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This is a very good article. It is a summary of how I currently feel. It's all normal but it's really hard.
- Abah
1 comment:
Good day sir,
I came across this blog while searching for Dr Raja Juanita on Google. Thank you for sharing your experience and resources. These are very helpful and informative indeed.
My eldest son, aged 2 now, is the reason why I was searching for a developmental pediatrician. In the absence of a professional diagnosis while awaiting the appointment date given to see Dr Raja, I can merely speculate but not confirm.
Born very prematurely at just 29 weeks (BW: 1.16 kg), he was in the NICU and subsequently special nursery for a total of 53 days at a Government hospital in the Klang Valley. Was discharged once he attained 1.78 kg. He is generally fine with no issues related to prematurity. Milestones-wise, he is apparently on par when taking into account his corrected age i.e. taking as if he's born on his due date as opposed to actual date.
Everything seemed smooth-going until we realised that he's lagging behind speech-wise. Although he understands us quite well, he has yet to say "baba" or "mama", or what supposed to be the first words of babies. i.e. no meaning word at 18 months. It persists until now when he's already 28 months (corrected age: 24 months).
The doctor at the pediatric clinic where we go for our quarterly follow-ups is referring this case for speech therapy.
Instinctively, I have a feeling that the issue is way beyond speech delay per se. This is because apart from his lack of speech, I saw a few other traits in him that warrants enough concern. No wonder he's like this, no wonder he's like that. While possessing normal social skills and sufficient eye contact (he is sociable and likes playing with kids around his age), he sometimes has an oddness. Among them: taking an adult's hand to point to something he wants instead of pointing it by himself, enjoys spinning objects and likes to spin plates, hypersensitive to activities like hair cut and appears phobic of doctors (he would scream and cry on top of his voice whenever he's subject to a gentle hair cut, makan ubat, or a visit to any doctor), he responds to his name being called but not all the time, sometimes laughs for no reason (e.g. while eating or simply lying down), hates unfamiliar surrounding (there's once we brought him and his younger baby brother to a friend's home recently during Aidilfitri open house - which was not crowded, but he ended up very upset, refused to sit and cried for 2 hours until we left to go home). I have a very strong feeling that such intense reaction is not normal.... And potty-training seems as if it's "child abuse" for anyone outside the house due to the loud screaming.
My apologies for the long rant, but such are the accumulated little things that stresses me up as a new parent. The main thing amongst my wish list is that I would like my eldest son to be able to get the proper therapy(ies) in time for him to be able to blend in with other children once he reaches school age. Or if that's impossible, to at least be able to attend a school that is proper for whatever condition he's going to be diagnosed with.
I have a feeling too, that the condition he's facing now has a lot to do with being born very prematurely, as opposed to genetic or environment factors. I remember the doctor remarked "immature brain noted" during his first ultrasound scan of the brain on Day 2 of life. And I have also read about the higher risk of autism among premature babies. Anyway I should leave these to be commented further by a professional.
Lastly, thank you once more for creating this blog, and my best wishes to you and your family.
P.F.Y.
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