The Journey to mobility...Sensory Processing Disorder

I will start this post by saying 1. I wrote this in several sittings so it may seem choppy and 2. I am only speaking about the military or Tricare way of maneuvering through referrals and insurance claims. I am very unfamiliar with how other insurance companies work. So yes it seems one sided at times but I only know one side!

At Charlotte's 9 month check up her pediatrician referred her to the California Early Intervention program because she believed that she may have a gross motor delay. Disclaimer: she does have a gross motor delay but the reason was unknown to the ped. so she wanted a specialist to look at her. Once the referral was sent through I was told it could be several days even weeks before I heard anything. Several people in our community have tried to get referrals for one reason or another and had a very difficult time so I prepared myself that she may be over a year before the specialist saw her and therefore she would be even farther behind. I cried and prayed and started researching. Well, it all worked. I got a call from a physical therapist in the next town saying that she had been given our case but that their office no longer had a pediatric PT and that she though after looking at Lil C's record that a Peds PT was needed. She gave me the number to school about an hour away that could see Lil C but that I needed to call both the school and Tricare to make sure they were "compatible".
Again I dreaded the task ahead but it went so smoothly. What helped was that I by passed calling the recommended school and instead went on the Tricare website to see if a PT that a friend recommended was on their list. They were, so I called the PT, got an appointment and THEN called Tricare back to have the referral switched to this new office. Seriously it took maybe an hour and everyone was so helpful and nice. At this point I had no idea the road ahead and I am very glad that I was able to start on nice foot.

Her first appointment was March 5th and that was just an evaluation and to make sure we were going to work well with the PT. The appointment was great. ( I wish I had taken some pictures but I was so nervous it slipped my mind). Going into the office I had several outcomes playing in my mind...she's just too big for her height to move, there is something neurologically wrong, there is something in her hips, something in her legs/spine...etc. What the PT said had never occurred to me!

After some quick exercises she instantly mentioned sensory issues..WHAT? I never went that direction at all. Jennifer (the PT) said she wanted to see Charleigh twice a week. OK, not the most convenient for me with Clayton in pre-k and the drive is 40 miles each way and gas is $4.25 but we really need to act on this so putting all that aside and working out Clayton's pick up from school we agreed to twice weekly therapy.

She placed Charlotte on a gross motor level of a 3 month old and she was 2 days shy of 10 months old so that is quite a bit to catch up on but I am confident she is going to do it.

The Thursday after her appointment the PT called and said she had emailed me a symptom list that would help her put together a program. I checked what applied and emailed it back. The list was very similar to this. Jennifer called me back with a preliminary diagnosis...Sensory Processing Disorder.

Of course I started researching and I felt OK with the diagnosis it seemed like something we could handle and work with her at home as well as in therapy. Basically she has an adversity to different textures and sensations on her hands, feet and with food. I have always noticed her pulling her hands from people but assumed it was her eczema. I never thought she might not bear weight because the feeling on her feet overwhelmed her sensory receptors. There are so many things that Charlotte has always done that are linked back to this disorder. Examples: sleeping in one position, HATES being on her tummy, doesn't reach for anyone other than me (she will go to other's but not reach for them), doesn't seem to "bond" well, doesn't do well in large crowded situations.This will be a weird possibly long and difficult road but knowing that there is something we can do to help her is nice.

She starts therapy on March 12 (which is actually the day this will publish). I'm excited to get started.

Happy Birthday Dr Suess!

I absolutely love Dr Seuss. His collection of books is one of those collections that I read as a child and loved and re-read as an adult and found such a deeper meaning and s real lesson. The Dr's birthday is March 2 and Clayton never misses an opportunity to celebrate a birthday so we did just that at home and at school!

 

Thanks Pinterst for this great list of Dr Seuss quotes!

The picture is a little blurry but Clayton's head is the Cat in the Hat. He LOVES this shirt!!

The snack for the day...it is supposed to be the hat the Cat in the Hat wears.