[CarmJoeMom]

Hi everyone,

I just had another question. I've been doing so much research on adoption this weekend, and something I'm noticing that in a lot of Eastern Europe countries neurological disorders are coming up in some of the children. Autism, ADD, etc. Is this just as common in Latin America as it is in Eastern Europe and in United States for that matter? I have a daughter on the spectrum myself, so I know all about autism, but just wondering if its as common in Latin America?

How is the health of these children otherwise?

Thanks!

[NashvilleGirl]

I'm not sure what the autism rates for hispanic children are compared to other countries, but I can tell you that all of the children I have met here in Colombia that are being adopted have been VERY healthy!!!

[CarmJoeMom]

Thank you, Ruth ann...PM for you

[DrLaura]

Our son was a year when we got him and we had a couple of concerns due to prenatal care of his mother. We haven't seen any adverse effects after nearly 7 months. He is happy and healthy and slightly ahead of schedule developmentally.

[emi]

I amazed at our son's health, considering he didn't have prenatal care, either, and his time before entering foster care wasn't under the best of conditions. We had a few things checked out when he came home and got good reports back. He's only been home about 6 months, and he's just a toddler, so we haven't dealt with any issues that might come with starting school, etc., but so far he is really healthy! We could tell that his foster family took really good care of him.

I'm not sure about autism, but I do know that one child we received information about but didn't end up getting a referral for (long story) was at risk for autism since the child had older brothers diagnosed with autism. So maybe it's about the same as in the U.S.??

Hope that helps!

[CarmJoeMom]

Thanks so much, girls!!!!!

I am really excited about this! I'm trying to control it since it is such a long wait. The agency that I am looking into, though, said that I can transfer into Guat or Mexico if those programs change or reopen. So I kind of feel like getting the ball rolling, and then go from there.....see where our future child is and let God just lead us to him or her.

Thanks for all the advice

[meganicolson]

We have two very healthy children whom we adopted from Colombia. They were each 4 months old upon placement. They are now 2 and 3 years old. They are both developmentally at least 1 to 1 and a half years ahead...and I'm running to catch up! Our pediatrician is always amazed by them. They are completely healthy physically and emotionally they act their age - which often catches us off guard since they can do many things that their older cousins cannot yet do. They were both potty trained by 20 months old, even our son, who did it himself in one day. Our three year old daughter is beginning to read and our son has known the alphabet since he was 15 months old. He has been counting to 20 in English and Spanish since 17 months and spelling his name since 18 months Freaky little ones! As a former kindergarten and Spanish teacher I have so much fun at home with them and I love it, but it is absolutely not normal. My friends have all assumed our children would have an oprhanage delay and instead my children are running laps around theirs. What can I say? I try not to bring up their abnormal development since they are so advanced and my friends' three year olds are still struggling with potty training, but our children's health and development has been an incredible blessing. Thanks for letting me share (and brag) about my great children!