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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Failed 8 month development check

69 replies

Bumblelion · 08/07/2002 12:11

My dd who is now 8 1/2 months had her 8 month development check last week and "failed". She is my third baby and I know all babies develop at different rates but neither of my other two "failed".

First she failed her hearing test on the right hand side and they are referring her for this. She doesn't sit up unaided although does when propped. My dd head is slightly crooked (although she is still beautiful). When I say crooked, no-one has actually noticed it until I point it out to them but her forehead is slightly more pronounced on the right hand side and the back of her head is slightly more pronounced on the left hand side (if you can work that out). She looks fine and when I had her checked at the doctors about this, they also said she was fine and it would straighten.

My health visitor mentioned last week at her 8 month check that she feels her whole body "is on the wonk" (her words, not mine) and she wants her checked out further. This didn't upset me too much although, when I gave her her baby Thursday night, I must admit I did lay her on her front and back and checked to see if perhaps she was a bit crooked but I have to say her spine seems perfectly straight.

She is such a happy baby and very content but still sleeps a lot (about 19 hours out of every 24). It is as though she is still a new-born and hasn't adjusted to being born yet if you know what I mean.

She failed her gross motor skills and her fine motor skills and they are referring her.

What sort of checks would they now do and how can I help her develop naturally. She failed her gross motor skills because of not sitting up straight unaided and failed her fine motor skills because when they shook a rattle in front of her she didn't "grab" it, although she did take it when placed in her hand but then lost interest in it.

Anyone else's child "failed" a development check and, if so, what was the ultimate outcome?

Thanks for listening.

OP posts:

Original poster

Bumblelion · 14/08/2002 15:53

Thanks all for your kind concern.

Am going to check out that website now.

Thanks.

OP posts:

Original poster

Bumblelion · 14/08/2002 15:57

Have checked out the website recommended. Although partly relevant, it is not directly relatedto Sasha as the cases noted (sagittal synostotis) is where the head is "long" from front to back but Sasha just has a slightly pronounced area on the right hand side above her eyebrow. The website listed does give other links though, so will check those out.

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

OP posts:

Original poster

Bumblelion · 14/08/2002 16:06

Checked out further links and come across some cases that are more like Sasha's although a lot more pronounced.

As I say, she actually looks "normal" but if you look down on her head from above she has a slight bulge over the right hand forehead although it is only when I point it out to friends/family that they notice it (and these are friends/family that would not say something just to put my mind at ease).

Looking at the cases I looked up, it says the children are operated on normally before 3 months of age and always before the age of 2.

It perplexes me (if that is the right word) that I first mentioned this to my doctor when Sasha was 5 months old and they thought nothing was wrong and it is only now, 5 months, later, after having been referred for her 8 month check, that they have picked up on it.

I must say I am feeling a bit less worried - in the cases stated, there are other characteristics they say to look out for - enlarged thumb and toe, over-size head (Sasha's head is and has always been in proportion to her length).

I am just going to go on holiday, have a lovely time and deal with it when I get back. If an appointment comes through while I am way her dad will be taking her and, obviously, I will be in daily contact when I am on holiday for the elder children's sake anyway.

OP posts:

SueDonim · 14/08/2002 16:11

I'm so sorry you're having such a hard time, Bumblelion, and I think it's pretty bad that the hospital kept you waiting in such an unsatisfactory manner. I really think you deserve that holiday and it will help buoy you up to deal with the future. And well done to Sasha for sitting on her own - nine or ten months isn't that old, surely? Best wishes, Sue

WideWebWitch · 14/08/2002 16:24

Bumblelion I can't think of anyone who deserves a holiday more. As they said, if it's been this way all this time it can wait another 2 weeks. It must be worrying but I agree you should go and try to have a good time.

Harrysmum · 14/08/2002 16:50

Glad that you had some reassurances. Have a fantastic holiday - definitely well deserved.

Enid · 14/08/2002 17:45

Bumblelion, please have a fantastic holiday - you deserve it x E

monkey · 14/08/2002 18:57

Bumblelion, just want to add my best wishes too, and I'm glad to hear you're going ahead with your holiday. You definitely deserve it, and you'll hopefully come back refreshed & relaxed.

Marina · 14/08/2002 19:15

I hope you have a warm, sunny, relaxing time, Bumblelion, you really deserve it after all you have been through. Southern Europe is just the place to be - aren't you glad you didn't opt for a break in Prague? So glad to hear she is sitting up on her own, that's wonderful news. My slacker ds did not do this until 9.5 months!

robinw · 14/08/2002 19:36

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robinw · 14/08/2002 19:58

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aloha · 14/08/2002 20:25

So sorry you've been so worried. Your daughter sounds lovely and so brave. My ds isn't crawling or moving really at nearly 11months (and not a tooth in sight, either), but I think he's just too laid back to bother much - he just likes to sit about. I've been reading the Nanny Knows Best book, and though it sounds terrifying, I've found it really reassuring. She looked after so many kids that she's very relaxed about development and had perfectly normal children who didn't sit up at all for a year, or walk until they were two. She doesn't believe in babies sitting up until they can get there on their own, nor in training kids to walk. I'm not sure I totally agree with her, but all her charges grew up normal, despite the fact they would have failed developmental checks. as you say, your daughter is loved and has a great mother so she's a very lucky bub indeed. Enjoy your holiday.

leander · 14/08/2002 21:45

Bumblelion , pleae try to enjoy your holiday and tyr not to worry too much about you dd whilst youre away .You deserve a break , take care leander xx

bossykate · 14/08/2002 22:57

bumblelion, you have had more than your fair share to deal with recently. hope you have a wonderful time and hope your dd is fine.

