some very obvious signs when he was younger. He made eye contact but never maintained it. In fact, my son is making better eye contact now than he did when he was a baby. He isn't one of the kids on the spectrum that regressed. He was just behind in certain areas to begin with. He didn't play with toys the right way, he would just bang them on the furniture. His first words were the numbers one through ten right before his second birthday and shortly after he started to read words. It boggled my mind, I just though he learned them from Sesame Street or something. I still don't know how he reads, if he is just memorizing them or figuring it out some other way. I have a list of about 50 words that he can read that I know of. Who knows how many others he can read. He memorizes entire videos after only seeing them once or twice. Anyway - he was an affectionate baby and still is (I'm very grateful for that). He always liked to be held, hugged, and kissed. But he was just different than other babies. He wasn't into looking at faces like the others. That is a huge difference that I'm noticing between my son and my two month-old girl.
I hope this doesn't make things more confusing. I wish you and your baby the best and keep us posted.
Stephanie
Hi
AJ did not use his left hand to grasp toys. That, to me, was rather odd in itself. He loved to be rocked, but also wasn't a cuddler. Sometimes he would just laugh at the sofa. ( that is when I was still breast feeding) At that time, I still didn't think anything was wrong...just different. Also, I thought it was probably just a boy thing. As he grew I noticed more odd behaviors such as opening and closing doors constantly. He was more interested in "objects" than people.
Trust your gutt. It seems that mothers do know best the majority of the time. If you feel there is a problem don't let the doctors dismiss it.
First getting his hearing checked. THough he hears the razor and dog barking you want to rule out that lower decibal sounds are audiable.
Second get a good support system. A freind, co-worker or family member that will support you and help you. If you can't find anyone, this board is great for that.
You are doing the right things. Being concerned is never wrong and making sure is the best approach. I wish I had been more pro active in the beginning. I missed out on early intervention because by the time i had her diagnosed she was 3 and they offer special preschool for that.
Mary
All I can tell you is how I feel now. My son is 4 and has asd. I was poo pooed for over a year, overprotective, first time mom, worrywart, etc, etc. I went over the Ped's head (and against my DH's wishes) and I contacted my states EI and had my son evaluated, shortly after his 2nd birthday. I was STUNNED to find out that he was not just speech delayed he had very significant global developmental delays (still does).
Your state has an early intervention program, Google for it and call them, ask that your child be evaluated. My state evaluated him fo rfree and then provided him with therapy until he turned 3. I think our family share was 30 dollars a month, but they did tell me that no child would be denied if the family share fee was not payed. I also know that our state has a program that is called Early periodic evaluation and testing. This was used to have my son's hearing tested, it provides many services to infants. Your son may seem to have no hearing problem, but with testing you would KNOW that he is not oversensitive to some sound levels, etc.... My son gets fluid in his ear drum and when he does, the hearing check shows that his eardrum is not properly vibrating. When this is present, he can hear, but it is muffeled and distorted, further increasing his processing disability.
I tend to be a gloomy person that sees the glass as half empty and want you to know that up front, but if it were my baby (and this is hindsight) I would contact the EI program and request an evaluation (again, in my state a parent can request the eval). If your child comes out of the eval with no concerns, all of us here will dance with joy and no one will be any worse for the wear. If problems are identified (and your child could have issues that have nothing to do with ASD), then you will be on the fast pace to get the issues identified and get the correct and appropriate treatment set up, perhaps even allowing your child to rapidly overcome the concerns.
Good luck and keep us posted and if I may be so bold, please know that you know your child better than anyone!!!!!!!!
I knew something was different about Jake when he was 4 months old. The pediatrician never agreed with me, although she does now! You're his advocate, if you think there's a problem, push for tests. I've always said that I'm totally okay with being labeled an overprotective, worrying mother who thinks there are problems that don't exist than to be right and have something actually be wrong. Start by getting his hearing checked, and if your pediatrician dismisses your concerns, get a new one!Hi Michelle,
Although I agree that 6 months is too early for a diagnosis, I don't feel its too early to voice your concerns and keep an eye on things.
