A diagnosis lands hard, even when you saw it coming. Your child is the same child they were last week. What has changed is that you now have a name for what you’ve been seeing, and a way to get help.
In the first month
- Ask the diagnosing clinician for the written report. You’ll need it for services and for school.
- Under three? Contact Illinois Early Intervention. Three or older? Ask your school district, in writing, for an evaluation.
- Get on waiting lists for speech and occupational therapy now. You can always decline a place later.
- Write down what you’re seeing: sleep, eating, what triggers hard moments and what calms them. Every professional you meet will ask.
How to judge any treatment
You are about to be offered a great many things. Ask the same questions of all of them, including us. What is the evidence, and how strong is it? What will it cost, in writing? How will progress be measured, and when do we stop if it isn’t working? Be wary of anyone who promises a cure or can’t answer those questions plainly.
Where brain-based care fits
Speech therapy, occupational therapy and developmental programs are the foundation. A qEEG brain map can add a picture of how your child’s brain is working, and for some families qEEG-guided TMS is a next step when those supports haven’t been enough. It is an off-label use of TMS, and we explain exactly what that means before anyone decides.
Look after the whole family
Siblings notice more than they say, and parents carry more than they admit. Find other parents who are a few years ahead of you. If the weight is getting heavy, our psychotherapy team works with adults, children and families.
One last thing
You don’t have to decide everything now. Choose the next step, take it, and look again in a month.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Talk with your own clinician about your child or yourself.