What's your vote? Finn and Early Intervention (longish)

norika33 · August 2011

Backstory: Finn and Emme are just over a year- Emme is crawling and pulling up, eating table food easily, and talking up a storm. Finn is not crawling, is SUPER frustrated that he cant crawl, and when he gets on his stomach to try and crawl, he looks stuck- not even rocking very much. It seems he's very weak in arm and leg strength. He also won't eat table foods- he gags when anything solid touches his lips- so he's still on purees.

The dilemma: Our pediatrician says that he's just developing slowly, and its fine, to give him time and all kids are different. We had both kids evaluated by Early Intervention (Emme passed with flying colors) and Finn passed, but with a "needs improvement" in his adaptive and gross motor/muscle categories (crawling and table foods). He didn't qualify for services, but they said if he doesnt make gains in a month, to call them back. This might mean just paying out of pocket for PT.

Your vote: Worry and appeal the Early Intervention decision? Not worry and listen to our pediatrician? Pay our of pocket for PT?

Thanks in advance--

2brides · August 2011

I would work with him (tummy time) and continuing to offer solids and then see where he is at his 15m visit. If he hasn't made any improvement, he might qualify in a couple of months.

This is what we did with the kids. Gray wasn't talking (or babbling) at their 12m appt. Their pediatrician suggested waiting till 15m (even though I wanted a referral at 12m.) At 15m he still wasn't talking and qualified. Now he is talking up a storm.

2moms2twins · August 2011

I agree with 2brides.. but I was a Special ED health Care assistant for 10+ years and have worked with children with disabilities. The disabilities varied from severe to mild to just worrisom parents. That being said if it were me I would do what 2brides suggested but also push for re-evaluation. However, becareful to not get a label- so basically i am suggesting that u you use the system but try to beat it so not have FInn Labled ( out in CA once you are deemed something in the school district its tough to get free of it )

I hope that makes sense...

Feel free to ask me anything I worked with SED kids DD kid and orthopedic ally challenged, CP ranging from very mild to VERY severe and Autistic kids again Mild to severe and Children with Spina Bifida - Lots of G tube babies who did not like to eat and or had tactile issues.

2mommiesinoh · August 2011

At one I would be hesitant to push for a referral. I would look for activities you may be able to do at home to strengthen muscles and push tummy time. I would also continue to offer a variety of food items and work your way up form there. At the 15 month appointment if there is not significant progress I would look to be re-evaluated for EI.

2brides · August 2011

Yea, I forgot to mention in my note that even at the 15m appt, the doc didn't want to refer. So, I just did it myself and then thought "told you so" when he qualified.

ssg73 · August 2011

I am going to vote push for a re-eval. I am a big supporter of EI and have nothing but great things to say about the program. E was in the program from discharge 2.5 months old to about 15 months old. She as also re-evaluated at 19 months for speech delay. If your gut is feeling like he would benefit from services then I would call and request an evaluation (you do not need a referral from your pedi.) If he was on the cusp of qualifing at 12 months and has not made progress then he may now qualify as he will be scored on % delay from his age and may now meet the threshold. Also our evals were done by a pt, ot and sp in addition to a devlopmentalist so if he does not qualify then I would ask the pt for specific suggestions to help develop the skills he is lacking. E has always been developmentally behind and I know how tough it can be. With hard work and good EI she has made so much progress there is a light at the end of the tunnel hugs.

Tanya+Da · August 2011

No advice, just loads of luck to send you!

thiswillbe · August 2011

I'd probably just wait out the month (it'll be here before you know it) and call them back (per their instructions) for a re-eval. I would think an appeal might take a month+ anyway. And that suggestion is only *if* the required delay seems reasonable to you (e.g. when our kids were evaluated at 16 months, they had to test at under 12 months to qualify, which seems reasonable to me; if they'd said they had to test at 9 months or something I would have found that unreasonable).

I would take that time to a) work with him in a structured way on crawling (e.g. put him on hands and knees over one of your legs, where your leg is supporting his belly-- this, which we learned from my OT SIL, is what finally got Peanut crawling) and b) work with him a lot with food (so you can tell them more about exactly what his issues are and demonstrate you've tried everything to help; maybe even videotape a couple of mealtimes to show them).

Gotta run and get the kids, but hope to come back and write more later. GL!

Duchess1 · August 2011

All three girls needed EI and my wife is an EI ( Child Development Specialist). I am speaking from lots of experience.

Absolutely request a new eval. The scale for qualifying delays varies, but that should be enough of a delay to qualify. Do you know what assesment tool they used? Scores can vary if it's not used correctly and some are better at scoring different types of delays.

Be the squeaky wheel.

What's your vote? Finn and Early Intervention (longish)

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