Finding a Diagnosis for your Child
I never believed in a mother intuition until I had my first child.
My pregnancy was uneventful, and he was born perfectly healthy according to all the doctors.
It was at his 6 week check up with the paediatrician, that the first signs that something wasn't quite right started showing. He was very floppy, but the doctor keep insisting that he may have low muscle tone, nothing to worry about, a lot of babies are born this way.
Over the next couple of months, I saw numerous doctors, and constantly got the same advise from them all the time, boy's are lazy, some of them take longer to reach their milestones, He will sit, crawl, walk when he's ready!
I was not satisfied with these answers, my child was not developing like other children his age, there was definitely something wrong and I was not just imagining it.
But did I really want to know what was wrong, and make my fears a reality?
Yes, I did, because if I knew what the problem was, I could get the proper help, and if my child had special needs, early intervention could make a huge difference in his life, and our family's life as well.
Nobody knows your child as well you do, and denying the inevitable really does not benefit anyone, so to make your child's diagnosis easier try the following steps:
Keep Notes: keep a note book handy and write down anything about your child that bothers you. Any behaviour that is out of the ordinary, or delays in their development that you may have noticed.
Research: Go online, and do some research. Look up any of the various concerns you have about your child's development or behaviour. This way you can go into an appointment with a doctor or specialist well informed.
Paediatrician: It is vital that you find a paediatrician that you are and your little one is comfortable with. This is the person who will be responsible for your child's well being and who you will be seeing a lot of. He will also be the person who points you in the right direction if a specialist is needed.
Specialist: From experience, dealing with specialists, especially if this is your first time can be intimidating and even a bit scary. Keep in mind that they are here to help you and your child, they are qualified to do the testing that may be needed to get a diagnosis, and at the very least they will be able to give you a prognosis, and point you in the right direction to start treatment.
Information: It may take a while before you can get an appointment with a specialist; during this time never stop looking for more information. Going into an appointment well prepared and knowledgeable can only be to your benefit. Also keep in mind that doctors see many patients and cannot be an expert on disabilities. You however, have one child with a problem, and you can keep up with any research or information a lot better than someone who treats many different children with many different needs.
You have a diagnosis, now what?
After many hours of worrying, numerous doctors' appointments and a lot of research you finally have a diagnosis!
For you, it might feel as if this is the end of your world, but it really isn't. It's the end of the life as you know it, but finally knowing what's wrong with your child, means that you can get the help you need, to make sure that they reach their full potential.
You are allowed to grieve. I shed more than my fair share of tears during this time after my son was diagnosed. I even denied that the diagnosis was correct, and I was scared that I wouldn't be able to cope with a special needs child.
Once things settled, and I spent many, many sleepless nights thinking about it, I realised that I was not doing myself, my child or my family any favours, I needed to get the ball rolling and start finding the best treatment, therapists and doctors to make sure that we take advantage of all the early intervention that we could.
Your child is still the same little person they where before you got the diagnosis, but most importantly they are still a child, with their own individual personalities and abilities.
Just remember:
Love your child for what he is able to do.
Ask for help if you need it!
All children are different, do things differently and develop at a different rate.
Never give up in today's modern times there are always new developments in medicine, therapy and education, keep up to date and carry on researching.
Always keep this in mind: Children thrive on love and will grow beyond your expectations!
Finding a Diagnosis for your Child
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