Back from ds' assessment

[NewBlueCoat]

and the verdict is....

rightfully on the list to be seen again in 6 months. Have got a hearing test referral (although she agreed his hearing seems fine as he was picking up on what we were chatting about easily enough), and a SALT group referral, and told to go to toddler groups

And a big lecture on vaccination as he is unvaccinated

Apparently the SALT servicers are good (paed did seem very on the ball, and a straight talker) so we will see what comes of them.

Generally he is slightly delayed overall - coming out at high 15months ish, rather than the 18 months he is - apart from gross motor where he is spot on.

I think zI have (yet again) been labelled a lentil weaver parent, because ds was in cloth nappies (commented on), had a naice organic snack while we were there (commented on) and I clearly didn't hide the bewildered look well enough when she asked if his fine motor skills were ok "eg, can he pick up chocolate buttons?" . Oh well, it's probably all over my notes already!

A good outcome overall, though. Will await the SALT info with interest...

[StarlightMcKingsThree]

I've still not heard a thing. I suspect our referral didn't go through....

Glad you feel it was a good outcome.

[IglooisnowinSheffield]

Hi bluecoat, I hope you don't mind me asking what concerns for your DS prompted referral?

DD is awaiting assessment for developmental delay, she is also 18 months but I have no idea what to expect, and other than a 'gut feeling' that I've had since she was born, I'm not sure what it is she isn't doing?! If that makes any sense!

Anyway it would be nice to see how you got on having one the same age, also similar lentil weaver here

[ouryve]

Igloo - Polter started a thread on this board, the other day, with a free resource made by Somerset integrated services. The early years one has all the milestones in, for you.

[ouryve]

And I completely forgot about you, with my reply, NBC. Very rude of me!

Glad you're being taken seriously. If someone did offer DS2 a chocolate button at that age (wasn't us) he was horrified! Poison!

[starfishmummy]

DS would not have been interested in a chocolate button either!!

When he was older he did once eat half a button and handed the other half back to me saying he had had enough!!

[IglooisnowinSheffield]

Thank you both, that is a fab resource! It does suggest cause for concern much younger - will hopefully be seen soon.

[NewBlueCoat]

Thanks everyone. Back to that funny bittersweet time again - very glad he has been picked up and referred on without a fight, but sad tha there is anything to notice iyswim.

Star - sorry to hear you're stuck in referral hell. I don't have huge hopes of the SALT services, but am happy to try them out.

Igloo, I went to hv when ds was about 15 months old, having watched and waited at home for a couple of months. He has no discernable speech at all, and whilst his babbling is quite good (tone and intonation wise), he doesn't have all his consonant sounds. He fails he M-CHAT too, so along with family history (my dd1 has severe ASD) I wanted him in the system for early monitoring.

We had a full paed assessment - 90 minutes of me chatting to one doc while another played with and observed ds. Lots of questions on pregnancy/his development so far (done in a general chat way) and a ei through of a developmental scale (which they scored toget his baseline). This is where they got the 'he's at 15 months for social communication, and 12-15 months for fine motor skills' etc from.

Do ask anything you want, sorry if I've missed a question, am on phone...

[autumnsmum]

Hi new blue glad it went well just to say I'm the opposite to lentil weaving but the toddler group
Thing always got on my nerves dd2 could have gone to one daily morning and afternoon and she would still
Be autistic

[lougle]

Well done, NewBlue - are you reassured or do you think it's just the first of many appointments?

[IglooisnowinSheffield]

Thanks NBC, it makes sense that if your DD has ASD you would be more on the ball. DD has two older siblings but they have reached milestones as expected.

We have a couple of words, more concern re walking/sitting/crawling milestones.

A diagnosis of autism would be a big shock, I hadn't considered it due to her general 'happiest most content baby in the world' personality. I realise this is purely down to ignorance/lack of knowledge on my part.

I strongly suspect CP, this is my gut and diagnosis I'd imagine will be a long slog. I haven't even discussed this with DH though as it really is just down to a gut feeling, insight into her birth and such.

I hope you feel better after the assessment, sometimes it feels good just to get the ball rolling.

[NewBlueCoat]

Autumns - yep, my feelings exactly. I don't mind giving them a go, but if ds ishaving peoblems imitating and learning by example then this isn't going to be cured by dropping him into a toddler group!

Lougle - I think it was an accurate assessment of ds. And it was good to see how he reacted to prolonged interaction with other people. For now, it is the first of many appointments, mostly because he is young. He may yet have that developmental spurt and catch up to a degree, but he may not. There is much that is good about his interaction, as well as the red flags. And the red flags are not huge banner like flags, more bicycle trailer sized, but they are there, and I am glad (for now!) they are being taken seriously.

Igloo - gut feelings are important. If you have a strong feeling, don't ignore it. You are right - it is good toget the ball rolling (although is still prefer it if they'd told me I was just a crap parent, rather than seen any actual issues!)

[autumnsmum]

Out of interest new blue my son has high functioning autism and to give the professionals their due when I raised my concerns about dd2 they said that as I had concerns previously and been right they took me seriously which they should of course do with all parents . Did they have any interest in your sons siblings hope that doesn't offend

[NewBlueCoat]

They took family history, autumn. I only got my hv onside to refer so early (ds is quite borderline, and very sociable etc) because if history.

Dd1 has severe ASD, and dd2 is about to be assessed privately for some kind of spectrum issues.

They were happy today that ds had been referred as they though the same as me - some indications of issues - and clearly a SALT problem, but borderline and needs continued observation. That's a fair result for now, I think, given how ds presents.

[StarlightMcKingsThree]

GPs can't find the referral......

Still, I suppose I can always start with the 'treatment' as you have been advised.

Toddler groups fine, SALT can take or leave tbh as know more about ASD than SALT we're likely to get. Wait and see fine.

[StarlightMcKingsThree]

Actually they didn't say they couldn't find the referral. They just said 'hang on a sec, I don't have the right computer card, I'll call you back', which was an hour ago.

I asked the GP how things were going a few weeks ago and he said 'who referred you?' and I said 'er you'. Then he said that I should give it more time as Christmas was in the way. Yeah right...........

So just now I asked Receptionist to tell me who he had been referred to so I could chase them given it has been about 3 months.

[StarlightMcKingsThree]

Now silence......................

[NewBlueCoat]

that's a bummer, Starlight. tbh, I can't believe how smoothly this has gone so far. And in part, it is why I am happy to try out the SALT on offer - sounds a very different kettle of fish from the services I was offered when dd1 was at this stage.

THey are doing full bloods and chromosome checks too, which I forgot ot mention earlier. That'll be fun

oh well, onwards and upwards. Just dd2 to go now, then we can have a full house

[2boysnamedR]

It's hard when you have a older sn kid and can see your baby going the same path. I am in the same position now. Would love the baby to just show me up at the pead by singing and chatting - but alas it's not to be.

Good luck and trust your instincts. I hate that's be are always right