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Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months
Mental/behavioral assessment for DS-need advice please
We've come to the difficult decision that DS might need some professional help. I have a list if providers our insurance covers. I'm just not sure what type to go with (psychiatrist, psychologist, etc) and what testing/evaluation he needs to have done. Has anyone gone through this or can offer any advice?
We are not talking about a developmental delay like autism or ADD, although we are not ruling those out. This would be more along the lines of emotional and behavioral problems.
We just moved here and have a new ped that has not been much help, so I can't ask them (I'm in the process of changing peds).
Please no flames, we're just trying to get help for our little boy.
Thank you.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Mental/behavioral assessment for DS-need advice please
You know what, never mind, I remember responding to your thread on 24+ a while back.
Maybe you said, but were the issues present before your baby was born? Have they gotten worse since then?
You asked before if there were behaviors that seemed unstoppable. In my kid, it's the not listening. He is completely obstinate when it comes to doing things he doesn't want to do. He goes through phases, but there are times when I feel like he's in time out every ten minutes and it doesn't seem to do a bit of good.
I don't mean to minimize your concerns, BTW. You know your own kid, and you're the best judge of if there is a real problem. I just wondered if it was a phase somehow related to the new baby.
Without going in to a lot of detail, behavior we have witnessed for the past year or so has gotten progressively worse. Primarily it's being aggressive to the point of physically harming other children. Also harming himself, unable to stop or control destructive and dangerous behavior, and refusal to follow directions and commands (not an inability to).
Unfortunately the situation has deteriorated so much that we are unable to control him using typical discipline methods. I can't follow him around 24/7 to prevent damage or injury. While it may just be the "terrible twos" or a phase, we figure it can't hurt to have him seen by someone.
It could very well be autism or something related, but cognitively he's on track and does not overreact to social situations/stimuli.
I'd rather go sooner than later because our fiscal insurance year ends October 1 and he can get seen 8 times for free each year.
Yes, I remember your response to my post. Honestly that was a very vague post on my part. This stems from long before the baby, back to when he turned a year old. It's not about him forgetting or not understanding to be gentle to the baby. It's him bum rushing her and clawing at her face every chance he gets. I have to have them separated at all times. He has knocked me and DH over to try and get to her. He has climbed into her crib to get to her. I have her sleeping in our bed just in case he wanders into her room at night.
It's knocking down other children, trying to make them bleed, biting them, and enjoying their pain.
I'll make up an example: If you saw your son approaching a hot stove, and you stopped him by saying "No! Hot!". He continued to approach it, and you screamed his name, yelled Stop, whatever you do when your child is getting ready to harm themselves. He continued forward anyways and burned his hand on the hot stove. After tears, ice, bandages, etc, he gets up, walks over, and touches the hot stove. And continues to do this every day. Just a made up example, but indicative of what we're going through.
Wow. That must be horribly stressful for you, between worrying about him and being concerned for the baby's safety. You're right, you need to address this as soon as you can, for your own peace of mind if for no other reason.
I still think calling EI might get you started, or, is there a Children's Hospital in your area? That might be another place to get some information.
I don't have any advice, but I truly with the best for you and your family. Sending T&P your way. I hope you can get help quickly.
Do you know how I can contact EI? Is it a national program?
I see them mentioned on this site but I don't know how to start the process.
Thanks!
this.
Max 4-08-08 and Michael 2-03-91 (19 years olds)
EI stands for Early Intervention. In my state this is offered by our school district. I'm not sure if this is the same throughout the country, but it wouldn't hurt to call your school district to find out. FWIW, I called regarding my daughters speech development. I wasn't sure who I needed to talk to so I just called my local elementary school and talked to the principal. She put me in touch with who I needed to speak to.
Best wishes to your family.
Also, you might want to repost this on the Special Needs boards, they probably would have a wealth of information.
I would second looking for an early intervention program. Also from what you have described I think a developmental pedi would be good to start with . This is more specialized than a regular. It sounds like your DS may have a sensory disorder and be "sensory seeking". Does he happen to be in a Head Start? Even if he is not you could call them for direction on an expert in infant and toddler mental health. Hang in there.
I agree. I'm a school psych and I see these behaviors in older children who are labeled "emotionally impaired". There could be a lot of causes and sometimes the cause is unknown. One theory is that empathy is just not born into some people and have to be taught. It could be a very poor impulse control.
I'd suggest contacting your local Children's hospital and ask for a psych eval. GL to you.
You're not alone.
I have a nephew that is out of hand. Since he was about 8 months he's been hitting and just seemed hyperactive. He's going to be 2 in a couple of weeks and he's just out of control. He kicks our dogs, he tries poking my LO's eyes out. His father has a small farm and he killed a baby chick! He'll smile and put his arms out for a hug and when you go to give him a hug he punches you in the face.
It's so sad because we avoid him now in fear that he is going to hurt our son. He looks at children with such an evil look. It's like he's in a trance sometimes. I don't understand how a toddler can give such looks and do the things he does.
I think starting with your pedi would be a good thing.
(((hugs)))