Hi Deborah,

              Have you had a cat scan done. The cat scan showed us what part
of Amber's brain is effected - or in her case completely missing. It was the
portion that links her to her right side for motor purposes and the part
that allows her to use language to express herself. It was scarey seeing a
big hole where there should be brain - but gave us some idea of what to look
forward to. Amber always lagged in motor skills up to 12 months at one
point. She tested out ahead cognitively but had no real speech - in fact we
started teaching her signing around 2 - she understood what we said but
could not reply back. This ended up having two reasons - 1 the obvious - the
missing brain part and 2 she was spending so much of her energy making her
body function that there wasn't enough left over to put toward speech. She
did eventually take up speaking at about 4 to 4.5. And it was well in 4th
grade before she would quit fumbling for words. It is my understanding their
brains are elastic and cells can take up missing cell functions. I think
people tend forget exactly how complex it is to make a body function and
that children are just learning this - even NDA ones and expect to much.
With our kids when simple control is a challenge - things progress at an
even slower rate. I have always found putting oneself in the others place a
great place to start with understanding. I equated Amber with an alien new
to the planet and I was acclimatizing her. In other words all the skills and
knowledge I have - she had none of. Many adults treat children from the
aspect of their 40, 30 or whatever years of experience. If you simple
imagine yourself - suddenly plopped down on a planet with a much higher
gravity - so you had to learn how to move, you don't speak a word of the
language and everthing is alien and there are beings - in you face making
noise expecting you to understand, and you don''t know rule one. Welcome to
being a baby. Once I was able to actaully place myself in Amber shoes, and
think about what was happening and the counter effects - I understood what
was going on and why she was lagging, and quit worring. This doesn't mean
you child is like Amber - I am only illustrating one example of a
possibilty.

                                   Brightest Blessings
                                         Trisha

> But Bobby, that is what he is missing.  His gross and fine motor skills
are
> lagging, but are only behind about maybe six months.  It is his speech
> skills, oral motor functions, and use and understanding of language is
what
> is significantly delayed.
> And his neuro said "If I put him up her on the table and checked his
> reflexs, I can tell you right now that they are still very ridged,"
> Deborah mom of 4
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bobby Greer <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Monday, February 28, 2000 8:00 PM
> Subject: Re: Questions went to Neuro
>
>
> >Debra
> >
> >        As far as a sppecific type od CP dx, it might be difficult with a
> >child Zachary's age. Most persons with CP actually have mixed types.
There
> >is rarely a "pure" athetoid, or "pure" spastic. A good neuro will
asceratin
> >the types by the pathological reflexes which are stil function. Most
phase
> >out between 6 and 12 months of age. Some people believe you can "type" CP
> >by outward appearance, but, to me, that's quite naive.
> >
> >        As for intellectual development, "chill" for a while. What really
> >counts is language development. Again, most people think intellectual and
> >language development go hand in hand, but not always. Good language and
> >communication skills are "everything" as far as goals.
> >
> >Bobby
> >
> >
> >>Sorry for cross posting.
> >>
> >>Zachary went to the neuro today for his recheck.  He said he seems to be
> >>doing fine, "Has all the basic skills down, anyway, the walking,
fussing,
> >>throwing."
> >>Then I began the questions.
> >>First I asked him can there be any classification that we could put
> >>Zachary under ?  He said not really since they do not know what caused
> >>Zachary's conditions.  I told him the reason was because the OT told me
> >>last week, "If we have documentation of CP things would be different"
He
> >>said " I can give him a dx of CP easy, all CP is ,is an umbrella term
for
> >>children who have a muscle coordination, and muscle tone problem caused
by
> >>a brain injury or abnormality that is not progressive, and that Zachary
> >>is."  Should I call him and tell him to go ahead and give the "official"
> >>dx of CP or not ?
> >>He also could not tell me weather or not Zachary is going to be MR or
not,
> >>still too early to tell, but he said the toe walking and the severe
delay
> >>in speech and oral motor skills is a sure sign of learning disability.
> >>So there goes our six month visit.
> >>Deborah mom of 4
> >
>
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