Re: Question for the Doctors

[Guest guest]

I recommended my daughter's OCD therapist to my friend for her son who is on the

spectrum, but was exhibiting compulsions. She felt that the therapist helped

her son, but it is probably important that this therapist also sees kids on the

spectrum and understands what that means. For example, both this friend and

another friend of mine who has a son with autism have had to deal with their

son's (teens) insisting on carrying around a lot of books. This may seem like

OCD, but it wasn't being done to combat a fear, but more of an autistic thing.

Question for the Doctors

My son has high functioning autism and OCD. His OCD issues are more of a problem

than his autism this past year. He is 13 years old and has bad thoughts that

make him worry unrealistically. Should he be treated by a neurologist who

specializes in OCD or a pediatric behaviorial doctor who specializes in autism?

My son has been treated by the same psychiatrist and counseling center for the

last two years. Should we stay put because they know him well or make a move to

one of the experts I mentioned above? If you say expert, which expert should

prescribe his medication - the neurologist with OCD expertise or the

ped/behaviorial expert in autism?

Thank you.

Dawn

[Guest guest]

I recommended my daughter's OCD therapist to my friend for her son who is on the

spectrum, but was exhibiting compulsions. She felt that the therapist helped

her son, but it is probably important that this therapist also sees kids on the

spectrum and understands what that means. For example, both this friend and

another friend of mine who has a son with autism have had to deal with their

son's (teens) insisting on carrying around a lot of books. This may seem like

OCD, but it wasn't being done to combat a fear, but more of an autistic thing.

Question for the Doctors

My son has high functioning autism and OCD. His OCD issues are more of a problem

than his autism this past year. He is 13 years old and has bad thoughts that

make him worry unrealistically. Should he be treated by a neurologist who

specializes in OCD or a pediatric behaviorial doctor who specializes in autism?

My son has been treated by the same psychiatrist and counseling center for the

last two years. Should we stay put because they know him well or make a move to

one of the experts I mentioned above? If you say expert, which expert should

prescribe his medication - the neurologist with OCD expertise or the

ped/behaviorial expert in autism?

Thank you.

Dawn

[Guest guest]

I recommended my daughter's OCD therapist to my friend for her son who is on the

spectrum, but was exhibiting compulsions. She felt that the therapist helped

her son, but it is probably important that this therapist also sees kids on the

spectrum and understands what that means. For example, both this friend and

another friend of mine who has a son with autism have had to deal with their

son's (teens) insisting on carrying around a lot of books. This may seem like

OCD, but it wasn't being done to combat a fear, but more of an autistic thing.

Question for the Doctors

My son has high functioning autism and OCD. His OCD issues are more of a problem

than his autism this past year. He is 13 years old and has bad thoughts that

make him worry unrealistically. Should he be treated by a neurologist who

specializes in OCD or a pediatric behaviorial doctor who specializes in autism?

My son has been treated by the same psychiatrist and counseling center for the

last two years. Should we stay put because they know him well or make a move to

one of the experts I mentioned above? If you say expert, which expert should

prescribe his medication - the neurologist with OCD expertise or the

ped/behaviorial expert in autism?

Thank you.

Dawn

[Guest guest]

Hi Dawn, I've forwarded this to the doctors. Will post reply when I receive

one.

Having a son with both autism & OCD myself, my thought is have someone who

" gets " both autism and OCD work with him on his therapy (CBT with ERP).

Reasoning being that someone w/autism can't necessarily work on CBT/ERP the same

way as a " typical " person, depending on their insight into their OCD.

Plus you sometimes have to tweak out which is behind a behavior - OCD or Autism.

If a behavior needs changed, whichever dx is the cause, some can be worked on

the same way, but not always the case. Since autism is so different with each

person, as to how it affects them, degrees, etc., you'd be the best judge as to

how well he could work on his OCD in the " traditional " treatment way.

With my son , most of the OCD could be worked on as any other person

would work on it. But I had to look at some of his " quirky " needs as caused by

his HFA/Aspergers and not OCD related. So those would be, perhaps, worked on

differently if a change was needed or accommodated in some way. Probably

confusing you, just that I found with the dual diagnoses, it sometimes got

tricky with the less obvious OCD caused stuff.

Quick thoughts. Will be interested to see what the doctors here think!

single mom, 3 sons

>

> My son has high functioning autism and OCD. His OCD issues are more of a

problem than his autism this past year. He is 13 years old and has bad thoughts

that make him worry unrealistically. Should he be treated by a neurologist who

specializes in OCD or a pediatric behaviorial doctor who specializes in autism?

My son has been treated by the same psychiatrist and counseling center for the

last two years. Should we stay put because they know him well or make a move to

one of the experts I mentioned above? If you say expert, which expert should

prescribe his medication - the neurologist with OCD expertise or the

ped/behaviorial expert in autism?

>

> Thank you.

>

> Dawn

>