"In your experience, how does having DS affect a child's transition into an adoptive family, leaving what is familiar, bonding, etc. What are some of the typical things that can be expected the first weeks/months home that may be different than a child without DS?"
I can't answer this question as well as so many others in the adoption blogging community can, but I will do my best! The reason is, I haven't adopted a child that doesn't have Ds, so the comparison is difficult for me to make. Here are the things that I know from having researched as well as speaking with other parents about it.
Adopting a child with Down syndrome can have great benefits as far as attachment, bonding, and similar things go! I've heard it said that "God protects kids with Ds because of the loving spirit He gave them. They don't lose that ability to love and trust like another child might." I tend to agree. Though there are some times that this isn't the case, I'd say in general through the adoptions I've watched take place over the last year and more, that the majority have had a very good bonding and attachment experience. Very few have had a really rocky transition from orphanage/foster homes (different countries have different setups) into their forever family.
No, it's not without a time of transition, but the "bonding time" for a typical child and the estimated amount of time it takes for it to feel like "real family" is said to be about 2 years. This is for a child with no significant bonding issues outside of the norm (not RAD, etc.). Children with Ds tend to bond much quicker and some would say that in as few as 8-10 months, most often around 1 year, the child/ren take their roles within the family unit and it is "real."
As far as the differences between the first weeks and months home with a child with Ds, yes, there are some significant differences there. The first and most obvious one to most parents adopting a child with any special needs is the immediate appointments to determine a baseline for the child's health. Though our situation is still different than others simply because of the more extreme needs of our adopted kiddos, we have had a LOT of doctor's appointments. Immediately upon coming home almost all children with Ds will first see a cardiologist as well as their pediatrician.
Some other specialists likely to be seen for a general "check up" due to the higher risk of difficulties in these areas include an ENT (ear nose and throat) to check the tonsills as well as for hearing and the possible need for tubes (kids w/ Ds tend to have small eustatian tubes which may not properly drain), an opthalmologist to check their sight, a series of blood tests including a thyroid panel (this should be tested every 6 mos-1 yr for children with Ds), and any other specialists determined by that child's current needs.
Micah and Emma were both referred to an orthopedist- Micah for the unusual curviture of his spine, Emma for her lack of head control and inability to support herself at her age. They also were referred to a GI doctor, Micah for his excessive bowel movements and lack of weight gain (which... seem to have fixed themselves!) as well as his reflux, and Emma for her lack of weight gain and constipation issues.
another test that would be done is screening for AAI (atlanto axial instability) which is first screened through a simple x-ray and then through MRI if the x-ray is inconclusive.
In our first 6 months home we had a total of 6 hospital visits between the two kids, 4 of those were surgeries (and just for fun, they were done at 5 different hospitals!). This is NOT the case for most adopted children with Ds! Many come home very healthy and other than check-ups and possibly ear tubes or glasses, they have no medical problems that need immediate action.
Any child that is adopted from an orphanage (Ds or not) is likely to have a minor developmental delay from institutionalization. A minor speech delay is also not uncommon. Having all children with any suspected delays evaluated for Early Intervention or school system services is another important step.
OFF THE MEDCAL AND "TO DO" side of things... I feel a child with Ds is probably more likely to accept their new home and environment easier, to bond faster with family members and friends, to have less irrational fears, and to generally become part of the home environment quicker than a child that does not have Down syndrome. There, I said it... that's probably one of the biggest generalizations I've made LOL!
IF YOU'VE ADOPTED A CHILD WITH DS AND POSSIBLY A TYPICAL CHILD OR ONE WITH OTHER SPECIAL NEEDS AS WELL, FEEL FREE TO SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES AND THE DIFFERENCES IN YOUR JOURNEY THAN WHAT I'VE SAID IN THE COMMENTS! ALL FAMILIES AND ALL CHILDREN ARE SO DIFFERENT THAT 100 PEOPLE COULD WRITE THIS POST, ALL WRITE IT DIFFERENTLY, AND NONE OF THEM WOULD BE LYING ;)
I can't answer this question as well as so many others in the adoption blogging community can, but I will do my best! The reason is, I haven't adopted a child that doesn't have Ds, so the comparison is difficult for me to make. Here are the things that I know from having researched as well as speaking with other parents about it.
