T.T. asks from Keller, TX on December 04, 2008
My 2 1/2 Year Old Was Just Diagnosed with PDD/NOS and Static Encephalopathy
After a year and a half of searching for a reason why my daughter has delays, motor ticks and sensory dysfunction we have finaly have our diagnosis.
My DD has been in Therapy since she was 2 months old for a wide range of issues. She looks like a normal little girl just has some differences in how she reacts to sounds, people and new suroundings.
I have focused so much on her Speech Therapy, Physical Thearapy, Occupational Therapy, Neurologist apts and so on...so much so that it has cost me my marriage. My husband has felt neglected and had an affair and I dont know where we stand now.
All this time everyone has been looking at me oddly and telling me that is all in my head. To find out that all that I have done even at the cost of my marraige has been worth it! That I am not an over reactive mom who is parinoid over every little thing.
As glad i am to finaly have a diagnosis...the diagnosis is heart breaking. In my heart I wanted to tell me that my baby is a normal little girl and that I am just over reacting. But in my heart I knew something was not normal with my child and fought for her therapy and paid even when ins didnt pay.
Finding out that my child has autism is hard but to find out that she has Static Encephalopathy is heart breaking. To find out that she has brain damage and that her brain doesnt function the way it should. That she will always have learning delays and difficulities. Her father has a 147 IQ and I have a 135 IQ...we are gifted in science and had such high hopes for her.
What does this mean for her future? Does any one have a child with Static Encephalopathy? How do you cope with a child with special needs and how has it affected your marriage?
I love my baby girl and to us she is perfect! We know that she can become a high functioning adult and that things might be hard but it could always be worse. We will not stereo type her and treat her any different than any other child.
I would just like some advice from other moms out there on how they deal with this.
More Answers
S.S. answers from Dallas on July 01, 2009
an amazing doctor who has been helping thousands of autistic kiddos is dr. amy yasko (http://www.dramyyasko.com). my son has been on her protocol for 3 years and is hugely improved. dr. amy has an online forum that is AMAZING and a huge help for so many on a daily basis (http://www.ch3nutrigenomics.com). two local drs who see autistic kids and who also know dr. amy's protocol are dr. pierre robert in grapevine and dr. charles hamel in arlington.
i have a blog in the process of being built that may have info u could use- http://www.showmetherecovery.wordpress.com. also go to http://www.generationrescue.com. call your school district's office and have your child evaluated for special needs assistance because there's a program in every public schl district for developmentally delayed kids to get them up to speed- and it's your tax dollars at work, so no crazy private therapy expense! :)
B.S. answers from Dallas on December 09, 2008
Trish, honey, we've got your back. You got a lot of good advice here and I hope it helps. I would suggest you also check out the Autism Support Group in your area. You can meet directly with people going through similar challenges.
My daughter also has a form of autism, while not as pervasive as yours, it was years before we knew what was going on, and her dad thought I was making it all up.
We ended up divorcing, and in retrospect I was not aggressive enough in my demands for the amount of child support and spousal support. I had no idea the amount of time I would need to meet my daughter's needs, and how much it would affect my work and career (I finally ended up quitting). Don't be afraid to ask for what you need, whether in marriage, or divorce so that you can be there for your daughter.
If you need a friend, email me. I'd be glad to listen. My heart goes out to you.
Hugs. B.
S.S. answers from Dallas on December 05, 2008
Trish, I cannot imagine what you are going through, and I cannot offer you any advise about your daughter. But I can tell you that I will be praying for you and your family and I do know that there IS a reason for everything.
I will say that growing up in a loving home is one of the greatest gifts you can give to any child. I know you and your husband both love her, but you need to love eachother for her to truely feel secure. I don't know how you can come back from an affair, but I know that there are people who do it. Try hard and see where it goes.
S.S. answers from Wichita Falls on December 05, 2008
I'd sit and talk to my husband were I you. If your marriage is salvageable, I would salvage it. If it's not, get the best attorney you can find - because you're going to need them to go after child support, medical support, and spousal support in order for you to continue staying home with your child.
Sometimes our guys are used to being our kids too, and they screw up when they're not anywhere close to the center of our world - especially if they don't understand why. My youngest son had some of the same problems, and I spent the first two years trying to figure out what was wrong with him - ASD was finally the label put on it, and he grew out of most of the rest. My husband screwed up too, but he is genuinely remorseful and - especially now that he knows what is wrong - is very actively involved with addressing the problems.
*hugs* and many prayers for you and your little family -
S.
M.S. answers from Dallas on December 04, 2008
This is the true story of the family of one of my former colleagues. They had a severely disabled child (not the same disorder--their child's disorder was degenerative and more severe) and the mother (an English prof & author) wrote about the challenges of caring for their son and the toll it took on them. Maybe a little depressing at your point, but I really enjoyed the book and got a lot out of it. http://www.amazon.com/Before-After-Zachariah-Different-Co...
T.O. answers from Dallas on December 04, 2008
I don't know about Static Encephalopathy, but I do know about autism because my son has it and autism is very treatable. Early intervention is key to helping your daughter get the most out of life.
Easter Seals has a great program and maybe they know about Static Encephalopathy too. Here's there web address:
http://ntx.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=TXNW_...
Also, check out ECI in Carrolton... they should have services you can use too... I'm not sure at what age, but I know even pre-schoolers get help from ECI.
It's hard on marriage to have any issues outside the norm, but I'm blessed that my husband and I have a great relationship.
M.R. answers from Dallas on December 05, 2008
I am so sorry for what you are going through with your daughter and husband. I also feel if he is not man enough to step up to the plate to his own daughter and you and your daughter don't need him. I am not sure about Static Encephalopathy but I just read about it on this website and you can also contact Easter Seals as well. I wasnt to tell you I know how challenging it is to have a child w/Autism. My son was diagnosed in Feb 2008 w/Autism Spectrum Disorder and he also has Sensory Issues, Speech delays, motor skills delays, some behavorial issues as well. It is Very hard to deal with it as a Single mother but God doesn't give us anything we can not handle and you must be pretty special to have a child w/special needs. I feel that you were the chosen one to have a child w/special needs because God flet that you were the one that can handle it and you are special.
I try to treat him the same as others but you have to remember that your child is not the same because of his challenges so you have to have A LOT OF PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING and don't deny it to anyone that your child has some problems. I hope this helps.
God Bless
M.
http://www.come-over.to/fasstar/static.htm
S. answers from Dallas on December 04, 2008
I am so sorry to hear about your daughter and your husband. Google "Special Care & Career Services," which is a charitable org set up to help families with special needs; they are really nice people and they can probably put you together with some support groups. SCCS can provide assistance to your child, also. SCCS helps children with special needs before they are old enough to attend public school.
Take care and know that God will never give you more than you can handle. He will give you the strength you need. If your husband could not step up to the plate to help with your daughter in this time of need, then I'm sorry to say you may be better off without him.
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