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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

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Original poster

Is there something wrong with my son?

16 replies

extremepie · 28/10/2010 21:50

I really have no idea if I'm just being paranoid or if there is something worth pursuing but my youngest son just doesn't seem like he is developing like he 'should' be. He is now 2 1/2, 3 in March and doesn't really talk, doesn't really interact with other children except his brother, is still a bit wobbly on his feet and can't walk for very long without either falling over or getting down and crawling. He can't really use pens/pencils, or feed himself either, tends to just wave it around and I have no idea if I should be concerned or not. My eldest son seemed to hit all of his 'milestones' right on time and is doing everything he 'should' be able to at this stage but my youngest isn't and I don't know if he is just taking his time or if any of this is sounds like it could be something more. I know all children are different and develop differently, I don't want to compare him to his brother but I don't want to find that something is wrong in 2 years time and find that I could have helped him sooner. He is an extremely bubbly, sunny child, always laughing and smiling, sometimes for no reason at all and gets excited really easily. He also doesn't seem to react much to pain (doesn't cry when falling over, etc..), but he gets really upset if we shout at him! I would really appreciate any input from any parents with children with similar symptoms, or just some advice really, thanks :D

OP posts:

Jellykat · 28/10/2010 22:57

I won't be much help here as my DSs were that little a long time ago, sorry..

I would suggest going to your GP, getting things checked out generally, and have a chat, see what he/she reckons..

Good luck, hope all turns out okay.

Niecie · 28/10/2010 23:17

I think that you have to listen to your own intuition and get him checked out with a GP. You can't help comparing your two children and it is sending warning signals. From the sounds of it, I don't think you have unrealistic expectations of your younger son. FWIW he sounds a little like my DS1 at that age and he has dyspraxia and very mild Aspergers - not that I am suggesting that this is what is wrong with your DS as it might be nothing or something else entirely, but I do think mothers often know something is wrong even if it is not apparent to others.

For your own peace of mind, either go to your HV if you trust her and have a good relationship and discuss it with her. She should be able to assess him, as children used to have a developmental check at 2.5yrs away (I am assuming that you don't have them any longer in your area). Alternatively, you can go straight to the GP and ask for a referral to a paediatrician.

Original poster

extremepie · 28/10/2010 23:34

Thanks for the advice :) I did go to the GP, initially because he wasn't talking and because he seemed to ignore me and my husband most of the time, so we thought he might have a hearing problem but several months later, he doesn't have a hearing problem and we are still no closer to finding anything out. The GP did suggest speech therapy and hopefully this will help but I'm not sure. Most of the time he just doesn't seem that interested in communicating with me at all, he's very curious in things around him but just doesn't seem very bothered by other people. The last time we saw the HV she wasn't very helpful but maybe we should follow that up.

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Niecie · 28/10/2010 23:59

Maybe give the HV a miss then. I only mention that as an option as I spoke to my HV and she was very helpful, went to watch DS at pre-school (he was 3.5yrs by then) and then got the GP to do the paeds referral which made things very easy for us - we didn't have a little 10 minute slot to persuade the GP we weren't imagining things like we would have had we gone straight to him, with no objective view on DS like the HV was able to give. I am sure she was able to communicate the concerns more effectively than we could have done. I realise that not everybody is so lucky with their HV though.

If you have spoken to the GP it might be worth going back and saying that you believe your DS's difficulties go beyond a speech problem and that you think he might benefit from seeing a paediatrician who can do an initial assessment for all sorts of things and then refer you on to other specialists.

Best of luck. It won't be a quick process but hopefully you will get either some reassurances or some help in the end.

Willmum · 31/10/2010 19:02

I would also go back to gp and ask for a referal to a paediatrician. If there is nothing wrong then there is no harm done and it will put your mind at rest. If there is something not quite right then you will be seeing the right person.

Original poster

extremepie · 31/10/2010 23:26

Does it take a long time to get an appointment to see a paediatrician? Have no idea, but the hearing appointments started in June and still haven't finished (last one on Thursday)!

