Twins with developmental delays

Alicia - posted on 07/05/2011

My twins are 3 years old and was diagnose as DD.. I struggled several months with the decision with the screening, but eventually accepted it..My boys are very active, loving, caring, fun, curious,etc. They fight and compit alot, some days are just too much. The beginning of the new school year their are going to start the Early Intervention Pro..I'm excited, because I got alot of positive feedback about the programe..I will continue coloring, reading, playing, and all the other things we do to help them with their development.. God is on our side and he makes everything PERFECT..Your kids are going to be just fine, have faith..

Shannon - posted on 03/29/2011

i have twins a boy and a girl they are 10 along with a 16 years old and a 24 and 22. jaimes was always on the mark but noah was born with his tend in his foot 2 short. his speach at 2 we had them come in and we had to translate for them! he went to a specail pre school hes always been about 6 months behind he is now in bocess couse regular school was to hard he was not socaily ready at 10 we just got pottying down he has ocd angzity anger issues and bipolor like his dad, and learning issues. my 16 year old has an iep but shes better socialy she just needs smaller classes. noah needs routen and structer at all times .its hard he knows his sister is as he calls normal. it is hard getting the schools to give you what you need expecally if its emtional, my 22 year old was a cutter they did not help at all because she was to smart. she grauated with an iep my step son did to abby is going for both. you have to conntact your local bocces office. now that we moved i see most school will work with you and if your child has a problem let you know so now we are really getting the help. noahs not on meds i dont trust hes 2 young . we tryed when noah was 2 to get him disablity on our owen that failed big time. there are agency that help people they work with the school and if you get him in to consiling they help to but sometimes ssi wants your kids on meds wich im against. my dr. is great, noah school is just for special needs kids. abby is in high school she is in bocess but they do main stream here wich is great and she can graduat with both an iep and a diploma. its hard that they amke you fight so hard for stuff to help your kids. good luck if you want to ask me anything just post
shannon

Tami - posted on 08/06/2010

I just wanted to encourage you to join a mother of multiples club if you haven't already. They are a rich with information and support. Also reach out to any Early Childhood Intervention organizations in your state.

Danielle - posted on 08/06/2010

beth, did you see the dev pediatrician yet? how did it go?

Barbara - posted on 08/06/2010

Beth,
Kudos to you for getting your twins in I&T services & going to a developmental ped!
Is there a local moms of multiples group near you? I am in MD, not too far from you, & belong to Columbia Area Moms of Multiples (CAMOM). It has been a great way to meet other moms of multiples. :)
Did I&T give u a reason why your sons aren't getting speech services yet? As a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), I know how impt early intervention is! Ask why u are not getting SLP services & I wouldn't accept an "it's not needed" or "the special educator does the same thing" answer. No to both.
There are many areas that an excellent SLP can work on: the stability, control, coordination, & dissociation of their jaw, lips, & tongue as a precursor to speech, teaching signs to communicate, & comprehension /expression of language skills. Signing Times has great videos & www.signingsavvy.com is a great reference to look up signs. Signs do NOT delay speech but act as a bridge to speech & decrease frustration. We teach sign classes at my clinic. Contact me via email if u have other questions.
Barbara Taylor, SLP
www.helpmespeak.com

Ann - posted on 08/03/2010

My twins have been in Early Intervention since they came home form the Hospital. They were preemies and are 2 now. They are doing well in the moment but are still considered at risk of delays. Although they are not 100% 'caught' up they have surpassed their brother in some areas (he is 3 with autism) While the kids are doing well, I go on such emotional trips. One special needs kid is a lot of work. Twins are a lot of work. Multiple kids with special needs is lonely for me, Hard to keep up, I hear the pain of the worries and try to focus just on the moment of each child. It is hard but Its what I need to do. They will develop in their own time and space.

Rachel - posted on 08/02/2010

My twin boys are 4 and are in PPCD which is a pre-school class for children that are over the age of 3 who have delays. They started out with ECI (Early Childhood Intervention) when they were about 18 months and then when they turned 3 they qualified for PPCD. They are going to be in that class this year as well. I know that it is frustrating to see that your kids are behind, but since my boys have been going to this school, they have made lots of improvements. This year they are going to be working with a OT/PT for other delays that we have found over the past year. Keep working with them. It will get better.

Danielle - posted on 07/28/2010

hi beth and everyone, my twin boys just turned 2, one has delays in all areas and received EI in speech, physical, developmental and OT as well as outpatient OT at a sensory gym, my 2nd twin has no delays. i too find it so hard and frustrating. we have been so blessed with great EI services and are seeing a developmental ped now, but no one talked to me about how hard having twins would be physcially on me as well as mentally and emotionally. all the moms of twins i know, and that is only 3, seem to have such an easy time of it, i feel crazy for feeling so frazzled. i think anytime you have a child, one or more, in therapy multiple times a week and you worry and fear for your childs future, it wears on you. i know it has worn on me. i have been with my kids 100% of the tiime since they were born at 32 weeks. i LOVe them with all my heart and they are the most important thing i will ever do in my life so that is why i am giving more than 100% of myself now since i know this is the most important growth time for them, but it takes so much out of me, i sometimes think i have nothing else to give. i support all of you dealing with delays, it is hard and people just don't realize how frustrating it can be.

Danielle - posted on 07/28/2010

I'm sorry about your frustration. It must be hard watching your lill ones develop and you really not being able to teach them like you want. I have 9 mo old twins who seem to be developing normally, except my older one rotates her feet and her hands at the same time. Not hand flapping like autism but just rotating, and their dr doesnt know how to address it.

Betty - posted on 07/15/2010

im not having this with my twins but my 5 year old i just went to his regular ped and asked for the referrals and she sent them right through and if you have too go and apply for ssi for them and that is med and a monthly check in case u have other expenses i found out from the preschool that he has a delay in every aspect except self help and all other he at a 3 year old level and going into kindergarten im very scared for him but with the referrals we got speech, behavioral therapy and he has an appt in dec with the developmental ped also contact the ddd (department of developmental delays) and ask if there is an thing else they might be able to help with of course its all a waiting game but the sooner you start the game the sooner it gets done the ddd will need the diagnosis before they can do too much but its an option

Tiffany - posted on 07/15/2010

hand up!! My boys are currently receiving speech...although I think they would qualify for ot. I am fine with the delays...I am just so nervous about autism. It's the new big "worry" and It's got me too. Delays in twins are common though!

Iridescent - posted on 07/15/2010

All of our children (5) have had developmental delays. This includes our twins. Right now our girl twin is considered graduated from an IFSP, but she's delayed in most areas to a 2 year level (she's 3), attention to a 6 month old's level, and socially right on for her age. Our boy twin is delayed in all areas to a 14 month age level and now it's apparent he's also autistic. He also has hypotonia and is missing an immune factor (IgA), which causes a lot of other problems.

It is frustrating. Getting services is the first step, as you're doing, but getting an actual diagnosis as to the cause or a doctor willing to investigate it is difficult to say the least. We set up the appropriate appointments only to have the doctor fail us! We have been trying to get the right care for each of them for 2 years, and just now we are finally getting the referrals we requested. Don't wait on a referral if you don't have to, just set up the appointments yourself. Sometimes you have to. It's what we finally did. Developmental Pediatricians can go either way - if you're not satisfied with the testing and such, or they refuse to investigate the cause if you feel it's appropriate, set up an appointment with a Pediatric Neurologist or Neuropsych. They are amazing, do the correct tests, and you'd be impressed with what they can determine even as young as 18 months accurately.