Ilicia | FirstBorn2Autism.com

Okay, I know I haven’t been on in a while but I had to think about something I’ve never talked about before. I had a friend ask me for some information about someone to evaluate her friend’s child. I was so happy that she would think of me to ask and was thrilled because this is why I blog and try to spread the gospel on Autism Awareness. I gave her information for Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) and told her to tell her friend that if she ever needed any extra info or just support that to look at my site and give me a holler. It’s what I do.

With that being said, she emailed me back with a “thanks” and told me that her friend was in denial. See, her friend’s son is 8 years old and is currently in public school. (Side Note: I could really go on a rant about the question “Why the hell is my child 8 years old and the school is JUST NOW contacting me about him being evaluated?” but I’ll get on that one after I finish this.)

This is what I dread for children with any disability (especially autism). When a child is put through the system and they slide through the cracks, the chances of seeing some real improvement when they do receive services to help them, are very slim. I’m not saying that it can’t happen, I’m just saying your chances of them retaining a lot is low. The reason I say this is because with going to your regular well-check visits and being curious and concerned with your child’s speech and development being slow or at a stand still should be enough to light a fire in you to find out what’s going on. It should send you on a mission to find out what’s happening to your baby.

I was told that my son would “talk when he is ready” and because “he needs to be around more children” that he was fine and that I shouldn’t worry. That’s crap. Unless your child is just isolated all day with no human contact at all, they should have regular social, motor, and speech development. Plus, you are a mother and you will always worry. If you have a feeling inside that something is not right and you bring your child around other children their own age and you see a gap in the developmental area, please go through the process of getting your baby evaluated. Take your child to the doctor to get their hearing tested, genetic screening, MRIs, EEGs, and etc. because when it’s all said and done, when you look back, you would have rather done all that you could and be right, than to have done nothing and be wrong.

For a child, the ages 1 month to about 6 years old are very crucial. These years they absorb, mimic, and learn so much. When getting the diagnosis for your child, it’s important to start with speech therapy and/or occupational therapy as soon as possible so that in this period your child can retain as many skills as possible to be able to function and communicate as best as they can.

When you wait until they are 8 years old and they have not been through any testing, it will be a much more difficult journey than if you had been diligent in the first place. Learned behaviors are set in and almost irreversible.

Please, if you have concerns about your child’s development, intervene early. You are the mother. You have the responsibility, regardless of what others try to make you believe, to prove without a doubt that your child is fine and if they are not, to do all that you can for your baby. Don’t wait. Take your child to be evaluated and some places even do an evaluation free of charge or on a sliding scale based on income. Do what you have to do so that your child may have the best chance at life they can.

Programs available in Tarrant county:

MHMR of Tarrant County
ECI of North Central Texas
3880 Hulen Street, Ste 400
Fort Worth, TX 76107
Referral Number – (888) 754-0524
Fax Number – (817) 569-4492
Email: debbie.lisheron@mhmrtc.org
Web: www.mhmrtc.org

Child Study Center
1300 West Lancaster
Fort Worth, TX 76102

Phone: 817.336.8611      Fax: 817.390.2941