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dolfrog · 31/10/2010 23:52

Late development of speech can be a symptom of Auditory Processing Disorder(APD). APD is a listening disability or having problems processing what you hear. APDUK

We all learn to speak by processing what our parents etc say and then we reprocess those sound to create or process our own speech.

Some who have APD can also have a sound sensitivity problems such as Hypoacusis

Original poster

extremepie · 04/11/2010 18:54

Had my last appointment with hearing specialists today and are getting referred to the paediatrician, yay! Should have an appointment within 5 weeks, which is good, and they don't seem to think he has hearing problems despite not being able to test him properly because his attention span is too short and he won't co-operate with the tests! Step in the right direction at least :)

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monkeyflippers · 09/12/2010 14:15

Glad you are getting somewhere. Worth checking it out I think.

Polarflame · 06/01/2011 14:13

You are doing exactly the right thing regarding getting your ds checked out. Mum's intuition is the best!
I'm intrigued to know the outcome of the paediatrician's appointment. Make sure you get a blood test taken from your ds just to rule out all possibilities. Let us know how you get on and all the best x

Original poster

extremepie · 30/01/2011 12:27

Managed to get an appointment early, yay! Doctor says he has global developmental delay and is displaying signs of autism although nothing confirmed yet. Just taken him for blood test to test for genetic disorders (which was pretty horrific, he fought and screamed the whole time, it took 4 of us to pin him down :( )so hopefully will get some news in a few months :)

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coff33pot · 30/01/2011 22:02

Awww bless him! blood tests are not nice mine hated injections of any kind. He will forget it though and a few extra cuddles in order I think :)

The good news is your intuition and getting him to the docs/specialists early means hopefully they will be able to put things in motion before he starts school and help him with any needs he might have.

My nephew didnt speak till he was 5years. He started speach therapy at 3.5yrs and none of us thought he was progressing. But he went to mainstream school and just walked in one day and came out with a full on sentence! When previously he would say yes and shake his head for no.

Good on you for listening to your intuition and hope everything goes ok for you and your ds :)

Original poster

extremepie · 07/02/2011 14:50

Well, just had the appointment with the consultant and she had diagnosed him with classic autism. I think after having the initial appointment we were pretty sure this was the case so I suppose good to get it confirmed. Still can't help feeling a bit sad though but he's still my baby :)

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JK2010 · 10/02/2011 13:16

Dear extremepie,

Many of us here will remember what you are feeling right now. It's partly a fear of the future and partly a subconscious sense of disappointment that something is 'wrong' with your child.

Let me tell you this: your son will show you many wonderful things in the months and years to come that no 'normal' child would ever show. You will be super proud of everything he achieves and will love him even more for the unique child he is.

The next few months will be part relief, part frustration and part happiness that you can start to accept what having a special needs child entails.

I wish you the very best of luck. Your son will prosper - just you wait and see!

Original poster

extremepie · 25/02/2011 11:41

Thank you JK2010, I appriciate it [happy]
Just a quick update, had blood tests results and everthing is normal :)

OP posts:

BagPuss71 · 28/02/2011 12:34

Just read this thread - this is pretty much what happened to my DS, aged 3, litle speech, no interaction etc. I didn't know what to do, was so worried and GP told me all was fine - knew it wasn't but wanted to believe all was well.

Anyway, DS is 6 and 1/2 now. Things are much better :) He was diagnosed at 5 with ASD. We knew it was but, like you, felt sad and worried about what would happen. DS is now happily settled in mainstream school, has a best friend and a lovely relationship with his little sister. He is doing well in school with a statement, has learned to swim and is a joy to have around. He, quite literally, never stops talking from the moment he opens his eyes til the moment he goes to sleep.

Obviously ASD is life long and it is part of our lives and always will be. He is still very routine based, ignores me alot, finds social situations hard etc He is self aware (he worked it out for himself) and recently, after having a meltdown, was crying and said, after looking at a picture of himself as a baby, said - 'thats when I was happy - look what has happened to me!' :( I will always be a bit sad about my DSs ASD. Having said that, things have got much better and we are very proud of him and what he has achieved when he has been further challenged by ASD. He is very special.

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