Here are some links to typical development and some warning signs to alert your doctor to....
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/actearly/milestones_3months .html
http://www.thenewparentsguide.com/baby-development-month-4to 6.htm
http://www.eci-lps.org/is_this_typical.html
http://www.health-shed.com/developmental-guidelines.html
http://www.todaysparent.com/toddler/behaviordevelopment/arti cle.jsp?content=3237&page=1
http://www.kids-care.com/Discussions/Development.htm
http://www.babycentre.co.uk/refcap/6573.html
Additionally I would try getting ahold of Early Intervention in your area and explain your concerns and ask for a screening (it is FREE) Here is a link to a place that lists your states main Early Intervention department. You coud also call your local public school or county offices department and ask for the Early Intervention Center nearest you.
http://www.angelfire.com/ny/Debsimms/ei.html
If you have any concerns that your child may not be developing as he or she should or if you have a child that was born with a disability or special health care need, please contact your state's Early Intervention Program for the resources and information that you may need.
ALABAMA
Elizabeth Prince
Alabama's Early Intervention System
Department of Rehabilitation Services/Division of Early Intervention
2129 East South Blvd.m P.O. Box 11586
Montgomery, AL 36111-0586
(334) 613-3543
bdprince@rehab.state.al.us
www.rehab.state.al.us/intervention.html
ALASKA
Jane Atuk
Maternal and Child Health
State Dept. Health and Social Services
1231 Gambell Street
Anchorage, AK 99501-4627
(907) 269-3419
jane_atuk@health.state.ak.us
AMERICAN SAMOA
Julia Lyons, Part H Coordinator
Government of American Samoa
Department of Health
Pago Pago, AS 96799
(684) 633-4929
ARIZONA
Molly Dries, Executive Director
Department of Economic Security (DES)
Arizona Early Interventon System (AzEIP)
3839 N. 3rd St., Ste. #304
Phoenix, Arizona 85012
(602) 532-9960 X113
(602) 200-9820 Fax
vomm5793@de.state.az.us
ARKANSAS
Sherrill Archer
DD Services, Dept. of Human Services
Donaghey Plaza North
7th and Main Streets, Slot 2520
Little Rock, AR 72203-1437
(501) 682-8699
sherrill.archer@mail.state.ar.us
CALIFORNIA
Julie Jackson
Early Intervention Program
Department of Developmental Services
1600 9th Street, Room #310
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 654-2716
mailto:jjackso1@dds.ca.gov
COLORADO
Susan Smith, Part H Coordinator
Prevention Initiatives
CO Department of Education
201 East Colfax, Room 301
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 866-6709
smith_s@cde.state.co.us
CONNECTICUT
Linda Goodman, Birth-3 Part C Coordinator
State Birth to Three System
Department of Mental Retardation
460 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106
(860) 418-6147; (800) 505-7000 (In CT)
linda.goodman@po.state.ct.us
www.birth23.org
DELAWARE
Rosanne Griff-Cabelli, Part C Coordinator
Management Svcs. Division
Health and Social Services, 2nd Floor, Room 204
1901 North DuPont Highway
New Castle, DE 19720
(302) 577-4647
rcabelli@state.de.us
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Joan Christopher, Program Manager
DC Early Intervention Program
717 14th ST, NW Suite 801
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 727-0988 (202) 727-5218 (Fax)
