? about gross/fine motor skills

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-02-2004
? about gross/fine motor skills
2
Thu, 10-25-2007 - 3:01pm

Hi! Things have been going really well with Lily's social skills lately. She finally said "I love you!" to me for the first time! I'm excited, but guarded too because I know it may be a phase she's going through, but I hope not. Her social skills with her peers are improving as well. YAY!! However, my dh and I do have some concerns in relation to her gross/fine motor skills. She is 5 yrs old and in her last year of special ed pre-k and we're gearing up to have her annual ARD meeting about her kindergarten placement next school year. The ARD will be in the spring, but we're trying to get prepared for it in advance. As of now, Lily is receiving ST and is on consult basis for OT. Basically, the OT is there to provide assistance to the teachers as needed, but that's about it. Her PT was canceled this year because they said that she could function normally in the classroom. Lily has low muscle tone due to a genetic syndrome that she has on top of her ASD. She started walking unaided at 3 yrs old and is improving all the time. However, she still cannot negotiate stairs without holding someone's hand or a rail and she still doesn't alternate her feet when climbing stairs. She is unable to balance on one foot. She still has trouble stepping up on curbs, etc. This year she has learned to climb up on the playground ladder to go down the slide, so her upper body strength seems to be improving. She cannot walk on a balance beam and when she runs, her gait is not typical. However, the PT said that although she is not completely at the same level as her peers, her gross motor deficits are not affecting her in the classroom, therefore she not longer qualifies. We're really scared of what's going to happen next year when it's time for PE. They assured us that someone could help her out when needed. However, I hate that they are wasting this year and that she will be no better off when she starts kindy than she is right now. Her fine motor skills are behind as well--at least we think so. She still has trouble holding utensils and cannot cut on a line or trace shapes/letters, etc. Her cutting and tracing skills are being targeted by her teacher according to her IEP. However, I'm afraid that she is really going to have problems in kindy next year if they don't give her more intense therapy for her fine motor skills now. Does it sound like her fine motor skills are behind, or am I making a mountain out of a molehill? My dh says he's going to video the floor after she eats things like rice to show the therapists how much falls all over the floor. When she is eating something with ketchup, whoever is sitting next to her at a restaurant will be wearing the ketchup as well because her limbs just kinda flail sometimes. We have to constantly remind her to use her spoon (she can't use a fork well at all), and she ends up eating with her hands quite often. Should I push to have her re-evaluated by the school or should I have her evaluated by an outside source, which probably won't be covered by insurance? Has anyone found it helpful to have an outside opinion about therapies before they go into an ARD meeting? Up until now, my dh and I have pretty much agreed with the school's recommendations, but we're getting concerned that she is falling between the cracks right now because she is pretty high functioning compared to some others in her class. I know for a fact that one of boys in her class, who has Down Syndrome, is receiving PT and I have seen him running and climbing and he is better at those skills than Lily. I don't understand how he qualifies, but she doesn't? Sorry this is so long, but I just want to make sure that we are prepared for her ARD meeting and to make sure that she is receiving the help she needs now in order to be as ready as possible for kindy. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Amy~mom to Natalie & Lily

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Thu, 10-25-2007 - 3:13pm

Amy,


That is awesome news about "I love you" I still remember almost falling on the floor the first time Peter said it.


It definitely sounds to me like Lily needs PT.

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-02-2004
Thu, 10-25-2007 - 9:51pm

Thanks, Paula! I appreciate you sharing your experience with this issue. The school is pretty adamant that she doesn't need PT or OT, but I'm going to just have to be a "smiling bulldozer" (that's what someone once told me you have to be as an advocate for your child), and convince them that they need to re-evaluate. If that doesn't work, we will be looking into having her evaluated elsewhere. Part of me would prefer an outside eval. anyway because I know the district is thinking about funding and they will find any reason not to give extra services. Wish me luck and thanks again for your input!

Amy