Early Intervention - Getting a Diagnosis

Being your child's advocate is something that I haven't understood until now. If you read Julee's blog post, "Where I've Been," you'll understand what I'm talking about. Let's get it on record that I am Julee's biggest fan and supporter. Being her mother, I've had an inside view of what she's going through with her son and I share in her concerns.

There are good days, there are bad days. A casual smile or a "hi" sends him to the ground crying. This is my silent grandson, Nathan. As he turns 2, we are in the midst of trying to find out what is going on with him.

"He's just shy." "He'll grow out of it." These are the comments we get. It is a bit disheartening to have your closest friends brush off your concerns, but we must forge ahead anyway. We all want the best for our children and we read that early intervention is critical to future success. As homeschooling families, we know that it is our responsibility to do our best for each child and tailor their education to best meet their needs. So we press on.

But what do you do when you have concerns about your child's development? Where do you turn? So far, these are the options we've found:

• Pediatrician - Many pediatricians are not trained in this area and don't have the time to spend observing your child to make recommendations. "He'll grow out of it" is the typical answer. It's worth a try, but don't be surprised if you get nowhere.

• Regional Center - Your Regional Centers will help children 18 months to 3 years old. Another reason to act early.

• School District - The school districts have resources available if you choose to go that route.

• Nutritionist - Until you know exactly what's going on, there's not much hope here.

• Family counselors - Unless the counselor is trained in the area of concern, you might not fare well here. They could possibly hook you up with someone else in your area that can help though.

• Child Psychologist - So far this has been our best bet. We have found a psychologist who specializes in Autism and have met with him twice so far. We hope to find out where Nathan stands and how to help him become all he can be.

Nobody knows your child like you do. If you have concerns about your child, do your homework. Read everything you can. Know your rights. You must be your child's advocate. It is usually a long, difficult road. It shouldn't be that way, but it is. Choose your moves carefully. Check into the person you're going to see. Check their credentials, make sure they're educated in the area you are concerned about in your child.

We are early in our search for answers for little Nathan. We will share our journey in hopes to help others in the same predicament. Whatever the outcome of our efforts, we have to find out the best way to help Nathan. Maybe he will "grow out of it," but we need to know how to help him now.

Related resources:

• Could it be Autism? (compare prices)
• A Real Boy(compare prices) - A True Story Of Autism, Early Intervention, And Recovery
• Let Me Hear Your Voice(compare prices)