FLORIDA
Janet Evans & Janice Kelley
Children's Medical Services
Department of Health
2020 Capital Circle, S.E.
Mail Bin A06
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1700
(850) 245-4444 X2223 (Evans)
(850) 245-4444 X2234 (Kelley)
Janet_Evans@doh.state.fl.us
janice_kelley@doh.state.fl.us
GEORGIA
Wendy Sanders
Babies Can't Wait Program
Division of Public Health
Department of Human Resources
2 Peachtree Street, Room 7-315
Atlanta, GA 30303-3166
(404) 657-2726
wsanders@dhr.state.ga.us
www.ph.dhr.state.ga.us/programs/bcw/index.shtml
GUAM
Vince Leon Guerrero
Division of Special Education
Department of Education
P.O. Box DE
Agana, GU 96932
(671) 475-0549
doesped1@ite.net
HAWAII
Sue Brown, Coordinator
Zero-to-Three Services Section
Department of Health
1600 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1401
Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 957-0066
suebrown@fhsd.health.state.hi.us
IDAHO
Mary Jones, Program Manager
Infant Toddler Program
Bureau of Developmental Disabilities
Department of Health and Welfare
P.O. Box 83720
450 West State Street, 5th Floor
Boise, ID 83720-0036
(208) 334-5514
jonesm@idhw.state.ud.us
ILLINOIS
Janet Gully
Bureau of Part C/Early Intervention
Dept. of Human Services
P.O. Box 19429
Springfield, IL 62794-9429
(217) 782-1981
dhsvr50@dhs.state.il.us
INDIANA
Maureen Greer, Assistant Deputy Director
IN Family & Social Services Administration
Div. of Families & Children/Bur. of Child Development
402 West Washington Street, Room W-386
Indianapolis, IN 46207-7083
(317) 233-9229; (317) 232-7948 (Fax)
mgreer@fssa.state.in.us
IOWA
Lynn Pletcher, Part C Coordinator
Early Access
Grimes State Office Building, 3rd Floor
Des Moines, IA 50319-0146
(515) 281-7145
lynda.pletcher@ed.state.ia.us
KANSAS
Carolyn Nelson
Infant-Toddler Services
State Department of Health & Environment
Landon State Office Bldg.
900 S.W. Jackson, 10th Floor
Topeka, KS 66612-1290
(785) 296-6135
cnelson@kdhe.state.ks.us
KENTUCKY
Jim Henson, Part H Coordinator
Infant and Toddler Program
Department of Mental Health & Mental Retardation Services
100 Fair Oaks Lane, 4E-E
Frankfort, KY 40621-0001
(502) 564-7700
jim.henson@mail.state.ky.us
LOUISIANA
Evelyn D. Johnson, Administrator
Infant/Toddler Program
Division of Special Populations
Louisiana State Department of Education
P.O. Box 94064
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9064
(225) 342-3730
edjohnson@mail.doe.state.la.us
MAINE
Joanne C. Holmes, Part C and Section 619 Coordinator
Child Development Services
State House, Station #146
Augusta, ME 04333
(207) 287-3272
jaci.holmes@state.me.us
MARYLAND
Deborah Metzger, Program Manager
Program Development and Assistance Branch
Division of Special Education
Early Intervention Services
200 West Baltimore Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 767-0261
dmetzger@msde.state.md.us
MASSACHUSETTS
Ron Benham, Director
Early Intervention Services
Dept. of Public Health
