So I've posted here before, but it's been awhile..... still waiting on a DX, and here's why:

My 2.5 year old is developmentally delayed. She (and I, and everyone else in the family) was on Medicaid before Matt joined the Navy, and we had a HORRIBLE family doctor. From the time she was 13 months old and not walking, I was asking for her to be tested. He basically blew me off month after month, and I was told by the insurance company that I couldn't change doctors until the next renewal period (which each time was between 6-8 months away). So I just dealt with it and kept asking for referrals. I finally get one for her to have a hearing test, and there is no doctor on my insurance who does hearing tests for kids under 4. The last month we saw him, he gave her a referral to Neumors Children's Clinic, but it was impossible to get an appointment before our insurance expired (and we were enrolled in Tricare). The last time we saw him, he told me that she was just "stubborn" and would talk "when she was ready". Oh, yeah, I was pissed, especially since I had been asking since she was just over a year why she wasn't talking, walking, etc. By the way, she did start walking at 20 months, and walks perfectly now, so no problem... she was just delayed on that, but it hasn't affected her mobility at all.

Fast forward to now. We're back at my family doctor, who actually was my doctor from the time I was 9 until I was 22. I was THRILLED when I found out he was in the Tricare Prime Remote network (we live 130 miles from the closest base at the moment). So they evaluated her two weeks ago, and yesterday we went to a speech therapist. By the way, it was WONDERFUL. I am so, so happy that she's been referred to a speech therapist. I am going to be so sad to move because this lady is AWESOME!

So I had a gyno appointment with my doctor yesterday and she put in a referral for Emilee to see a developmental pediatrician. I was super excited! I'm thinking, ok, there might be a wait, but at least I'll have a referral, right? Well, I get a call from Tricare today about it and apparently, the closest doctor is in Tampa (2.5 hours from me). And get this.... not one of these doctors has a wait time of less than 1-2 years. WHAT???? I got so frustrated.... I don't even know what to do.

We're moving to Connecticut within the next month (didn't want to say anything yet, because I didn't want to jinx it). I asked the Tricare South lady if I needed to get a referral from a GP up there or if I could just use the one I had. She was 99% sure that I could use the one I had, but gave me the info for Tricare North just in case.

So I guess the plan is to continue seeing the speech therapist for her speech issues (i.e., lack of speech and concentration), go to the Early Intervention center in downtown Orlando (which is free for everyone - no insurance needed) and at least try and get a diagnosis (we think she has a mild form of autism... she's social but has some "flag" behaviors). Then when we move to CT, we will try and contact the doctors up there that do developmental pediatrics.

I'm just super frustrated and I could just cry. I don't care that she's "different", but I just want to communicate with my child!

If you got this far, thank you for reading!

Oh yes, I understand this!!

I'm sorry it's taking so long and that your insurance is jerking you around! That's so disgusting!!

If nothing else though, I'm sure the EI could point you in the right direction and give you a general idea of whether or not she's on the spectrum. WTG getting her some speech therapy. That's a great place to start while you're being held up everywhere else.

Hope to see you around the board more and KUP. Especially if you're able to find someone after your move!

That is really fustrating!

I really hope you can get the help for your daughter really soon.

I am sorry. That has to be so frustrating. Could you see about seing a n neurolgogist or phycholgist. They also do evaluations.