Two weeks ago we decided that we should get our oldest son tested for SPD.
Why we decided to go this route I will touch on in another blog post. I just want to talk about how infuriating testing is.
So, we first went to our Pediatrician to talk about his behavior and symptoms, red flags I had noticed and things that seemed off. After that she gave us the number to the Intermediate Education Unit, also known as IEU, for our state. She also gave me numbers for a developmental pediatrician as well as Theraplay.
I called all three on July 10th.
My first appointment was on July 22 for IEU to screen my son. A screening is when they talk and play with your child and look for specific skills and milestones to determine if your child needs an in depth evaluation.
Ten minutes into this 'screen' the evaluator had seen enough to flag my son. I asked him what he thinks we could be dealing with, making sure to focus on the fact that no one can know after 30 or 40 minutes in a room with a preschooler, and he agrees with my assessment that we are dealing with SPD, possibly OCD, developmental delays and behavioral issues.
Just a fucking shot in the gut, but we will get through it. Then, this is the part that gets me, he tells us we will be scheduled an evaluation in the next FOUR TO TWELVE WEEKS. That's three months!
So, not only is it constantly drilled into my head that early intervention is everything and weeks matter, but then you'll make me hurry up and wait?! Fuck you, dude!
Next week we have another evaluation at the Theraplay and hopefully they put us on a therapy schedule as soon as possible. I need help. I can't do this alone.
After the Theraplay appointment I have to wait for paperwork for the developmental pediatrician. I'm not happy with them thus far. I called them on (again) July 10thand I didn't hear back from them until July 15th. I was then told to look for a packet in the mail, fill that out and mail it back at which point they would put me on the waiting list.
How long is that waiting list you ask? Oh, I'll tell you! FOUR TO EIGHT MONTHS!
But by all means, hurry up and wait.
Its infuriating, I know. It took years to get Jake's diagnosis, and its been almost 2 years and his therapy still hasn't started yet.. though that was much slowed down because we moved from one county to another. Yep, totally feel that way... time is of the essence... so lets make people wait and wait :/ Hugs. Hang in there mama <3
ReplyDelete(To clarify, we started the process of having him evaluated when he was 3.. I had noticed issues since he was an infant but everyone brushed it off and told me to give it time.. well, time only made the issues more clear. He was finally officially diagnosed a month before turning 4. And then Social Security had to put him through their evaluations as well and that was finally completed as of last August a few months before he turned 5.. but then we moved a few weeks later to a different county and are still getting that all straightened out so he can have therapy. He will be 6 in November and I'm hoping that his therapy is going before then. The whole process is frustrating. And our financial issues and my health issues and lack of transportation for so long definitely made the process take longer, but still the system is seriously flawed. I have another friend going through it too, she's jumped through so many hoops and is still jumping. We've just got to be persistent and keep at it until. Oh, and now I just got the green light to begin the process all over again with having Jessica evaluated. She is 21 months... and a girl, so I'm being brushed off doubly hard this time... let's see how long it takes for round two....
ReplyDelete