In my posts, I’ll share my personal experiences over the years
and the many valuable lessons I’ve learned along the way as a mother of a son
diagnosed with PDD-NOS (Pervasive Development Disorder (Non-Specified) a
sub-type of Autistic Spectrum Disorder. One of the very first lessons I learned
was that as a parent I am my child’s greatest advocate.
In the 1990s when my son was diagnosed, most pediatricians
monitored a child’s physical development but rarely did they check if they
were meeting their social and emotional developmental milestones. At that time
1 in 10,000 children were diagnosed with ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder).
Speech delays didn’t raise a warning bell for a child under the age of three
especially if a child was raised in a family where parents spoke more than one
language. A veteran pediatrician directed us to do immediate testing and
once we got the diagnosis he began speech and occupational therapy. Early
intervention gives the child a better chance to catch up on the milestones as
best they can.
Listen to your instincts as a parent. When something doesn’t
feel quite right, don’t delay. As scary as it might seem, take that first step
and go in for an evaluation. Taking no action doesn’t serve your child. Once
you recognize that your child either exhibits unusual behavior or does not
engage in ways children typically do, it’s time to realize that it is no longer
about you the parent, but rather about the child’s immediate needs. With every
week and month that goes by, the child has a lot more to catch up on, given how
much development takes place in the first three years of life.
The
best way to know you child and recognize his or her needs is to OBSERVE them a
lot. Please remember that our children are always communicating with us in the
best way they know how. We’ve all been around children to know when something’s
not quite right.
Not all communities have access to a pediatric
neurologist or developmental pediatrician. What if you live in a town
where there is no access to specialists or the family can’t afford the cost of
an evaluation? Some families are afraid to have the child evaluated for fear of
the social stigma. Ignore the people who only offer criticism and little
else by way of support while you try to find answers. Believe that you
are not alone and there are families like you looking to find a support system.
You can find links online that may give
you some answers. Here is a link with a checklist parents can answer to
give them some insight into their child’s development.
You are your child's strongest advocate. And the first step in that process is to have your child evaluated.
You are your child's strongest advocate. And the first step in that process is to have your child evaluated.
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