This sounds so familiar. I am like, here I am, waving my white flag because I don't know what to do with this child, and everyone is like, yeah, well, we don't really know what to tell you. I have been an anxious, teary mess right in front of many of the "experts" yet, all they can say is "you are doing a great job, mom!" I even ask specifically for help for me-- counseling, support groups, etc and they act shocked, like you are fine, you have things together, you are doing so much for him. Um, no. I am not fine. Hoping the Play Project lady has some answers tomorrow. To the OP, I hope you also get some answers.

We are making headway in the tantrums over trivial things too, which gives me hope They are less frequent and their duration is shorter when they do occur. Occasionally we will still have a doozy, but I understand where they are coming from better now. We have been working on emotional regulation at OT for 6+ months, and we still have a ways to go. Especially when I see him with NT peers. But, progress is progress.

We have a very similar situation. DS (4 in Aug) is about 2-2.5 years delayed in his speech, and did finally get an Apraxia dx. But nobody, and I mean nobody who spends time with him- his reg ped, the dev ped, 3 SLPs, and 2 OTs- really suspects ASD. Well they don't, but every once in a while one of them might say . . . Well, maybe. Because he does have some concerning behaviors at times. Sooooooo, we have decided to wait til October (a year since his last asd screening) and take him to the Autism clinic a the big children's hospital. I know some say the more therapy he has the less likely we will get a label (but I don't want a label unless it truly fits-what mother does?), but honestly I don't think it will make a difference. I actually think more speech will help get more language out of him because that is the piece that is missing. Not enough comes out to really know. He has about 20 words and he is just starting to put words together. In the meantime, we are meeting with a Play Project therapist who works with asd kiddos all the time. First meeting tomorrow. Hoping she can help sort things out, make some recommendations about things we are struggling with, and maybe give us her professional opinion. She can't dx him, but my gut tells me she will know. So know you are not alone. These super smart kids that are not typical developing can be little puzzles. We too might fall into the ADHD camp rather than the ASD camp. All labels have their challenges, but I really just want to focus on ds's strengths and help him interact with his world as comfortably as possible, whatever his place is in the world of alphabet soup diagnostic labels. He is a super special kiddo regardless of his limitations and I am sure your little dude is too. Hang in there.

Watching this closely as Anna seems to be my ds's mirror image in so many ways. 😃Hoping you find that magic bullet soon!

I know OhE used LiPS with PROMPT therapy successfully. I agree there could be trouble with a child who has trouble with articulation may have trouble executing LiPS, but I am thinking OhE coupled LiPs with the prompts and that really helped I am sure she will chime in here when she is able.

Yes, Lecka, not jumping to math issues because of speech issues. We already have a child who probably would be given a math sld if evaluated. He is super bright and has compensated well. So I am thinking family history more than anything for the math.

Oh I definitely am not suggesting Barton now. Ha ha. I am thinking later for that. Lots of people have had success with LiPS and then Barton. That is what I was thinking. He definitely wants to learn, loves games, and has an insatiable appetite for information. We already read tons. He already has chores that he helps with.

Hello Ladies, My little guy with Apraxia will be 4 in a few weeks. He is wildly intelligent and thrives on structure and one on one interactions. I am really not one for early structured preschool. I did that with my oldest two, but with subsequent kids, we waited till they were K age and things went fine. This dude has me wondering if he might do well with some low key, structured, play based learning this year. It could very much help with his language and keep him for boredom, in which he struggles greatly. Here is my question- there is a great possibility that he will have some SLDs dx'd in the future. I am not being pessimistic, I am just looking at the facts. I have read up to 75% of kiddos with moderate to severe apraxia also have co-morbid dyslexia and dysgraphia, and a math sld is very possible. So, with that in mind, should I. . . 1. Start with normal curriculum choices- AAR Pre, RS A and see if that works and then change if we have trouble. Or. . . 2. Just bypass "normal" and go with specialized - LiPS + Barton, Ronit Bird From a financial stand point, # 1 would be more cost effective if he doesn't need #2, but # 2 would be more cost effective if he struggles with #1 and needs #2. Also, for IEP purposes, this will not be his pre-K year. I will not call him K officially until the August he turns 6. Thanks for your help.

I think this is quite normal. Often they can have a big regression in one area while they are making leaps ahead in another. My DS has been making some language leaps lately, but has started chewing and biting every thing and everyone incessantly. Sometimes he will get really fussy before he gets something new. I would agree that she likely is picking up on the big changes coming as well. Small things can throw them off, so big things like new siblings and moves can really trigger behaviors. Hugs as you navigate all the changes ahead with her.

Ack!! Sometimes it seems as if there is no end. Hope you find resolution.

This is so interesting the you can get the CTOPP through Barton if you go through their training, which I am considering. I have an MA in Composition Pedagogy. I wonder if that is enough qualification. I am chatting with my ds's SLP right now to see if she has administered the CTOPP in the past. I want one run on ds next year so I know which way to go- LiPS + Barton or just traditional OG. I always use OG materials with all my kiddos.