250 Washington Street, 4th Floor
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 624-5969
ron.benham@state.ma.us
MICHIGAN
Michelle Nicholson
Michigan Department of Education
Office of Special Education and Early Intervention Services
P.O. Box 30008
Lansing, MI 48909
(517) 241-2591
nicholsonm@state.mi.us
MINNESOTA
Jan Rubenstein, Specialist
Part C-Infants & Toddlers with Disabilities Interagency
Minnesota Department of Children, Families and Learning
1500 Highway 36 West
Roseville, MN 55113-4266
(651) 582-8436; (651) 582-8201 (TTY)
jan.rubenstein@state.mn.us
MISSISSIPPI
Roy Hart
Infant and Toddler Program
Mississippi State Dept. of Health
2423 N. State Street, Room 105A
Jackson, MS 39215-1700
(601) 576-7427
rhart@msdh.state.ms.us
MISSOURI
Paula Goff, ECSE Director
Section of Early Childhood Special Education
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
P.O. Box 480
Jefferson City, MO 65102
(573) 751-0187
pgoff@maildese.state.mo.us
www.dese.state.mo.us/divspeced
MONTANA
Vicki Lafond-Smith
Developmental Disabilities Program
Department of Public Health and Human Services
P.O. Box 4210
Helena, MT 59604-4210
(406) 444-7382
vlafond-smith@state.mt.us
NEBRASKA
Charlotte Lewis
Joan Luebbers
NE Dept. of Health and Human Services
Special Services for Children and Adults (Early Intervention)
301 Centennial Maill South
P.O. Box 95044
Lincoln, NE 68509
(402) 471-9329 (Lewis) (402) 471-2463 (Luebbers)
charlie.lewis@hhss.state.ne.us
luebbers@nde.state.ne.us
NEVADA
Janelle Mulvenon
Part C IDEA Coordinator
Department of Human Resources
3987 S. McCarran Boulevard
Reno, NV 89502
(775) 688-2284
jamulven@govmail.state.nv.us
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Carolyn H. O'Hara, Part C Coordinator
NH Family-Centered Early Support & Services
Division of Developmental Services
State Office Park South
105 Pleasant Street
Concord, NH 03301-3860
(603) 271-5122
cohara@dhhs.state.nh.us
NEW JERSEY
Terry Harrison, Part C Coordinator
Division of Family Health Services
Early Intervention System
P. O. Box 364
Trenton, NJ 08625
(609) 777-7734
tharrison@doh.state.nj.us
NEW MEXICO
Cathy Stevenson, Part C Coordinator
New Mexico Department of Health
1190 St. Francis Drive
P.O. Box 26110
Santa Fe, NM 87502-6110
(505) 827-2578
cstevens@doh.state.nm.us
NEW YORK
Donna Noyes, Director
Early Intervention Program
Bureau of Child and Adolescent Health
Corning Tower, Room 208
Albany, NY 12237
(518) 473-7016
dmn02@health.state.ny.us
NORTH CAROLINA
Dunan Munn
Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Early Intervention and Education
1020 Richardson Drive
Royster Bldg., 2302 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-2302
(919) 715-7500 X233
duncan.munn@ncmail.net
NORTH DAKOTA
Debra Balsdon, Part C Coordinator
Developmental Disabilities Unit
North Dakota Department of Human Services
600 S. 2nd Street, Suite 1A
Bismarck, ND 58504-5729
(701) 328-8936; (800) 755-8529 (In ND)
