Developmental Delay Support Group ~#2

[MistyFying]

Hi Halltribe, you can certainly join in here welcome.

[kajolo]

Hello,
My name is Sarah and my Son Jordan has several underlying problems some of which have been diagnosed some which have not.
Ill start from the begining,
Jordan started having terriable outbursts when he was around 18months old, he would go out of his way to hurt him self on what ever he could, For the next 6 months this continued and somewhat got worse i thought prehaps it was just Terriable two's starting early.
Come towards the end of 2006 when he was 2.5 years this is when i noticed that he was delayed in some area's and i started to get concerned. I was heavily pregnant with my son and he was just running me raggered.

I contact Child and Youth Health and got a appointment for a assessment to be done, a lady came out to our home and assessed him She then made a referal for more Assessments.

At the time of assesmment jordan was 3 years and 2 months old.
To cut along storey short he has been diagnosed with the following
- Learning Disorder/Delay
-Speech Delay
-Sensory disorder
and a Language Disorder.

He was also described as a extreamly hyperactive child, further assessments will need to be carried out when age appropriate to determine if there is a underlying behavioural issue.

Basically the Pead said that he wont diagnose Jordan or tell me what they think it might possiably be until Jordan is 5 because of some of the traits/characteristics Jordan displays can be classed as the normal for pre-schoolers.

We are currently seeing a Occupational Therapist and a Speech Pathologist.
Jordan also has Conductive hearing loss in his left ear and a significant hearing loss in his right ear this could have contributed to the Speech delay.

So i am doing as much research as i can, i am trying to do as much as i can to help my son learn and staying focused on activities.
I am focusing on Structured craft play at the moment with him to help his Sensory skills.

The reports of the assessments are so confronting for me, to see things things written about your baby in black and white.

I have just Enrolled Jordy in Pre-Entry Kindy and he is now going to a ABC center and the benifits of him attending the Childcare center have been enormus!

Are there any parents out there that could reccomend a good book for activities to help him learn.

I would really like to stay in this group.
Jordan starts Kindy on the 19th he goes one day a week for three hours, i am so excited and yet so nervous at the same time.
He will continue this one day a week routine until he turns 4 in August.


There are so many more things written in the reports he has issues with gross and fine motor skills and we will be seeing a physiotherapist on the 26th.

Jordan is also entitled to get some one on one help through the kindy through Disabilty SA.

Any advice/suggestion/information would be greatly appreciated

Thankyou

Sarah

P.S I am terriably sorry if this is all over the place i am so nervous about talking/typing about these issues my son has it makes it so much more confronting but i really feel i could gain knowledge and support from this forum and that i could offer knowledge and support to other parents as well

[MistyFying]

Hi kajolo and welcome it's great to have you join us and share your (and your son's) story. We can learn so much from eachother and share the load a bit too.

[Monchika]

HI all,

I guess I am after some advice. We went out to an indoor play centre this morning with my son Mikey, nearly 4, (who has a developmental delay and characteristics of Autism). There was an incident on the trampoline where 3 other boys (maybe about 5years old) where kicking into Mikey. Mikey is so passive, he fell down into the fetal position and was just taking the beating from these kids. I had a gut feeling that something was wrong and went looking for Mikey....and saw this incident. I went off my nut and started yelling at these kids and basically rescued Mikey.

I was wondering if this has happened to anyone else, and what people's thoughts are on enrolling into a Karate or self defence class. I am in Melbourne. Does anyone have advice or does anyone else send their child to a karate class that is good. Any advice would be very helpful.

[MistyFying]

That's awful! I hope he's ok. With my DD, she is bullied not so much physically, but verbally. I taught her very early on that she should first say, "Stop it, I don't like it." And if the kids don't stop, she's to move away. If they come after her, she's to run and find a teacher/adult to help her. Anything you can do that will help self-confidence, resilience and social skills will help. Maybe a team sport?

[Monchika]

Thanks MistyFying,
I have taught, or least I thought I did, for Mikey to say "Stop" to kids that hurt him and to move away, but is it wrong to tell him to hit back or kick back? I want him to stand up for himself, because obviously he doesn't understand to run away.
It hurts my heart to think that he was just taking this beating and I am scared that it will not be the last time. A team sport? I am not sure if he will understand the rules of playing in a team. I am just beside myself and don't know what to do.

[~Saram~]

Hi Kajolo and welcome, I know what you mean about how hard it is to start talking about it! This is a great place to talk to others who understand where you are at!

Monchika - Oh I feel for you, there is nothing worse than that feeling! We took DS to a karate class type thing but it just didn't work, it was just too much for him but he does remeber the things he learnt there and asks to go back so I guess he enjoyed it! It was called choi Kong do and they have tiny tigers from 3yrs

[Monchika]

Thanks Saram..............I have been talking to my collegues and a few other parents at work and and pretty much everyone has said to try Karate....so I rang a place today which is close to home and they have a 3-5yrs class..........we will try it and see how it works..........fingers crossed

[kajolo]

Monchika- Aww how sad, i hope your DS is ok?
MY DS also does not retaliate when being bullied, this happens at childcare and unfortuantly he has now become a target for some of the bullies as they know he will not do anything to stop it/protect himself.
He does say "Stop!! ,I dont like it" "your making me sad,upset,hurt,angry"ect.

I am currently working with the director and his room leader to help implement new stratigies.

I too have thought about self defence classes.

Goodluck, let us know how it goes please