Adopting a child with Down syndrome can have great benefits as far as attachment, bonding, and similar things go! I've heard it said that "God protects kids with Ds because of the loving spirit He gave them. They don't lose that ability to love and trust like another child might." I tend to agree. Though there are some times that this isn't the case, I'd say in general through the adoptions I've watched take place over the last year and more, that the majority have had a very good bonding and attachment experience. Very few have had a really rocky transition from orphanage/foster homes (different countries have different setups) into their forever family.
No, it's not without a time of transition, but the "bonding time" for a typical child and the estimated amount of time it takes for it to feel like "real family" is said to be about 2 years. This is for a child with no significant bonding issues outside of the norm (not RAD, etc.). Children with Ds tend to bond much quicker and some would say that in as few as 8-10 months, most often around 1 year, the child/ren take their roles within the family unit and it is "real."
As far as the differences between the first weeks and months home with a child with Ds, yes, there are some significant differences there. The first and most obvious one to most parents adopting a child with any special needs is the immediate appointments to determine a baseline for the child's health. Though our situation is still different than others simply because of the more extreme needs of our adopted kiddos, we have had a LOT of doctor's appointments. Immediately upon coming home almost all children with Ds will first see a cardiologist as well as their pediatrician.
Some other specialists likely to be seen for a general "check up" due to the higher risk of difficulties in these areas include an ENT (ear nose and throat) to check the tonsills as well as for hearing and the possible need for tubes (kids w/ Ds tend to have small eustatian tubes which may not properly drain), an opthalmologist to check their sight, a series of blood tests including a thyroid panel (this should be tested every 6 mos-1 yr for children with Ds), and any other specialists determined by that child's current needs.
Micah and Emma were both referred to an orthopedist- Micah for the unusual curviture of his spine, Emma for her lack of head control and inability to support herself at her age. They also were referred to a GI doctor, Micah for his excessive bowel movements and lack of weight gain (which... seem to have fixed themselves!) as well as his reflux, and Emma for her lack of weight gain and constipation issues.
another test that would be done is screening for AAI (atlanto axial instability) which is first screened through a simple x-ray and then through MRI if the x-ray is inconclusive.
In our first 6 months home we had a total of 6 hospital visits between the two kids, 4 of those were surgeries (and just for fun, they were done at 5 different hospitals!). This is NOT the case for most adopted children with Ds! Many come home very healthy and other than check-ups and possibly ear tubes or glasses, they have no medical problems that need immediate action.
Any child that is adopted from an orphanage (Ds or not) is likely to have a minor developmental delay from institutionalization. A minor speech delay is also not uncommon. Having all children with any suspected delays evaluated for Early Intervention or school system services is another important step.
OFF THE MEDCAL AND "TO DO" side of things... I feel a child with Ds is probably more likely to accept their new home and environment easier, to bond faster with family members and friends, to have less irrational fears, and to generally become part of the home environment quicker than a child that does not have Down syndrome. There, I said it... that's probably one of the biggest generalizations I've made LOL!
IF YOU'VE ADOPTED A CHILD WITH DS AND POSSIBLY A TYPICAL CHILD OR ONE WITH OTHER SPECIAL NEEDS AS WELL, FEEL FREE TO SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES AND THE DIFFERENCES IN YOUR JOURNEY THAN WHAT I'VE SAID IN THE COMMENTS! ALL FAMILIES AND ALL CHILDREN ARE SO DIFFERENT THAT 100 PEOPLE COULD WRITE THIS POST, ALL WRITE IT DIFFERENTLY, AND NONE OF THEM WOULD BE LYING ;)
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