sobald@state.nd.us
NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
Suzanne Lizama, Coordinator
Commonwealth Health Center/Public Health
Children's Developmental Assistance Center
P.O. Box 1370 CK
Saipan, MP 96950
(670) 664-3754
slizama@gtepacifica.net
OHIO
Steve Gassman
Bureau of EI Services
State Dept. of Health
P.O. Box 118
Columbus, OH 43266-0118
(614) 644-8389
sgassman@gw.odh.state.oh.us
OKLAHOMA
Mark Sharp, Associate Director
Sooner Start
Special Education Section, Department of Education
2500 North Lincoln Blvd., Room 411
Oklahoma City, OK 73105-4599
(405) 521-4880
mark_sharp@mail.sde.state.ok.us
www.sde.state.ok.us/pro/ei.html
OREGON
Diana Allen
Early Intervention Programs
Public Service Building
255 Capitol Street N.E.
Salem, OR 97310-0203
(503) 378-3600, Ext. 2338
diana.allen@state.or.us
PENNSYLVANIA
Maureen Cronin, Chief
Children's Services Division
Office of Mental Retardation
Department of Public Welfare
P.O. Box 2675
Harrisburg, PA 17105-2675
(717) 783-4873
mcronin@dpw.state.pa.us
PUERTO RICO
Dr. Naydamar Perez de Otero, Director
Department of Health
Office of the Secretary
Call Box 70184
San Juan, PR 00936
(787) 274-5659
RHODE ISLAND
David Hamel
Ruth Schennum
Division of Family Health
State Department of Health
3 Capital Hill, Rm. 302
Providence, RI 02908-5097
(401) 222-4632 (Hamel)
(401) 222-5926 (Schennum)
daveh@doh.ri.state.us
SOUTH CAROLINA
David Steele
Dept. of Health & Environmental Control
Bureau of Maternal and Child Health
Mills/Jarret Complex
Box 101106
Columbia, SC 29211
(803) 898-0591
davidksteele@msn.com
SOUTH DAKOTA
Barb Hemmelman
Education Program Assistant Manager
Office of Special Education
700 Governor's Drive
Pierre, SD 57501-2291
(605) 773-4478
barb.hemmelman@state.sd.us
TENNESSEE
Brenda Bledsoe
Division of Special Education
Department of Education
Andrew Johnson Tower, 5th Floor
710 James Robertson Pkwy.
Nashville, TN 37243-0380
(615) 741-2851
bbledsoe@mail.state.tn.us
TEXAS
Mary Elder, Executive Director
Early Childhood Intervention
4900 N. Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78751-2399
(512) 424-6754; (800) 250-2246 (Information & Referral)
mary.elder@eci.state.tx.us
www.eci.state.tx.us
UTAH
Susan Ord
Baby Watch Early Intervention
State Dept. of Health
Box 144720
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4720
(801) 584-8441
sord@doh.state.ut.us
VERMONT
Beverly MacCarty, Coordinator
Family, Infant and Toddlers Project
P.O. Box 70
Burlington, VT 05402
(802) 651-1786
bmaccar@vdh.state.vt.us
VIRGIN ISLANDS
Kimberley Gomez, Director
Division of Maternal and Child Health
Birth to Three Program
Department of Health
Charles Harwood Hospital
3500 Estate Richmond
St. Croix, VI 00820
(340) 773-1311, ext. 3006
kimmie@viaccess.net
VIRGINIA
Anne Lucas
Infant and Toddler Program
Dept. of MH/MR/SA Services
P.O. Box 1797
Richmond, VA 23218
(804) 371-6592
alucas@dmhmrsas.state.va.us
WASHINGTON
Sandy Loerch, IDEA Early Intervention Coordinator
Infant Toddler Early Intervention Program
Department of Social & Health Services
Division of Developmental Disabilities
P.O. Box 45201
Olympia, WA 98504-5201
(360) 902-8490 (Voice); (360) 902-7864 (TTY)
loercsk@dshs.wa.gov
WEST VIRGINIA
Pamela Roush, Director
Early Intervention Program
Office of Maternal and Child Health
Dept. of Health and Human Resources
350 Capital Street, Room 427
Charleston, WV 25301
(304) 558-6311
trroush@msn.com
WISCONSIN
Beth Wroblewski
Birth to 3 Program
Dept. of Health and Family Services
P.O. Box 7851
1 W. Wilson Street
Madison, WI 53707-7851
(608) 266-7469
wroblbm@dhfs.state.wi.us
WYOMING
Scott Moncrief
Division of DD
1413 First Fl. W.
Herschler Building
122 West 25th Street
Cheyenne, WY 82002-0050
(307) 777-6972
I also say trust your gut instincts! From the time my daughter was an infant I just felt that something was not right, it just kept nagging me and I couldn't put my finger on any one thing. I was so ashamed when I admitted to dh one night that I just didn't feel the same "bond" as I did with my first daughter. Even her name didn't seem to fit her for the longest time! We used to say she looked just like a baby doll - now I realize that it was because of the flat expression that was always on her face. Looking back now, it's obvious to me that the signs were there very early on. Nobody would listen to me then - I just heard "You can't compare her to Hannah" or "Every child is different, give it time."
When she was 18 months and still had only two words (mama & dog-dog) the Nurse Practitioner who saw her at the well-check said to give it until her 2nd b-day, that she would probably be fine. I wish I had known then what I know now! By her 2nd b-day she had actually regressed and failed almost everything on the developmental tests. The REAL doctor saw our concerns immediately. PLEASE listen to your instincts - I wish I had!