[Mama_K]

Hi, I have been reading this forum for 3 weeks or so and finally would like to share with all of you. Everyone posting here are such wonderful people and have such big hearts.
I'm adopting my nephew and am just starting my special needs classes next week for the adoption process. Does anyone know what these classes are all about? My Nephew has been living with us for 6 months and with all the Drs. appts. we still don't know the underlying cause of his Hypotonia. He is scheduled for the Cerbal Palsy clinic in June. He doesn't use his legs much and will tuck his arms in. This little guy has been poked and proded by so many specialist it's heart wrenching to watch. Does anyone else have a child with Hypotonia with suggestions? Thanks

[athikers]

Welcome!

Teeter, my 17 month old foster son, has hypotonia in certain muscles and hypertonia in others. Which, I've learned, is actually sort of common! Unfortunately, I don't have any suggestions. It is very slow going for Teeter to learn any new skills, but he gets there eventually after much repetition and therapy.

Good luck, hopefully you can get some answers at the CP clinic.

[aMarylandfamily]

No advice or experience here but wanted to share a welcome to the board - we're glad you are here. Parenting any special needs child can be challenging and tiring and this board is a great place to come to talk, vent, cry, laugh, share and more ... it's posters are wonderful folks who have helped me and many through simple things like spilled milk (laugh but sometimes it those stupid things that send us Moms' into needing time-outs!) to much more serious stuff and we look forward to adding you to our crazy world!

[hydroxybutane]

Hello
Welcome!

My B has hypotonia. It effects her gross motor skills and her fine motor skills...Now that being said, her bio parents did not do her physiotherapy exercises with her...So she wasn't getting the full effect of them. Also her sister would just do anything for her, so that she would be faster...

Now that she is living with us, we have regular physiotherapy and specific exercises that have to be done every day. She does them once in the morning, once at lunch at school and once before bed. They are mainly stretching exercises, stability ball work and mini-tramp (her favorite! It's very funny...she is just figuring out how to jump LOL..)

We also have a large trike for her, so she can ride her bike with her sisters and we try and get into the pool at least once a week..

We're not sure if it is a side effect of FAS or prenatal drug exposure...

[Barksum]

I think my guys all had hypertonia, relating to prenatal drug exposure. It IS difficult, painful, and frustrating to wander the halls of medicine looking for answers! Hang in there. Finding the right answers may not change the situation but it can sure help when looking for ways to deal with it.

[Lylac]

Hi mama_k!

Welcome to our lil piece of these great forums!!

All of my babies have both hypo & hyper..tonia. The CP clinic should give you some answers. I have no clue what the special needs classes are, we learned all of ours "hands on".

As far as suggestions to help..depends on your sons age. It's so frustrating not having a DX for a problem. Even if the DX was bad..at least you'd know which way to go with his treatment.

Good Luck and keep us updated

[mrsred]

No experience here, as my kids' special needs are more in the emotional and behavioral categories, but just wanted to say welcome, and God bless you.