Nothing more frustrating than an MD who says "Don't worry about it"

[bright sparks]

I do a Nipissing screening and an Ages and Stages screening at all developmental levels. I give it to the parents with a specific list of strengths and goals. If there are "red flags" I also write a letter outlining those items and suggest pedeatrician referral and I refer to a community agency who does drop-in screenings with resouce consultants/speech/OT etc. I have run into the same problem. I have several who I'm 99% sure are along the ASD lines, and the doctors say they're fine, but they miserably failed the Ages and Stages checklist. I have a child here who is 4, and is very similar-doesn't understand directions, can't use toilet, can't dress/undress anything, no role play, no verbal with peers etc. The child is headed off to school in the fall, and I hoped he would be identified before then to have supports in place, but doctor says he's fine, so parents won't go see community agency, who I know would pick up on all of this. I would do an ages and stages evaluation, as it is so much more thorough, and refer to a community agency(check your early years centre listings as they often will have clinics or can tell you who to refer to in your area)

I do the Nipissing screening tests also with all my kiddos, usually in line with when they go for developmental checks as a way of communicating observations made at daycare to pass on to the doctor. He had only been here 3 weeks when I spoke to Nana and I didn't think it would be the best tool during a child's transition as the milestones may not have been observed honestly in a child who was finding their feet. Like I said in an earlier post, I don't feel like I can push this subject any further just yet. I'm going to document everything ongoing and do the assessments regularly including working on age appropriate skills. In a couple of months I will pass the info on to Nana, but in writing this time including the checklist.

I imagine being in her shoes and at a new daycare setting. The provider continuously tells me in one way or another that there is "something wrong" with my child (which is exactly as it will be received regardless of how I word it), and all while the child has only been in the setting for 4-6 weeks. Nana goes to seek a professionals opinion and is told not to worry but the daycare provider continues to question the dr. That would piss me off as a parent. While I have a great relationship with Nana already, to much to soon could have negative side effects and could actually push her away making her less cooperative. She wasn't defensive and spoke quite frankly last week with me about whether the doctor will find any delays warranting a referral to a Paediatrician. She certainly didn't have the typical denial attitude of "Not my kid" which so many naturally have. I think a little time in between bringing this up again, to observe more and work on things is my best move moving forward. Maybe revisit this with her in May.