By six months, there were apparent signs that Oliver might be different than most children. He…

By six months, there were apparent signs that Oliver might be different than most children. He wasn’t developing at the same rate and was showing unusual traits. He was seen by an Audiologist, developmental neurologist that specialized in cranial and spine, a plastic surgeon, and a Prosthetic specialist. I traveled all over from Knoxville to Chattanooga for most all of his appointments. We expressed our concerns with the doctor about some of the things we were noticing and was referred for an evaluation from TEIS. We weren’t successful the first time but we knew that they had it wrong. So on his next visit, we reiterated our concerns to the doctor and asked for another evaluation... we were not about to give up. This time, the TEIS evaluation resulted differently and Oliver qualified for services. He started weekly OT, speech therapy, developmental therapy, and case management. Eventually, he was approved for weekly behavioral therapy. Although we knew in our hearts that Oliver has autism, we had to wait half a year before we could even get into Vanderbilt to get a diagnosis. We completed that evaluation today and they said he was clearly diagnosed with autism. My point is, if you have any questions about your child, put pressure on your doctor and don’t give up. Don’t accept any answers that don’t feel right. It’s a long journey but well worth it to get your child treatment early to get the best advantages in life.