What/Who defines PDD?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-13-2003
What/Who defines PDD?
1
Mon, 10-03-2005 - 12:15pm

Jonah is my 32 mos third child. His 10 yr bro has adhd and LDs. 6yr dd is perfectly above average!

Anyway, I knew he had a speech delay by 12 mos - just not saying what he should. He can say lots of words but his working vocab is small and mostly too slurred to understand. He tries to sing some songs and we can often work out what by gesture and tune plus the odd word. The only word combos he has ever used is "I love you" complete with gestures from Skinnamarink... and he blurted out 'meanie mommie' at the fair when I refused to carry him. He also stopped eating normally at 10 mos... refusing all but cheerios and smooth yoghurt. He has 10-20 things he will eat now - mostly dry cereal and crunchy textures with yoghurt the only thing needing a spoon (which he feeds himself). He is also very fastidious... keeps a facecloth handy to wipe up "mess". Today was the first day he actually licked his fingers! He is appropriately sociable with both kids and adults, makes good eye contact, and cuddles/kisses and hugs. He plays with toys like my other kids did... driving cars around and puts people in duplo vehicles... gets pretend hay for lego horses... makes pretend tea for me... carries doll around and puts to bed etc. BUT mostly withough any noises or sounds. His hearing is normal. His oral motor skills are normal. His other milestones were at the usual times. He is toilet trained day and night.

So, who should I see next? We are waiting for autism screening in Jan/Feb and speech therapy around the same wait time.... any other thoughts?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 10-03-2005 - 12:40pm

Have you had an evaluation done by early intervention? Particularly in the area of speech. Other than a tough time with producing speech can he makes his needs and desires known through other means? Does he understand what you say to him?

I absolutely can't diagnosed via internet or at all for that matter (cause I am just a mom) but it sounds more speech and sensory related than autism spectrum. Just a guess though.

You should definitely do the online screening at childbrain (some one has just posted it here on another thread. I don't have the link on this computer.)

What I would recomened next is having an evaluation done through the 0-3 folks in your state (early intervention). Particularly a speech language eval. These are the folks before 3 that would provide therapy. After 3 it is the school district. Your pediatrician should have the number for you. Do it right away because I know I have heard in the past when a child is 3 months or less from thier 3rd birthday they will have you wait and have the eval done through the school when he turns 3. If they say they won't do the eval this late, call the school district and see if they will do it before his birthday. So he can start therapy right away when he turns 3.

For the feeding issues, ask them to do an OT evaluation too with an emphasis on sensory integration.

When you refer to EI or school district they have federal timelines which they must complete evaluations within (60 days) so you will likely get information and therapy started much sooner that way. Plus even if you get a diagnosis from the appointment in Jan/Feb you will still have to go through the school district process of evaluation.

Renee

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