We are in the middle of a family court issue, and it required a clinitions report. It's been suggested that our daughter (Not my biological child) has developmental delays with congnative issues plus a high possibility of alcohol fetal syndrome. We've been given th ok by th courts to use only that part to help get her into a pead, witch iv struggled with as GP'S just brush me off.
In terms of AFS, what is the prosess of diagnosis, and long term treatments. The waiting list in my location is 6-8months befor covid, been told it could take almost 12months to start the prosess.
Alcohol fetal syndrome.
Alcohol fetal syndrome.
Posted in:
Aspergers & Autism
15 Replies
The biological parents need to start this. Not you.
Unless you have custody instead of the parents, you will continue to be blown off . So get dad (unless your partner is mum) to start making appointments.
This is the clinical definition here; https://www.fasdhub.org.au/siteassets/pdfs/australian-guide-to-diagnosis...
And this is how it is diagnosed by the professionals. There’re is VERY strict protocols in diagnostics.
As for treatments; can be long winded, long term or short term depending on the diagnoses. You don’t say how old the child is, but generally it’s monitored during pregnancy, and diagnosed from birth- 36 months.
The mother has no rights and is on very strict restricted contact and has been for well over 6 years. She drank to the point of being unreaponciv daily during pregnancy. Iv been trying to get her into a pead for 2 years but I keep getting the run around. She is 7yo. Thisreport will be a great help to finally get a referal.
Then dad needs to be proactive. As your not listed as a guardian, your going to constantly be hit with road blocks (even if your doing the right thing)
Have a look at the above document I sent you. There’s even a flowchart.
Dad needs to start by visiting a doctor, then get a referral from there.
If the courts have suggested this route, request a copy of the transcript (usually $75 - from memory ) to provide to your child’s doctor.
If this was known by authorities during pregnancy and was documented, your solicitor can subpoena the Mothers medical documents to accompany the child’s referral.
Sorry, I meant to post this as well. I’m surprised previous doctors, courts and solicitors haven’t provided it before...
NOFASD Australia maintains an up-to-date directory of FASD-informed specialists and diagnostic clinics. Please call our National Helpline on 1800 860 613 (free call) or contact us for information on referral options.
FASD Hub Australia also maintains a directory of Paediatricians and Clinics for FASD diagnosis.
And this is the directory link;
https://www.fasdhub.org.au/services/?q=Diagnosis
I am her legal garidian but I never said dad wasn't a pros give dad. He's very involved
I am her legal garidian but I never said dad wasn't a pros give dad. He's very involved
Good, then get dad to follow up. The reason your being blown off is either;
A. Your doing to run around - so medical professionals see the “step mum” trying to get a diagnosis to help on court case... doesn’t look good and gets them off guard. Hence they don’t want to deal with you.
B. It’s obvious she DOESNT have the condition
This is something the dad needs to get onto. Yes, you care and want to help, but legally, you really can't take over. Dad needs to step up.
I don’t understand the hold up here. Go to GP ask for a referral for a paediatrician. Book an appointment. Go to paediatrician? Put yourself on the cancellation list to try get seen earlier..
treatment will be ongoing.
In the meantime take her to an occupational therapist and/or speech therapist and start!
I live rural, and unless I'm able to fork out for privet pead, witch is hours away and we simply can not afford it, there is a hell of a lot of loops to get through to get a referal to th hospital pead. Iv had to get letters from the school, eyes and hearing tests, and the school has organised congnative testing through the district school counceller.
She was born 16 weeks early so GP'S often use this us why she's delayed saying she will catch up. It's well documented in department documents that the mother drank to excess and consumed drugs. She come into my care at 2yo and we've been trying to get some form of diagnosis since she was placed with us. There has been no court case since she was 2, until just befor Xmas we have been trying to get her help for a very long time. It's very obvious she has delays and is 98% behind for her age in year 2 kindy kids have started to pass them. Drs know I'm a legal guardian, have medical and department records. I personally was only thinking ASD, it was a court clinition who is worried about alcohol fetal syndrome. Dad is very involved and fighting for help as much as I am
If the department is still involved have you asked them to help cover the costs of going private or supporting you financially to get a private paediatrician out of your area? I’d be pushing for them to assist with some of these cost. I have a friend that has 2 children in her care and she’s had to do the same battle as you are. It took her a very long time for anyone to support the children with getting correct diagnosis’s of FAS. Originally the children were just diagnosed as non verbal autism. One still has this diagnosis and the other has now got FAS (she’s also still in nappies and unable to be toilet trained 100% and is 13). I’m so sorry you’re going though such a hard time and I wish I could say it gets easier but from my friends experience even with the FAS diagnosis she still struggles with getting the right support for either of the children.
If child protection is involved, force them to get her into a paed.
They have funding and can access it for this.
Also, have you applied for NDIS?
My SS’s brother has been diagnosed with FASD and his other brother is being tested for the same. We believe SS has it too - we’re waiting on an appointment for him. It is more then likely he has it as she drank more with him then she did with his brother. There is a specific clinic on the Gold Coast.