Some Quick Questions and Answers:

What were the behaviors that we initially noticed that drove us down this path? What made us ask questions, what made us start searching for those answers? What made us think there was something wrong with our child at such a young age. Don’t all toddlers have angry, frustrated, hysterical tears? For us, at night, if we covered our little one with a blanket he would wake up and scream bloody murder. If we tiptoed past his room, if he turned over, if the wind blew wrong, he would wake up and begin screaming, hysterical, no way to calm down, hot, sweating and the screaming could continue for hours at a time. It was the saddest time of our lives. If I had to answer what was most disturbing at that time, I would have to answer the sleep, or lack of it, those night terrors, the anger, and the inability to interact at times with anyone.

What Else made us Wonder?

Which milestones were missed first? Pointing. The first skill we noticed never appeared, it was pointing. Apparently this is a necessary developmental stage, who knew?

Adam and Mila’s blog says: “Baby Pointing: Such a crucial language development milestone. Don’t laugh, but your baby’s ability to point to what he or she wants is one clear sign of a highly evolved human being. So, when do babies start pointing? Babies learn to point between 12 and 18 months old. Baby Pointing is a key body language development milestone along with waving bye-bye and other gestures. Why is this ability important? How soon should you be alarmed if your baby isn’t pointing? Let’s dive in a little deeper to find out…”

Early Intervention

What early intervention help did we get? Initially, we lived in Arizona, and our pediatrician was on the ball. At 18 months with the missed developmental milestone of pointing and a high suspicion that our son was deaf, she started making referrals. One was for Arizona Early Intervention services. 

How long to keep doing something that isn’t working?

How long before we discontinue each treatment? Sometimes as quickly as 2 weeks (medication usually becomes problematic around day 14-21), and sometimes we hang in there and stay the course, 2 months, 3 months, whatever treatment length we signed up for.

Has Anything Worked?

What has been most effective? Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy by far was our very best, most noticeable intervention. Is that really an intervention? Anyway, my daughter lost her (Periodic Fever, Aphthous Stomatitis, Pharyngitis, Adenitis) or PFAPA diagnosis, my son was finally able to return to school and at least remain calm. Life wasn’t great after that but that operation was definitely life-changing. Next, the best intervention still has been Lyme Laser.