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Babies born drug addicted
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<blockquote data-quote="BusynMember" data-source="post: 311402" data-attributes="member: 1550"><p>I adopted a two year old (now sixteen) who had been exposed to everything in utero. I learned quite a bit about these kids because I had no choice. Pediatricians know very little about drug exposed kids. Been there/done that.</p><p></p><p>1/If they were exposed to meth, they were also exposed to alcohol. Make sure they are tested by people who understand the very special needs our kids can have...they could be on the fetal alcohol spectrum. If the birthmothers (both of ours) didn't say no to meth and crack, they sure didn't say no to alcohol and alcohol can cause brain damage. Not pleasant, but it's best to take the boys to a clinic (most of them are in big cities and universities) who can pinpoint what affects the drugs and alcohol have had on the boys.</p><p></p><p>2/Drug affected/alcohol affected children have a much higher rate of autistic spectrum disorder/Learning Disability (LD) problems/hyperactivity/seizures/behavioral problems that are caused by neurological damage and mental illness (since parents who are drug abusers usually are also mentally ill). We don't know much about our son's birthmother, but we assume she had mental health issues that contributed to her drug abuse, although she was also VERY poor...and hopelessness isn't a mental illness <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite3" alt=":(" title="Frown :(" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":(" />. He was her fifth drug affected child.</p><p></p><p>3/These kids should be seen by specialists. Don't trust the boys to a regular doctor who has had no extra training in the neurological/psychiatric problems that go along with drug exposure/alcohol exposure. I would see a neuropsychologist and, like I said earlier, take them both to a clinic for evaluation by doctors used to evaluating children for fetal alcohol affects. I know there's a good one in Chicago. We went there. I assume they have them all over.</p><p></p><p>4/Expect to have trouble with diagnosing and expect the boys to perhaps surprise you with strange symptoms. There is no ONE thing caused by drug/alcohol exposure. Rather, the kids themselves tend to have a variety of problems, some worse than others, and you sort of have to keep evaluating them and see as they go. Many of the kids are emotionally liable.</p><p></p><p>We were kind of "lucky." Our son was delayed, but his only problem is autistic spectrum disorder and he's doing pretty well. He is n Occupational Therapist (OT) the same as a child who was not exposed to drugs/alcohol, but he is actually much, much better than most, and we feel very blessed to have him. He is a great kid, smart, and sweet. He is mainstreamed this year and is getting ready to drive. It didn't come easy. He had interventions since before he came into our house and we continued to make sure he got yearly evaluations to see his progress and interventions. He will always be a little different, but he's doing really, really well. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite8" alt=":D" title="Big Grin :D" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":D" /></p><p></p><p>Yours can too. In all, my son saw a few neurologists, three NeuroPsychs (the last one being the best one), psychiatrists, therapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, social skills coaches and had special education so that he didn't have to learn in a big classroom, which didn't work as well for him as a small one.</p><p></p><p>It all paid off and we didn't pay a dime. Most came from school.</p><p></p><p>One last thing: L. was misdiagnosed with a slew of diagnoses until they found the right one. This too is common with our difficult-to-figure-out drug exposed babies. We have to keep on truckin', so to speak.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="BusynMember, post: 311402, member: 1550"] I adopted a two year old (now sixteen) who had been exposed to everything in utero. I learned quite a bit about these kids because I had no choice. Pediatricians know very little about drug exposed kids. Been there/done that. 1/If they were exposed to meth, they were also exposed to alcohol. Make sure they are tested by people who understand the very special needs our kids can have...they could be on the fetal alcohol spectrum. If the birthmothers (both of ours) didn't say no to meth and crack, they sure didn't say no to alcohol and alcohol can cause brain damage. Not pleasant, but it's best to take the boys to a clinic (most of them are in big cities and universities) who can pinpoint what affects the drugs and alcohol have had on the boys. 2/Drug affected/alcohol affected children have a much higher rate of autistic spectrum disorder/Learning Disability (LD) problems/hyperactivity/seizures/behavioral problems that are caused by neurological damage and mental illness (since parents who are drug abusers usually are also mentally ill). We don't know much about our son's birthmother, but we assume she had mental health issues that contributed to her drug abuse, although she was also VERY poor...and hopelessness isn't a mental illness :frowny:. He was her fifth drug affected child. 3/These kids should be seen by specialists. Don't trust the boys to a regular doctor who has had no extra training in the neurological/psychiatric problems that go along with drug exposure/alcohol exposure. I would see a neuropsychologist and, like I said earlier, take them both to a clinic for evaluation by doctors used to evaluating children for fetal alcohol affects. I know there's a good one in Chicago. We went there. I assume they have them all over. 4/Expect to have trouble with diagnosing and expect the boys to perhaps surprise you with strange symptoms. There is no ONE thing caused by drug/alcohol exposure. Rather, the kids themselves tend to have a variety of problems, some worse than others, and you sort of have to keep evaluating them and see as they go. Many of the kids are emotionally liable. We were kind of "lucky." Our son was delayed, but his only problem is autistic spectrum disorder and he's doing pretty well. He is n Occupational Therapist (OT) the same as a child who was not exposed to drugs/alcohol, but he is actually much, much better than most, and we feel very blessed to have him. He is a great kid, smart, and sweet. He is mainstreamed this year and is getting ready to drive. It didn't come easy. He had interventions since before he came into our house and we continued to make sure he got yearly evaluations to see his progress and interventions. He will always be a little different, but he's doing really, really well. :happy: Yours can too. In all, my son saw a few neurologists, three NeuroPsychs (the last one being the best one), psychiatrists, therapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, social skills coaches and had special education so that he didn't have to learn in a big classroom, which didn't work as well for him as a small one. It all paid off and we didn't pay a dime. Most came from school. One last thing: L. was misdiagnosed with a slew of diagnoses until they found the right one. This too is common with our difficult-to-figure-out drug exposed babies. We have to keep on truckin', so to speak. [/QUOTE]
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