Friend Mad Over Pedi. Appt.

My friend has a 3.5 year old son. He went for a check up/physical today and the pedi. mentioned his speech was delayed and motor skills(pigeon toed, can't stand on one foot, etc...-I guess these are tests the Pedi.did) and he is also not potty trained at all. My friend said the Pedi. tried to listen to her sons heart and he got upset and started flapping his hands and humming which he does when he's upset ...and the doc said this could also be an early Autism warning sign. Well, she is PISSED. She wants to change Pedi.'s, she doesn't want to get the test(s) done, etc...How do I convince her!? I noticed a lot of these things with her son before but let it go. Should I wait it out...? Maybe she'll think it over more? I feel bad for her but if he needs any kind of therapy or whatever NOW is the best time. What would you do? TIA.

Tell her it won't hurt to get him checked

Those are all legitimate concerns. Let her change pedi's...the next will tell her the SAME things. Then maybe she will realize.

tell her getting a 2nd opinion or going to see a specialist wont hurt any..and yea its a hard thing to even think about but wouldnt you want to know just in case?

She is in denial if it is offending her that bad, she must already have concerns herself. It is important to find out soo so they can have professional help, but maybe she just needs time to accept it. Personally I would just be supportive, expressing your concerns might make her feel like you're against her since she's already in a fragile state of mind.

Tell her to get a second opinion and hopefully when/if that doctor comes back with the sam diagnosis she will listen. I would encourage to do her own research and truly think about what the doctor said. Just be supportive im sure its hard hearing that your child is having some issues.

Tell her it would be ok for her to get a second opinion on it. Maybe if another doctor tells her the same thing she will listen.

Just let her know its scarey, but if something is wrong early intervention is best.

I agree with a second opinion. . Jst be very supportive. And encourage her

Tell her it is in his best interest and that is what drs are there for. It sounds like she may be in denial so you may get around saying- if you know he is not then there is no harm.


Or just say go get a second opionion

There's not much you can do other let her know that changing pedis will not change the diagnoses . Every doctor she sees will see these issues . I'd ask her why she's so against getting him looked at ? If she thinks he's fine then there's nothing to worry about or flip out about. However if she's not open to it then you can't do much . Eventually she will either be reported for not getting the help her son needs or when he gets school age the teachers will express this to her . Her son needs the help now and early intervention goes along way . It's not like it was when we were little kids with those types of disabilities aren't labels retards in the medical community I hope for her sons sake she gets help but sadly some parents just don't want to believe that something could be up with there kids. My daughter has a speech delay and has been in early intervention for two years and there has been a huge improvement. I know how you feel though. A close friend of mines son has speech issues ( 3 years old and not talking, he screeches, and walks and runs weird) she's the type of person that unless the advice comes from her mom it's not true. It's like talking to a brick wall .

I don't think getting a second opinion is a bad thing....I think it's responsible parenting.

All you can do is be there and support her. No one wants to hear that their child will have challenges to deal with.