How do you know if its age or a disability?

[wy_kid_wrangler04]

Ok, long story Im going to try to make short and sweet. When my ds was a baby they said he had delays. He didnt talk until he was 2 when we put him into speech therapy. Before that he just grunted and pointed. They immediatly tried saying he was autistic. We just LOVED his speech therapist. She said she thinks he is fine. Just that he didnt have to talk because everybody talked for him. Then we had to move states for work and lost our speech therapist (:crying:) Found a new one who just did NOT connect with us or my son. My son didnt like her one bit. She was hard, cold and not at all inviting. Didnt seem like she should work with kids. She tried saying that he was very developmentally delayed. (he did everything else just fine) BUT he also shut up around her because he said she was mean to him. So we stopped going there. Then there was a lady in the homeschool group that I am a part of who did speech therapy. She said he was dyslexic ( he had JUST turned 3 at that time) She ended up having a falling out with the group organizers and so hasnt come back. The first ST taught us how to work with him and we had been all along and he seems to be doing really good now. He does say what instead of that. (I want the one what is on the table instead of I want the one that is on the table) we are working on that.

I had been told by the origional doctor that he would have serious learning diabilities. That he would never function in a normal classroom and that he might not be able to read.

OK now the present. Now, he is 5. All my friends say he looks, sounds and acts fine. They cant seen anything "wrong" I found a phonics program that he is easily learning phonics and is starting to write a little. He will be 6 in October.

SO would you think this is an age thing or there is really something wrong?
He does do MUCH better with hands on, visual and auditory learning. He LOVES music.

Any thoughts?

[KarenAnne]

I think relying on a speech therapist and people who know your son casually or on a limited basis is a mistake if you are seriously trying to find out whether he has a learning disability. I'd get a recommendation(s) from your child's doctor to a developmental pediatrician, OT, and/or whatever the pediatrician thinks would be beneficial at this stage after listening to your concerns.

[wy_kid_wrangler04]

We really do want to find out, the problem is we live in a little burg in Wyoming and there isnt any GOOD developmental drs within 7 hours. I actually did make an app with the University of Michigan (I have family that lives 4 hours from there) and we are going to go from there

[wy_kid_wrangler04]

We certainly arent relying on them, I just wanted a little back ground so maybe somebody can give me a little idea of what may or may not be going on here. I just feel like im stuck at the moment with no ins for 90 days and Nobody close to advise us one way or the other

[homemomandnild]

In my experience working with children with LD issues, homeschool moms tend to be very in tune to when something isn't quite 'normal'. If you think there may be an issue (and it sounds to me like you do) then you should have him tested to find out exactly what is going on.

On the other hand, homeschooling is the best thing for a child with learning issues and you probably are already doing a lot of things right with him. Direct Phonics instruction is a must, so it's great that you're doing that.

I recommend seeing if there are any Nild educational therapists near you. www.Nild.net (http://www.Nild.net) They have a list of members on the sight, but there are many therapists that are not listed because they can't afford the membership fees. You can call their office to get more info.

Kathy

[wy_kid_wrangler04]

There isnt any in my state, the closest I see is between and 8 and 12 hour drive. Any ideas how to find any that may not be on the website? (I live in Wyoming and N Eastern S.D would be a very reasonable drive from where we are.)

[tonygirl]

Just a thought you could have the public school to an evaluation for the time being. Also if their is a private OT or speech therapist they could do their own eval in the field. I myself had my 3 yr old now very delayed at like4-5 months old. When he was 18mon-2yrs old he had the communication skills of a 6month old. The school district came and did inhome services I love the earlychildhood special ed here beyond that no thank you. We started OT & PT when he was 7 months because he did nothing no rolling reaching very repetive play extreme social problems extreme fine motor delay. ASD was a concern for a very little while I didn't think that though.
Then a little before he was a yr the school worked with him then when he was about 1.5 we started speech.
He just turned 3 and graduated out of all of it. Some articulation areas but we will wait it out. Does your son seem to have problems in all areas?