Baby with low muscle tone, anyone else?

[MareQ]

Early Intervention used to be free of charge (paid for by your taxes) all over. Some states do now charge a sliding fee, based on income of the parents. (Not getting into politics, but this is a 'soclal program' and some people feel the government should not fund any social programs).
).

Yup - when we were in the Early Interventyion Program (2001) in NJ it was completely free. I don't recall them even asking for insurance information but I codul be wrong.

Also for the OP - my oldest has low muscle tone -He's been receiving PT and OT since 2001

 

[llij]

Sue, thanks for the info. At yesterday's visit, the coordinator said I needed to remember this program was only til age 3, and if we still needed help then, they would let me know who to contact.

One thing that's weird that I occasionally forget is I have to be careful when I put Zoe in her crib, or lay her down to change her. You know how a regular baby will lean a little forward (provide resistance against your laying them down)? Zoe doesn't do that. As she gets bigger, I have to remember to keep a hand running down the length of her back or she'll just go flat on me, and sometimes whack her head.

Kirsten, your post reminded me of when my dd had finally learned to walk but she had no strength in her arms and a major sensory issue with her hands. If she tumbled while walking as many toddlers do, the natural inclination is for us to put our arms out to break the fall. Well sadly if she fell, her arms would give out on her and she would go flat on her face.

Good luck to you with EI or with Children's Hospital. I'm sure both are wonderful and will give you lots of support with your dd.

 

[summerrluvv]

My son has low muscle tone and has been receiving OT and PT since he was 2. We went through EI which was great (and free)!! After age 3, services are provided through the school district, so hopefully you won't have to pay for that.

 

[minkydog]

Sue, thanks for the info. At yesterday's visit, the coordinator said I needed to remember this program was only til age 3, and if we still needed help then, they would let me know who to contact.

One thing that's weird that I occasionally forget is I have to be careful when I put Zoe in her crib, or lay her down to change her. You know how a regular baby will lean a little forward (provide resistance against your laying them down)? Zoe doesn't do that. As she gets bigger, I have to remember to keep a hand running down the length of her back or she'll just go flat on me, and sometimes whack her head.

At age 3 the responsibility for providing PT/OT/Speech therapy falls to the school district. If there is any suspicion of delay, they will test her for free. If she has more than 25% delay(I think) then she will qualify for special needs preschool, which will provide therapy as well as a normal preschool environment. Don't feel bad if she needs the Sp. Ed preschool--it helps a lot of kids get on track before 1st grade so they can be mainstreamed with the rest of the student population.

 

[KirstenB]

Minky Dog, I used to sub teach before Zoe was born. I subbed in the special needs preschool class several times. They had a really hard time finding subs for special ed in the preschool as well as the elementary school. So I always said yes when they called. Our county is VERY small and rural, so there weren't many kids in the program. I remember being exhausted at the end of the day. A couple of the boys were "runners" and you had to run after them, whew!

Anyway, I thought it was a well-run program. Because it was so small, the kids tended not to have the same special needs. However, there were so many activities, physical and mental to stimulate the kids. The teachers worked really hard preparing such a variety of activities, they were awesome!

Jill, I remember we were pregnant at the same time on the Moms to be thread. The thread takes my computer so long to pull up, that I stopped visiting it. Your poor daughter. She finally learned how to walk, then to deal with her arms falling out, poor baby!! I'm so glad and heartened to hear both your dd's are so good at sports. This was one of my concerns, that Zoe wouldn't be able to play any team sports.

Thanks to everyone!

 

[minkydog]

Minky Dog, I used to sub teach before Zoe was born. I subbed in the special needs preschool class several times. They had a really hard time finding subs for special ed in the preschool as well as the elementary school. So I always said yes when they called. Our county is VERY small and rural, so there weren't many kids in the program. I remember being exhausted at the end of the day. A couple of the boys were "runners" and you had to run after them, whew!

Anyway, I thought it was a well-run program. Because it was so small, the kids tended not to have the same special needs. However, there were so many activities, physical and mental to stimulate the kids. The teachers worked really hard preparing such a variety of activities, they were awesome!

Jill, I remember we were pregnant at the same time on the Moms to be thread. The thread takes my computer so long to pull up, that I stopped visiting it. Your poor daughter. She finally learned how to walk, then to deal with her arms falling out, poor baby!! I'm so glad and heartened to hear both your dd's are so good at sports. This was one of my concerns, that Zoe wouldn't be able to play any team sports.

Thanks to everyone!

So you already know how great the Special Needs preschool is. My son was functionally at the very bottom of the class. Everyone else could do everything and he was still in diapers & drinking from a bottle! Forget walking, he could barely sit up. As a result of all their hard work, Christian learned to walk(and fall correctly!) He is 11yo now and is 100%bowel-trained, about 90%bladder-trained. He swims, sings,rides a special bike, bowls, goes down the slide, rides horses, and runs everywhere. He has played on a Challenger Baseball team and Top Soccer, which he loves. It took Christian a long time to figure out what to do with his hands when he falls, consequently, he has had a couple concussions, 5 stitches, and numerous knee and elbow scrapes. Just like all the other boys

 

[KirstenB]

Minky Dog, I love hearing all the things Christian can do. Sounds like he's had great teachers and parents pushing him!

A little OT, but when I was a teenager, I volunteered at a summer camp for kids with CP, spina bifida, and MD, as well as other conditions. The activities were so wide-ranging and so accomodating to a variety of abilities. It was very humbling to ponder how smart the folks were who thought up the activities. My camper had MD (the worst kind, he passed away when he was 17). He was already weak when I met him, so his activities included the pool, blowing bubbles, and being in a circle and kicking or pushing a giant "squishy" ball with other kids of similar ability.

Anyway, I think special-ed teachers are some of the smartest and most flexible folks I've ever met.

 

[llij]

Jill, I remember we were pregnant at the same time on the Moms to be thread. The thread takes my computer so long to pull up, that I stopped visiting it. Your poor daughter. She finally learned how to walk, then to deal with her arms falling out, poor baby!! I'm so glad and heartened to hear both your dd's are so good at sports. This was one of my concerns, that Zoe wouldn't be able to play any team sports.

Thanks to everyone!

Kirsten,

I remember you as well from the moms to be thread! When my oldest dd was counseled out of the EI program her PT recommended that we put her in a sport like basketball or soccer to help continue to build her strength. Both the girls ended up loving soccer and dance so it worked out great for them. I had mentioned in an earlier post that my oldest plays All Star soccer. While she isn't the fastest player by any stretch, she makes up for it in her quick thinking and her foot skills. She's adapted with her hypotonia and it has worked out great for her.

Good luck with Zoe and I'm sure she will one day do great in whatever she wants to do.