12 month corrected developmental assessment?

[LysnDan]

Hi ladies.

Does anyone know what is involved in the 12 month corrected developmental assessment?

DD is 15 months actual, 12 corrected and has her appointment this Friday at KEMH. And im panicking! Just hoping that she will pass it.

Is it a long assessment? DD likes doing things on her own and in her own time. I don't know why they put so much pressure on premature parents with milestones and their children supposedly being textbook babies... Because no baby is!

Anyway any experiences people can share with me please?

Also, we filled out sensory profiles and speech forms today, and was advised DD will need both speech and OT.

[myturn]

I can't answer all your questions, but wanted to say she can't fail her assessment
its just trying to find her areas of strength and weakness, so if she needs support she gets it now rather than waiting until she is older - the earlier intervention occurs, the better for her outcomes in the long term.

I suspect they will get her to do a few things that will feel like 'playing' and just see what she can do and compare that to what other typically developing children can do. But maybe one of the mums whose child has been through it can telll you more - try not to worry, whatever the results she is still the lovely little DD you know, it doesn't change a thing xox

[Mildez]

I agree with myturn she is not going to fail. Like myturn said its more of an assessment of her strengths and weakness's if any. They will probably want to ask if she is saying a few words, fine motor skills like picking up small items like beads/hundred and thousands, passing objects from one hand to the other etc. Most of these things you will notice just by observing her playing. There is also a big variation on what children are doing at her age and just because they aren't doing something doesn't necessarily mean there is a problem.

[LysnDan]

She's already in early intervention for physio and now speech and ot.

I just hope she does well in it you know?

She can't do most things a 12 or 15 month old can do. But she's working on it!

[KittyK]

I don't know if all hospitals do the developmental thing the same but I took my son to the ones at Logan hospital, he was born 34 weeks.

At Logan, we were one of about 7 families for the check up and its done in a group. First we go into a room and have the OT speak about what we should expect our premmies to be able to do and their age then the speech therapist will do the same thing etc then it's sort of like speed dating where each of the speakers comes round to you and does assessment things like are they able to pick a single rice Bubble from their hand, can they follow a toy with their eyes, can they reach side to Side across their bodies etc then they tell you some exercises to do to help their development, I had to work on getting DS to reach across his body not just in front of him. I think the whole thing took about 45 mins maybe 1 hour.

there is such a varying difference between all the kids and what they can do. At DS's 9 month corrected assessment he was walking by holding chairs and sliding across them but another baby same corrected age was unable to even stand. No failing just different levels of development, same as with full term kids

Good luck I'm sure she will be wonderful!!

[myturn]

She's already in early intervention for physio and now speech and ot.

I just hope she does well in it you know?

She can't do most things a 12 or 15 month old can do. But she's working on it!

Thats great!!!! She will be fine, it's pretty anxiety provoking worrying about her I bet xx

[LysnDan]

Yes, talking about anxiety provoking... I feel extremely nauseated... And it's not even the day yet!... Tomorrow morning is the day. Yuck.

Hoping she does ok.

[No.5]

How all went well today.

We have our 4 month one coming up soon (also at Logan!)

[LysnDan]

Well it went okay. Although the consultant we seen came across extremely rude and a few things sort of got to me.

For this assessment (it was the Griffiths development assessment)
We were in a room, consultant on one side of desk, DD on my lap facing him on the other side.

He handed over some things and got her to copy his actions, stacking blocks, pulling strings, hiding and finding items etc. she found it quite hard to do some things he was asking. Especially when multiple toys were put in front of her.

He then weighed and measured her. He was happy with the measurements and weight. Which was a relief.

He said she had a umbilical hernia that has repaired itself, (just left with excess skin), but now has a para umbilical hernia which if it isn't gone by the age of 2, they will operate. (that scared the heebies out of me) oh and he also said she has enamel hypoplasia. :-( and said it like I was at fault for her having it... Which I'm not. It's due to it not developing properly because she's prem. I brush her teeth morning and night ... Always have.

He also wants to see her in 3 months for another review to check the ankles. She has poor movement in them and when she's cruising, she toe walks. (he was worried about the mildest forms of Cerebral palsy, which he can't rule out until the age of about 3 or 4) so we will have to go back. He's also very worried about her lung development which we are working closely with her medical team to strengthen and monitor.

All in all, I think she did ok. He will send me the report once he's done. Which I hope is soon. Because I can't help but stress about it.

[LysnDan]

Just an update, I got DDs report for her developmental review in the post today. It went and overviewed her medical history, developmental progress and concerns and the result of the Griffiths Test.

DD is 15 months actual age.
And 12 months corrected age.

Her locomotor skills are behind, at around a 10.5 month old level.
Personal/social skills are at a 12 month old level.
Hearing/speech is at a 13 month old level.
Eye/hand coordination is at a 14 month old level.
And performance is at a 12.5 month old level.

I'm very surprised and happy with how she's doing, and now I know what to concentrate on doing with her to get her to the normal developmental level for her actual age!

Thank you ladies for your support

[myturn]

Those scores look good, there's a normal distribution for all skills and she will be stronger on some than others. You're right, it gives you something to work on

drs can be abrupt sometimes, bit if you're not happy with him you can always get a referral for someone/somewhere else