Hello. New here.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-23-2004
Hello. New here.
5
Wed, 12-21-2005 - 6:07pm

My younger son has a disability, but we won't know exactly what the disability is until he is seen by the specialist.

You see. My younger son is four. His hearing is bad, he is severly behind in his speech development, and he has outbursts (screaming, yelling, hitting, pushing). He doesn't just get frustrated. He gets adgitated. Sometimes he spaces out. He will be fine one minute, then out of nowhere he will have an outburst. He lashes out at his big brother. Two nights ago he gave me a black eye.

He isolates himself from other kids. The only other kid he goes near is his brother (unfortunately, mostly to torture).

To him, his brother is the only other kid that exists. When he does acknowledge another kid, other than brother, it is with a look of terror and horrified screams (as if he is extremely afraid).

Another issue is clothes. I have difficulty keeping him dressed. He hates the feel of clothing on his skin. On the flip side, I have difficulty getting him to undress when he is wearing footed pajamas. The one article of clothing he will keep on are his footed pajamas. Shoes he hates to have on his feet. This past summer he didn't want to wear sandles, but didn't want to wear socks. I had to send him to his dads house in sneakers without socks. Fortunately, it was a short trip.

I am not sure how to deal with his disability until we see the specialist.

~ Darla

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 12-21-2005 - 8:40pm

hi darla,

phew, i'm not sure i know where to start. but i'm sorry your having such a rough time.

the one thing i can comment on is that it sure sounds like your son has some definite sensory issues. that is one area you can read up on and that will help you find ways to help him. sensory integration problems in children can cause them to have all sorts of other issues because they are trying to find neutral ground for themselves all the time. for example, some people like to fidget with a pen or twirl their hair--mild examples of calming themselves. some kids don't know how. imagine wearing a piece of clothing that is way too tight and it itches so badly--but you can't get it off or worse tell anyone that there is a problem.

i don't know if your son falls under the autism spectrum based on what you mentioned. but the sensory integration route sure would be helpful to read up on.

hang in there, valerie

~Valerie
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 12-24-2005 - 10:51am

When do you see a specialist Darla?

I replied to you on the SID board as well. Hoping you find one of these posts. You are welcome here too.

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Sat, 12-24-2005 - 11:58am

Darla,

welcome to the board. I agree with Valerie, there are definite sensory issues going on there, and sensory issues fall squarely into the caegory of "the earlier treatment starts, the more effective and permanent it will be". Read the book "the Out of Sync Child" by Carol Stock Kranowitz.

Has your son been evaluated by the school district? Is he receiving services? If not, you can contact your school district for a preschool special ed evaluation. They will put together a team to work on any individual issues they find, a speech therapist for the speech delay, a occupational therapist to work on sensory issues, etc. They may even recommend a special ed preschool for him, where they will work on the "other children" issue.

(((hugs))) Waiting for answers is difficult.

-Paula

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-23-2004
Sat, 12-24-2005 - 11:59am
The speech therapist we see January 2nd, but will not know until sometime beteween December 27th and December 30th when we will be scheduled to see the psychiaitrist.
(Truth be told, I don't understand seeing a psychiatrist. It is what the doctor says needs to be done.)
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-23-2004
Sat, 12-24-2005 - 12:09pm

We tried the local school district and they were no help.

Half way through the evaluation, they got fed up with my son and quit.

In a very pissy tone they said, "We just can't get this done. We'll have to reschedule."

So they rescheduled. Then rescheduled three more times.

I was sick of the runaround they gave me, so I called the pediatrician and she got us hooked up with a referal for a speech therapist.