Pursuing a dx

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-29-2003
Pursuing a dx
4
Thu, 05-11-2006 - 2:40pm

I finally have an appointment set up to visit a developmental pediatrician...there is only one in our city. The first available appointment is 4 months away, and I said I'd take it. Is this typical???

TIA,
Abby

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
In reply to: abbynwb
Thu, 05-11-2006 - 4:21pm

Abby,

It's not at all unusual. Another good option is a pediatric neuropsychologist, but they usually in even less abundance than developmental peds.

Goiod luck with the eval.

-Paula

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: abbynwb
Thu, 05-11-2006 - 6:34pm

Yeah, that is pretty typical. However, while you are waiting is your child involved in early intervention or the school district yet? If not I would set up evaluations with those because they have to do thier own anyway and they have a time line of 60 days to get evaluations done.

You can also ask the dev. ped. office to put you on a cancellation list if you are pretty open about a last minute appointment. Then if there is a cancellation they can call you to come in earlier. See if they will keep your current appointment and put you on a list to call if there is a cancellation.

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: abbynwb
Thu, 05-11-2006 - 9:05pm
There is only one in our area as well and it is normally a 6-12 month wait.
Good luck,
Christie
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-29-2003
In reply to: abbynwb
Thu, 05-11-2006 - 9:51pm

Holy Smokes! It seems so unreal that there is such a wait! Though now that I think back on it - we had a few months wait the first time we asked the state to do a speech evaluation and also when we transitioned from state services to the public school system. Seems like I had to push hard to get things going and I recall several people whose advice was to not pursue things if I didn't think my ds was that badly affected as it 'would take too long'.

I am glad I pushed the first time around for the speech evaluation and then later to get the school to do the Vineland survey. My ds ended up getting the speech therapy and other resources he needed and it helped so much. I am glad that my ds is still on a speech IEP for at least another year! We had to push for that as well.

Thanks to all who responded....though it's rather disheartening to think that there are so few professionals out there who deal with ASD.