Expert: Joyce A. Anthony - 9/19/2008

Question
I wonder how you think my being bipolar affects my daughter.  I will tell you what I think about me/us, and please give me your thoughts on my being a bipolar mother (with regard to my thoughts or not).

I have bipolar 1 and was last hospitalized 2 months after my daughter was born in August 2006 (25 months old now).

I am not very social and do not do well in social situations.  I think my daughter needs a good model(s), which I am not, and have enrolled her in preschool as of a month ago.  

My daughter has some sort of speech delay, maybe a receptive speech delay.  It seems like she is just plain stubborn, but I really don't think that's true.  Could she be bipolar at that age?  I would guess that it is impossible to know.  Here is her speech "story:"

25 months old, ~100 word vocabulary, not yet putting 2 words together, knows colors, likes books, loves the outdoors.

Will not respond to almost anything I ask! What color is that, point to the ball/where is the ball (in a book), come here (hand signs given, as well).  

She will see a color and say it's name, she will see a ball and say its name, and she comes to me all the time.  None of these when I ask it of her. Of course, there are a few times when she has done something, I am just saying that it is extremely rare (i.e., twice in her life she has come to me when I asked her to, maybe a fluke).

Anyway, if you have any thoughts, please let me know.  

Thanks,
Nancy  

Answer
Hi Nancy:

It IS possible for your daughter to be bipolar at this age, but a speech delay is normally not an indication of this.  In fact, most bipolar children start speaking early.

I would, however, try to have your daughter evaluated to see if there is something else that may be going on.  Some children, however, just don't until older--and then may even start talking in full sentences.

Speak with your pediatrician to see if he/she can suggest a good place to get a speech evaluation.  In the meantime, preschool is a good way to get her the social contact she needs.  

                  Joyce A. Anthony