My doctor's ASD baby

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-28-2007
My doctor's ASD baby
5
Mon, 03-17-2008 - 11:11pm

I had an OB appt today and lucky for me it was with my fave Physician asst. When I was pg with Roan and I first met her, she showed me a pic of her dd#2, (about a year in the photo). It was this beautiful haunting black and white and her dd is staring right into the camera. I was struck immediately at the gaze....it was Liam's gaze at that age; vacant, think waif look face but in one year old). I swear I knew from the one still, this baby was spectrum. She was asking about Liam (who was there at the time) and I volunteered his dx etc. She was fascinated and kept asking me question after question. Later, I found out once Roan was born the doc had called EI, and her dd had a dx of pdd-nos within weeks .

Now it's 18 months later and when I saw her today I heard her dd is doing soooo well after loads of EI and therapy, at her April re eval, she'll probably not qualify for services anymore. We all cried, laughed and marvelled together.

She's not ignorant about it, she knows her dd will always be quirky, but she firmly believes her dd will be "off the spectrum." at the April evaluation.

I feel torn there. I just don't believe a child will ever be off the spectrum; perhaps they can climb up it enough with therapy that they mask it well. I do hope this Mum keeps private therapy up, or at least keeps a close eye on her dd, so she doesn't slip again. I was awed and humbled though when she volunteered that if it wasn't for my observation she would have not seeked out EI. I suggested someone would have said something at some point, and her answer was " yes, 6 months later....6 months without therapies, then where would we be now.?!"

Today, was a good day!

Dee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2006
Mon, 03-17-2008 - 11:40pm

I always cringe on "off the spectrum" too.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2006
Mon, 03-17-2008 - 11:42pm

shoot hit post too soon.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2003
Tue, 03-18-2008 - 8:15am
You must feel really good.
Samantha
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-10-2004
Tue, 03-18-2008 - 4:16pm
Dee, that has to give you a wonderful feeling deep down.
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Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 03-18-2008 - 10:01pm

Wow! that's so cool. but oh, it gives me a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach when someone says the child is suddenly off the spectrum. I just don't believe it happens. If she was truly autistic, she's still autistic, just has learned to adapt and that's a wonderful thing but different than no longer autistic.

Betsy