BTW OhE- Love your verse in your signature. That could so easily be my life verse right now. Love it! Sounds like the OP could latch onto that too. OP- oh my yes, get your own health stable before you tackle dd's. Mom cannot meet the needs of her children when she hasn't met her own needs first. Sounds like you are knee deep in that process. And I so get the tested and evaluated to death issue. My kiddo has had it with evaluations and they have only just begun. Hugs to you as you wade through it all. :grouphug:

I never dreamed my sensory kiddo would ever let a SLP touch him, but he lets his PROMPT therapist prompt him in his sessions. Some weeks are better than others but when he brushes off her hands, she gets him moving which regulates him and then he allows it again. These therapists are super experienced in doing their thing. So I would not worry about that piece. The OMT might be what she needs, but if there are speech issues, it sounds like PROMPT could tackle both.

You? Opinionated OhE! Never! Lol. I would love to get my hands on a TM to know for sure. I agree with the business of the pages. I do wish there was something a little easier to see than LIPS. A girl can hope.

Maybe we will be the guinea pigs. Looks promising.

I have been physically exhausted for years and years. I can deal with that. I am fit and healthy which helps. I run about 10-15 miles a week which helps, twice a week with a good friend so that helps as well. What I am dealing with is an emotional exhaustion - like a broken spirit. Like losing the will to fight. Not depression like I can't get out of bed or function. More like a weariness and a heaviness from just swimming upstream against therapists, insurance, etc. Not sure if that makes sense. Preschool stuff I am not sweating. He will be 4 in Aug. Whatever we do is gravy at this point. He is starting private adaptive swim classes 1-1 soon, paid for by the county. We might do gymnastics in the fall when he is 4. He is very physical and not globally dyspraxic. Sports will be a big confidence builder for him, like my oldest.

This was the year that we learned one of our children has special needs. We have not even begun to homeschool him yet as he is just turning 4 this summer, and that piece will likely add a whole new level of "overwhelmed" to my plate. So this year I learned to balance school, work, and therapy 3 days a week. This was probably the most challenging part of the year. Balance isn't really the word. Manage maybe. Actually, manage might be strong. Keep from going under-- perhaps. I am still here, so. In any case, things got pretty overwhelming at times. I think we are close to finding a rhythm of sorts, though it will look different next fall as my teaching schedule has changed and his therapy needs have increased. I am hoping he can manage OT on his own next year so I can get work done with my 2nd and 4th graders during those hours. That is a goal to work toward this summer. The other goal of the summer is to reclaim the house- cleaning, organization, etc. Household management was pretty much the "tyranny of the urgent" all year. Ironically, this was a VERY productive school year for my older kids. We got through everything by middle of May, including all math lessons, which is nothing short of miraculous. We changed to AAR for my 1st grader and he got glasses, so that was a game changer and he can READ!!!!! Yay! I also graduated my oldest. He is attending college in the Fall majoring in history. So that was somewhat monumental, I think. :thumbup: We definitely have to work out some kinks and honestly, I am nervous in my planning for next year. Last year, little dude wasn't evaluated until September, so I really had no idea what was coming when we started the school year. Now I know, and I am having a lot of anxiety about it. I am also not sure how much "preschool" to do with him. He is super smart, but with only 15 words in his vocabulary, I just don't know if I should start anything formal. The idea seems a bit daunting. This year has changed me. I think the best way to describe it is a tired spirit. I just am tired of fighting- for appropriate therapies, funding, and fighting with the "experts" regarding philosophies. I am just so tired of being scrutinized and judged, having my kiddo scrutinized and evaluated, and having my parenting challenged. It was a really hard year in that respect. I have learned to stand up when things don't feel right, demand change when things are wrong, and keep after the things that work. But in that process, I have lost a bit of myself. Hoping to find it this summer too.

You should at least call your school district now. It can take forever to get an eval set up. If you wait til fall, it will likely be October or November before they can get him in. I called mine recently (very small district) and I was surprised how accommodating they were. They are willing to do his evals anytime this summer. Waiting just puts off any help he needs. Also, you might be surprised what insurance may pay for. Does he have a Medicaid card? So if you go to the ped they might refer you to private.

Ha ha. Yes, bad name. Yes the work books were cheap but the TM was about 100 or so. Wowsa. I am assuming the TM has all the OT related help, otherwise it is just another handwriting program.

Ha ha. Yes, bad name. Yes the work books were cheap but the TM was about 100 or so. Wowsa.

Our OTs are promoting a new handwriting curriculum called Size Matters. They are putting on a seminar with the materials later this month. It looks interesting albeit expensive, since it is for clinics to purchase, not necessarily families. Not sure it could be implemented with just he TM. I want to go to the seminar but it is the night before we leave on vacation so not sure if that is going to happen. Just thought I would share. It can be found at www.realotsolutions.com. Their cutting program also looks good, but Jeesh, it is soooo expensive. ETA: be careful googling the name of the curriculum! 😱

In EXACTLY the same boat. I mean, we could each have an oar and row together, lol. My kiddo will be reevaluated in the Fall. DP thinks most/all of ds's issues stem from his communication issues. However, there is still enough suspect that he is being sent to an Autism clinic in October/November. I will be very interested in the results of your son's ADOS testing.

Oh absolutely no matter the cause, therapy will be a great help to him. Most of my friends with foster kiddos (I have tons) the kids all have attachment and behavior issues that are being addressed by therapies and counselors. Whether he stays with you or not, getting the ball rolling will go a long ways to provide a better foundation for him in the future.

That is interesting. I have never listened to an iLs track, but my son is doing Therapeutic Listening and while he likes it, I cannot stand to listen to it for more than a few minutes. I have heard if you don't need it, it sounds bad. So that could be the case here.