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I've done this already so why am I freaking out?

malcivarmalcivar member
in Special Needs

So, how to start?  Lucas, the youngest, is going to be evaluated by EI on Friday.  Filling out the paperwork and having everything re-explained to me, I found myself thinking - yeah I've done this already, I know these things - and yet I still have that 'is this really happening?' feeling.  

DH is the one really pushing for this.  I know that it's a good idea what with his brother on the spectrum.  I do, really, but I'm still scared.  

He's got some feeding issues, there's no denying that.  Him and table food don't mix and I'm concerned in terms of him not getting the proper nutrients.  All he will eat without a fuss is cookies, crackers, toast, PB&J.  Try to give him a fruit, nope.  Cheese, nope.  My mom gave him rice with gravy from a stew - he threw up.  It's like he doesn't understand that he needs to chew unless it's the aforementioned foods.  He just swallows.  So right now he pretty much just eats one thing - we make a 'soup' of barley, chicken broth (home-made), broccoli, carrots, and some celery then run it through a mill. 

They're sending a speech therapist to do the feeding evaluation and a developmental specialist to check on his overall development.  

Sorry, there was no real point to this post other than writing down my feelings.  


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Re: I've done this already so why am I freaking out?

  • greyt00greyt00 member
    edited August 2014
    I am so sorry.  Even if there are fewer unknowns, it's very unpleasant.  ((HUGS))  

    For me at least, DS1's eval was traumatic.  To take another child to a similar eval would be re-living it.  Very understandable to be upset/anxious.

     
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  • thefuturemrskudlathefuturemrskudla member
    Because it sucks
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  • Assembly_ReqdAssembly_Reqd member
    hugs.
    WAY 2 Cool 4 School


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  • mommy0411mommy0411 member
    Big hugs! I completely understand! My younger DS is being evaluated on Monday by ECI. He is almost 16 months and still not walking and our pedi gave him until 15 months since he is high risk. I am so worried they will find other delays even though he is a completely different baby then DS1 was at this age. Good luck! I hope the evaluation goes well!


    DS1: 4/15/2011
    Dx: ASD, SPD and receptive and expressive speech delay at 21 months
    BFP #2: CP 5/2012
    DS2: 4/24/2013
    BFP #4: Miscarriage at 5 weeks 7/2014
    BFP #5: 8/8/2014 Due 4/20/2015 
    Its a healthy girl!!!!! 
    Lilypie Pregnancy tickers
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  • malcivarmalcivar member
    Well, that was .... confusing.  

    A teacher and a speech therapist came over and evaluated him.  They asked us a bunch of questions and scribbled furiously.  Then she tried to play with him but he was 'putting on a show' for her.  He likes to jump and sing songs and it almost seemed like someone turned him up to 11 when she first got here.  She liked that socially he was acknowledging her presence and like I said 'putting on a show'.  He kept looking at me and DH for a reaction (praise, acknowledgment, etc).  So socially, it didn't seem like they had too many concerns.

    Speech - here's where it got tricky.  As she went through her evaluation, she said he was very verbal.  There is some delayed echolalia, some scripting (from tv shows, videos) and he's stronger in expressive language than receptive.  

    He was all over the place active during the evaluation though he did sit at a table and chair for a good part of it.  He stacked blocks and did some puzzles.  He couldn't feed the doll - didn't know what to do with the doll, actually and he couldn't do any of the 'action' pics - like a picture of the baby sleeping, he couldn't say the baby was sleeping but he could point out all the animals when asked and could label them as well.  

    So in hearing them talk amongst themselves the speech therapist said that his 'scores' would probably not have him qualify for speech therapy and then the teacher said 'yes, I wouldn't want to see him fall through the cracks'.  So they're going to bring in an occupational therapist for some motor skills issues and for some of his sensory issues (food).  The teacher who seemed to be the 'main' evaluator said "we'll see what we can do to get him some services".  

    So I'm left with ... he seemed to have 'scored' possibly too high ... but he should still receive some services.  While I'm glad that it wasn't "oh hell yes this kid needs help" like it was with his brother, the ambiguity of it is maybe a little more unsettling.  

    One thing I did take away from it - DH & I haven't done enough in the area of helping him with his speaking skills but the therapist showed us some things we could do to help with his emerging skills - how to incorporate 'action' words and pronouns.  And we need to up our game with his play skills - I don't know that kids come up with pretend play all on their own without someone at least saying "hey let's play fireman ...." which ashamedly, I'll admit we haven't done.

    Also - we need to get this kid around other kids - besides his brother.  Everyone agreed it might be in his best interest as it would help to improve his play skills.  

    So yeah ... yay?  
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