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How best to prepare for CDC assessment - advice?

12 replies

sc134 · 02/03/2009 15:20

Sorry to be starting another thread - we've finally been given a date for CDC assessment in 2 months' time (6 months' total wait from HV's initial appointment). My DS will be 3 by then.
Any advice on how I go about it?
My main problem is that, because I didn't really have any concerns until the HV referred DS, without filling us in on what she thought the issue was, deep down I feel resentful, as if this was imposed on us, rather than being our choice. That's not a great attitude to have as you go into the app, is it?
Plus, I have now read so much about childhood development that I see symptoms everywhere: how can I possibly be objective when describing DS's behaviour? Finally, I have performance anxiety already now. Will DS stack the effing cubes? Will he say 'hello' appropriately? Will he just soak up my panic??? Should I not go to the app at all, and let my much calmer DH deal with it?
Sorry this is so long

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TotalChaos · 02/03/2009 18:21

nothing wrong with feeling a touch resentful - after all, however much we want our kids sorted, who on earth wants to be going to these appointments.

anyway - I think you should both go - as then between the two of you the paed etc will get a full picture - I know I always feel I overestimate DS's abilities. And of course moral support etc.

in terms of preparation - all I would suggest is having an idea of all DS's milestones, and be prepared for them to ask questions about how your PG and the birth was. if you have a set of points/issues you wish the paed to know about, do a list beforehand. otherwise just answer the questions fully and honestly.

sc134 · 03/03/2009 10:25

TotalChaos: thanks! I have been trying to remember those milestones thingies, but to be honest I only remember when he first walked. Do people seriously remember when their children first sat up?? And the whole language thing is a bit of a blur - I only started paying attention to how many words he was putting together after the referral . I am going to sound like one of those daffy mothers, aren't I

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TotalChaos · 03/03/2009 14:33

well if you don't remember then chances are it wasn't unusually late or early LOL. The walking one will probably be the most significant to show if there are any physical delays or not. Just do your best to remember, they will be more interested in what he can say right now, the rest will be background info. Also - they will probably ask about any history of feeding problems/if you have any problems with his diet.

sc134 · 03/03/2009 15:20

Thank you so much, you're really helpful TotalChaos. DS will eat anything in a restaurant or at other people's houses - wonder if that is good, bad or indifferent on the scale of 'normality'? Have also been trying to count how many words he says in case they ask: isn't that another crazy thing. Do individual Teletubbies names count? Do numbers count (each number a word??)
I really shouldn't be joking about this, should I

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sc134 · 03/03/2009 15:20

Thank you so much, you're really helpful TotalChaos. DS will eat anything in a restaurant or at other people's houses - wonder if that is good, bad or indifferent on the scale of 'normality'? Have also been trying to count how many words he says in case they ask: isn't that another crazy thing. Do individual Teletubbies names count? Do numbers count (each number a word??)
I really shouldn't be joking about this, should I

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TotalChaos · 03/03/2009 16:58

Oh it's definitely a good thing your DS is so unfussy with his diet. In terms of numbers - don't worry about getting an exact figure - more that they will want to know whether it's say under 50, 50 to 100, 100-150, several hundred etc. And whether it's all nouns, or there's any verbs/adjectives, and about how he combines them. Teletubby names would count, I wouldn't count numbers.

TotalChaos · 03/03/2009 16:59

oh and use of pronouns, they will be interested in that - e.g. whether he says "I" or "DS name", if he can use he/she etc.

Tclanger · 03/03/2009 17:13

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sc134 · 04/03/2009 15:37

Thanks guys - we had the SLT come to the house today and it didn't go very well at all. She indicated that DS has delays in both language and social skills, so ADS is on the charts. It's no use saying he's not like that when he's with me or DH or other adults or older children he knows, because at his age (2.10) he should be more chatty, have around 1,000 words (that sounds like a lot of words to me) and be more sociable with peers and people outside the family. DH and I are very down at the moment, but one of the positive thoughts has been that I still get to hang out with you guys

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TotalChaos · 05/03/2009 07:45

sorry the SLT assessment was depressing. bear in mind that language delay can affect social skills, and I would say keep an open mind - that you may get an ASD DX, or a not ASD DX, or a wait and see. did SLT think he had receptive language delay as well?

Tclanger · 05/03/2009 08:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sc134 · 05/03/2009 10:59

Thanks guys - I think DS's receptive speech is better than his expressive speech, but the SLT has not been specific, also because DS said so little when she was around (she's giving us strategies next week). I'd be happy for a wait and see, to be honest - as long as they give us something useful to do during the wait! I've sent off for the 'It takes two to talk', am expanding on his sentences, and yes, I have officially started a language diary [groan].
I have students (and we're talking university students) who I don't think have 1,000 words to be honest (and can't spell for toffee), which kinda reassures me about our children's future...

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