Getting enough EI services?

[chrfath]

???Hi everyone.

I don't post here very often sometimes at the NADS website but I am trying to really keep my computer time to a minimum.

Anyway...Veronica is just about 3 months post-op since her second open heart sugery. She is 20 months old and pretty far behind. Closer to 9mo on most things. Definately very delayed in all areas of speech. I haven't gotten a number on motor skills and I don't really want one. Too depressing.

I am so unsure if we are doing enough. She has never had PT - which is probably why she never crawled. She is a butt scooter. She has OT and ST once a month and a service co-ordinator who is supposed to come every two weeks. We see her more like once a month. We are homeschooling our son also. Once a week for services seems to work okay. We are really happy with our new team from EI. A very different approach from the last group we had.

I know how critical the first 3 years are and I worry that she may be needing more. I waver. Between it all being too much and then it not being enough. She does visit with little friends and we take her everywhere we go. She goes to story time and a play group. We are planning to homeschool her also.

I know this is a very person mater but I would just love to hear some different points of view if you have time.

Thanks everyone and I hope you are all haveing a great holiday season.

[MB]

It seemed that the PT sort of programmed our son to sit and crawl and walk correctly - none of which he was doing on his own. Some OT's will function as PTs when the child is very young. I do not know if this is appropriate. We were lucky to have separate OT/PT.

I was told by someone whom I consider an expert, having 20 years experience working with young kids with Ds, that the kids even out developmentally around second grade.

MB

[meghans_mom]

Hi Christi - sounds like you have a good team behind you and that your daughter is getting good services. My therapists told me that generally our kids score about half their actual age on most tests when they are toddlers and younger...I found this to be true with my daughter, but ofcourse she had some strengths and some weaknesses - but that half-age thing was always about right....so it sounds like your daughter is doing great, especially in light that she has been thru 2 open heart surgeries in her short lifetime.
Not all kids crawl, not even typical kids...so that's not something I'd worry about...
i agree about it being too much or not enough - but you are enjoying life with your kids and exposing them to things other than just therapy.
I have to tell you my daughter, at 20 months was getting way more services -- probably 6 or 7 a week? (6 hours b/w speech, PT, Ot and special ed) -- it drove me nuts and was terribly invasive...did it help her? I really don't know.
Also, you have to remember...it's not the number of therapies a child gets a week, or month....it's whether or not the PARENT or CAREGIVER follows through with the activities they are learning during the therapy sessions...atleast in my opinion. Look at those therapists as your teachers and do the same stuff a few days a week and that's even better!! if one doesn't follow through, then it's not going to be a beneficial....and you sound like you're doing a great job and are very involved w/ your kids!!
Having Meghan exposed to other kids -- kids she could play w/ and interact and want to model...THAT, I think, was a really important thing...I've seen her grow and blossom so much now that she interacts w/ older peers.
so, those are just my own thoughts...happy holidays to you too! laurie

[christie]

CHRISTI, WELCOME to UNO ;D

I personally have mixed feelings/thoughs on this subject. Chris had PT, OT and ST since he was one month old every week twice a week till he was three, then he started preschool and had all his therapies in school with some private after. Personally, its hard to say if that helped or not, to be honest, I am not sure if he would be right where he is now with or without BUT I will add that just taking them everywhere and doign what you would with any other child seems to be a BIG PLUS, least in my opinion

Chris is 12 and has always just shined in the PT area but speech has been his challange. BUT I am here to say DON't ever give up cause I was told many years back this is the best speech you will ever see out of him That was just soooooo WRONG and although its hard at times and seems slow sometimes it is coming along ;D

Sometimes, I think EI is yes important BUT not all its cracked up to be and what really matters is what you do daily with your child, KWIM??

Looking forward to hearing more bout you and yours

CC ~

[Kristen]

I agree that it's mostly up to us. Right now I have a PT losing her mind because Carter (who is 2 1/2) is actively refusing walking. It's pretty funny when you get down to it.

My take in general is this: You can only do so much. We give all the help, support, direction, etc. it the world to both our kids. At a certain point they will do what they do when they do it which is totally the norm, but in our situation with our diagnosed kids, it's like there's this big heightened awreness and freak out factor when they don't do some things. It doesn't necessarily mean incapable, it means not yet for them. You never stop trying and helping and encouraging and working, but at a certain point I found it was helpful to take the they'll do it when they do it attitude. They aren't robots we can program. That would make it all too easy

[angela2]

Brandon had PT once a week from the time he was a few months old. He also scooted on his butt...he didn't walk until he was 2 1/2. He scooted, then crawled, then walked!
Just wanted to point out that even with PT, your Veronica may still have been a butt scooter!

[marisa]

Laura has Ot twice a week in our home and ST once a month in our home (although I think I am gonna increase this to twice a month). I think it is great and am happy with the schedule. It really keeps me motivated to work with her. Her therapist was out for a week due to a death in the family and I found myself slacking with her a bit, especially with all the holiday stuff I have to get done. I guess everyone has to find what works best for their family.