Fight For The Truth
“Wait and see.”
Sound familiar?
Was that your experience?
You hear it all the time.
But should you?
My opinion?
No.
If you feel it in your gut.
If you just know something is off.
If your child isn’t hitting milestones.
Not engaging.
Losing words or don’t have any.
If they don’t want to play or share joint attention.
If their play or the things they want seem rigid or repetitive.
If they stim..flap, rock, spin, etc.
If they can’t seem to sit or stand still.
If they are self injuring or aggressive.
If they seem sensitive to the world around them…
Hate loud noises or cover their ears.
Walk on their tip toes..refuse to crawl or skip it all together.
If they won’t try new foods.
If they’re spacing out or staring.
If they’re not sleeping..and you aren’t.
These are signs.
Don’t let them tell you, “let’s wait and see” and just leave it there.
Don’t just walk away after they say, “You’re doing everything for them, or their siblings are.”
If you, a loved one or a friend is told this…
Go get a second opinion.
Get a real evaluation.
Call your local resource to get a trained professional to come into your home to discuss your concerns.
Don’t ever feel silly. It doesn’t mean it’s Autism for a child to need help. Any child that has a delay should be given a chance to get the assistance they deserve.
Most states have free early intervention programs that a child can be part of until they are three.
Those services can be so beneficial.
The early years can be crucial for a child’s development.
I don’t think our son would have made as much progress if we didn’t start at two and a half, have early intervention and ABA.
And this doesn’t just apply with young children..
You may be fighting to be heard by doctors, teachers, friends, even your own family.
You may see your older son or daughter struggling..socially. Maybe they can’t free play..they obsess over rules and things being fair. Do they isolate themselves from groups of kids at home, on the playground or at lunch?
Or maybe they call the kids that are mean to them their best friends? Do they recognize bullying?
Maybe they can’t regulate their emotions or even recognize and identify them…do they seem to fluctuate on and off like a light switch?
Perhaps a tag in their shirt or the seam in their sock is enough for them that they can’t leave the house.
And..
Verbal doesn’t mean everything is fine.
Can they start and hold a conversation? Do they ask their friends questions or ask how are you doing? Is there a back and forth?
Are they a literal thinker? Do they understand jokes or idioms?
Do they revert everything back to themselves? Are they hyper focused on a certain thing or subject? Is it literally all they talk about?
Are there other things, red flags you are starting to notice, that you can’t seem to let go of?
Are they having bouts of anxiety, do fears seem to take over their mind? Panic attacks?
Do they seem unfocused or are they the daydreamer in class? Are they struggling at school?
Do they cry or anger easily when things don’t go their way? Do they have violent outbursts that seem to last forever?
Do they talk about hating themselves, body image issues or feel that they are different?
Do they act like the world would be better off without them?
Do they seem just off? Are you having medical concerns?
Developmental delays, Autism, ADHD, OCD, ODD, Epilepsy, Sensory Processing Disorder.
Anxiety, Depression and Bipolar.
Comorbidities.
The presence of two or more conditions.
Which is very common…these all seem to be connected.
So, if any of these sound familiar to you..
I say…dig deeper.
Make an appointment.
Are questions swirling above your head?
Get answers.
That inner voice you have is there for a reason.
Don’t wait and see.
Fight for the truth.
Written by, Sheryl St.Aubin
My name is Sheryl…I am a wife and very sleep-deprived Mama Bird to three beautiful children, all with various special needs, including autism. Our journey began when our youngest son, Finn regressed at two. I later fought for a diagnosis for our eight year old son, Landon and I continue to fight for my thirteen year old daughter, Lilliana. I spend my days helping connect other special needs mamas, homeschooling my youngest, and juggling this crazy life. I enjoy writing and listening to music, accompanied by a cup of coffee or a good glass of Moscato. You can follow our journey on Instagram: threelittlebirds321 or here: https://www.facebook.com/followyourflockwiththreelittlebirds/
Finding Cooper’s Voice is a safe, humorous, caring and honest place where you can celebrate the unique challenges of parenting a special needs child. Because you’re never alone in the struggles you face. And once you find your people, your allies, your village….all the challenges and struggles will seem just a little bit easier. Welcome to our journey. You can also follow us on Facebook, subscribe for exclusive videos, and subscribe to our newsletter.
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