Covid Delayed Diagnosis: Child Thrives After School Fight

The Covid-19 pandemic significantly impacted a young child's developmental journey, leading to delayed diagnosis and support. Sienna, now six, began showing signs of struggling with milestones during the lockdown period. Due to pandemic restrictions, her family faced a prolonged wait for assessment, with her needs only being properly evaluated at her two-and-a-half-year review.

Sienna was subsequently referred to a child development clinic and placed on a priority waiting list. The diagnostic process involved multiple specialists, including paediatricians and therapists, over several months. By the time Sienna received her official diagnosis on paper, she was nearly four years old.

Initially placed in a mainstream nursery, Sienna's non-verbal status and significant additional needs were not adequately supported, leading to a reduced timetable. Her family then embarked on a stressful two-year campaign to secure a specialist school placement.

Sienna finally received a placement in August and is now in her second year at a special school, where she is described as 'absolutely thriving.' Her mother noted a 'whole world of difference' in her daughter's progress and well-being since attending the specialized setting.