Tissy · 15/08/2002 08:56

Bumblelion, sorry I missed this thread yesterday. I think it's important that the Xray report said "can't rule out the possibility of synostosis". This often means that they just can't tell- the Xray may be a little blurred, or taken at slightly the wrong angle. Sometimes the doctor asking for the Xray will query a diagnosis, and the radiologist will say "can't rule out" just because its the wrong type of Xray to be certain. The CT scan will be able to tell them for sure if your dd has synostosis.

Original poster

Bumblelion · 15/08/2002 16:44

Thank you all so much for your kind comments. This is my last day in work before I go off on holiday - I just cannot wait. I am going to spend the next 4 days with all my children and make sure that I lap up enough love and affection from Sasha to take with me to last me over the two weeks.

My mum has offered to pay for me for a flight back and then to fly back again to Valencia if the appointment comes through while I am away but, as everyone says, whatever the outcome of the CT scan, there won't be immediate attention anyway.

When I come back from holiday I will give you an update on developments.

Thanks once again.

OP posts:

ScummyMummy · 15/08/2002 17:45

Have a lovely time, Bumblelion, and try not to worry too much about Sasha. She'll be all the happier for her mum getting a well-earned break, whatever the outcome of the CT scan. Relax and rest and enjoy. You deserve it.

MABS · 15/08/2002 18:44

Very best of luck - have a lovely holiday. Sasha will be fine and you'll come back refreshed and ready to cope. Take care

Jendy · 16/08/2002 13:32

Bumblelion - good wishes to you hope the holiday is great

Caroline5 · 19/08/2002 19:00

Hi! Haven't posted here before, so hello everyone.

My dd also was referred to a special unit in Oxford with possible craniosynostosis. This was because her head was (and still is) unusually small for her age (off the bottom of the head circumference chart). There was a chance the plates of the skull had fused together too early and would need to be separated surgically to allow her brain to grow.

She also has a very flat back of the head, with a slightly bulging forehead at the right. (This is apparently due to her sleeping position). She has also been slow to develop all motor skills - now at 15 months, she is still only sitting, not crawling or pulling up at all, and is a little awkward with her hands. She also tends to sleep quite a lot, although this is reducing now.

Thankfully, X-rays showed that her skull was OK but there has so far been no explanation at all for her delayed development. The consultant made the unhelpful comment that if there was something wrong with her brain, they couldn't add fertiliser to it. She also failed her 9 month check and has been recalled twice. At the last one at 15 months, they assessed her physical skills as around 8 months. Other areas of development were also slightly delayed. I am now waiting to see the community paediatrician. The health visitor said she may need physiotherapy. If she?s not moving by 18 months, they want to do a brain scan.

Sorry this tale is not very reassuring, but I know how incredibly worrying this all is and really sympathise, Bumblelion. It all just seems to take so long to get any kind of diagnosis, if there is one. Hope you manage to have a good holiday and take your mind off it all for a while.

robinw · 19/08/2002 20:56

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Original poster

Bumblelion · 18/09/2002 13:39

Caroline5, I just read your message and have to reply.

My daughter had an eye sight test while I was on holiday (she stayed at home with her dad who I am now separated from - long story!) and her eye sight test came back fine.

She has got to got to go for a CT scan this coming Monday, 23rd September and has also been referred to Great Ormond Street Hospital as a back-up depending on the results of her CT scan. She has to be sedated and is being scanned at 3:20 pm - think of us then please!

Saying all this, having failed her 8 month development check, in the last 3/4 weeks she has come on immensely - now sitting unaided although cannot get into a sitting position from lying on her back but if you sit her up she sits there for ages. My HV mentioned how far she had come on recently - it seems that whatever was lacking has now kicked into place, although she is still behind development wise.

I will let you all know what the outcome of her CT scan was.

Just a brief update on those of you who know my situation - when I came back from holiday, HE had moved out at last - only taken him since February! I feel so much better and am now getting on with my life, as he has told me on countless occasions when he stayed out all night that he was only trying to get on with his life!

He is seeing the children on a Wednesday evening, overnight Friday up until Saturday afternoon and then alternate Sundays - gives me a bit of space to have "a bit of a life" and I feel so much happier and settled now he has gone.

OP posts:

Jasper · 18/09/2002 13:56

Bumblelion, Hurray! We were wondering if you were okay. So glad to gear things are moving forward for you.
Good luck for the future

SueDonim · 18/09/2002 14:27

Bumblelion, good news on both counts! I hope you had a great holiday, too.

bundle · 18/09/2002 14:42

brilliant bumblelion, good news and good luck with the scan

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