Guest guest Posted April 20, 2009 Report Share Posted April 20, 2009 > > Long awaited doc appt is finally tomorrow. Any last minute tips or suggestions? You seem ready to me! The only thing I can think of is to be prepared to give current examples of all the behaviors you list. Also, if you have not already, question the doctor's expertise. Does he actually have a specialty in autism spectrum disorders? If not, take that into consideration. I assume since this is a " doc appt " and not an evaluation that it is a diagnostic interview of some sort? A screening for an evaluation of some sort? Ruth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 20, 2009 Report Share Posted April 20, 2009 Hi Ruth I have a whole folder of examples and paperwork from school, etc. That stupid developmental ped actually specialized in Autism Spectrum disorders but he was awful. I couldn’t find any psychiatrists that specialized in the spectrum—in fact I couldn’t find any in the Phx Metro area that would see a kid under 12! (even child psychs) Anyway… Not sure if they’ll do any evaluating. I’m hoping that once he reviews the Aspergers screenings we did in the school eval, he will either utilize those results or choose to test again. I do expect to at least finally get some kind of RX and am really hoping to get the official AS dx or at least futher testing so that can be achieved! Lori From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of r_woman2 Sent: Monday, April 20, 2009 8:15 AM To: Subject: ( ) Re: Last minute tips? > > Long awaited doc appt is finally tomorrow. Any last minute tips or suggestions? You seem ready to me! The only thing I can think of is to be prepared to give current examples of all the behaviors you list. Also, if you have not already, question the doctor's expertise. Does he actually have a specialty in autism spectrum disorders? If not, take that into consideration. I assume since this is a " doc appt " and not an evaluation that it is a diagnostic interview of some sort? A screening for an evaluation of some sort? Ruth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 20, 2009 Report Share Posted April 20, 2009 Good Luck Lori, I hope the dr's can give you some good information and solutions! Vickie > > Hi all > > Long awaited doc appt is finally tomorrow. Any last minute tips or suggestions? > > Quick background: > 7 yr old with current dx of ADHD, OCD w/anxiety. Seeing clinical psychologist who made diagnosis. > > School eval included ASP testing and came back with mostly " Significant " and " At Risk " traits. School wouldn't comment further on the ASP without medical diagnosis. > > Does have IEP at school based on " Emotional Disability " > > Saw Developmental Ped who refused to test him for ASP and said he was just a " cute little boy who doesn't listen well. " > > Have appt tomorrow with psychiatrist out of Phoenix Childrens Hospital. > > Child is very aware of his issues and complains about not being able to " turn his head off " and BEGS for meds. > > Pretty confident in ASP dx. Besides attention, obessive and anxiety issues, he is VERY literal, doesn't make much eye contact/can't read facial cues, has difficulty with all social cues, has difficulty maintaining relationships, has meltdowns, diffulcty with humor, difficulty with compliments, etc. > > Thanks all! > > Lori Lashley > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 20, 2009 Report Share Posted April 20, 2009 > > I couldn't find any psychiatrists that specialized in the > spectrum-in fact I couldn't find any in the Phx Metro area that would see a > kid under 12! (even child psychs) Anyway. I have a very hard time finding qualified mental health professionals that take insurance in our area (Houston). Maybe yours is the same way. There is a children's hospital and a hospital with a large pediatric dept and that is pretty much it (for autism spectrum evals). The waiting lists are long. Anyway, it sounds like you are heading in the right direction. Ruth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 20, 2009 Report Share Posted April 20, 2009 Thanks Vickie! J From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Vickie Boehnlein Sent: Monday, April 20, 2009 10:00 AM Subject: ( ) Re: Last minute tips? Good Luck Lori, I hope the dr's can give you some good information and solutions! Vickie > > Hi all > > Long awaited doc appt is finally tomorrow. Any last minute tips or suggestions? > > Quick background: > 7 yr old with current dx of ADHD, OCD w/anxiety. Seeing clinical psychologist who made diagnosis. > > School eval included ASP testing and came back with mostly " Significant " and " At Risk " traits. School wouldn't comment further on the ASP without medical diagnosis. > > Does have IEP at school based on " Emotional Disability " > > Saw Developmental Ped who refused to test him for ASP and said he was just a " cute little boy who doesn't listen well. " > > Have appt tomorrow with psychiatrist out of Phoenix Childrens Hospital. > > Child is very aware of his issues and complains about not being able to " turn his head off " and BEGS for meds. > > Pretty confident in ASP dx. Besides attention, obessive and anxiety issues, he is VERY literal, doesn't make much eye contact/can't read facial cues, has difficulty with all social cues, has difficulty maintaining relationships, has meltdowns, diffulcty with humor, difficulty with compliments, etc. > > Thanks all! > > Lori Lashley > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 27, 2009 Report Share Posted April 27, 2009 Hi Thanks for asking! (No, you didn’t miss my post. I joined the server with my work email like a dummy, so I don’t see my emails all weekend!) Noah was being his true obsessive, hyper, persevarative, self in the doc’s office. That was good because as my husband and I were trying to explain his behaviors, he was exhibiting them. As I suspected, doc did NOT want to give the Aspergers dx, or even go near the Autism Spectrum. He DID agree that it was “very probable” that he does have AS but believes that we can “keep him off the spectrum” by treating his issues effectively now. Not sure how I feel about that. In addition, as dx, he wrote “ruling out PDD.” I’m on the fence with that whole thing, but he did concur that I should go ahead and make the appointment for the Neuropshyc Eval. After much discussion, and a demonstration with a plastic brain, about Noah’s obsessive thoughts wrapping around his brain, we agreed to start with Tenex and Respiradol as needed (at night). I have to admit that prior to discussion on this forum, I wouldn’t have chosen either, but after everyone shared their experiences with similar symptoms and age ranges, I feel like this is a pretty good combo to begin with. We will be following up in 1 month. So what do ya think? Noah will continue to see his psychologist bi-weekly, and I will schedule the Neuropsych Eval, although I’m told it could be up to 6 months. Thanks for the interest! Lori Lashley From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of O'Brien Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2009 4:57 PM Subject: RE: ( ) Last minute tips? Hey Lori… how did your appointment go?? I’ve been anxiously waiting to hear =) Who may have missed your post, as I’m horribly behind and trying to get caught up – so ignore this if you’ve already posted LOL From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of l8elucretia Sent: Monday, April 20, 2009 12:06 PM Subject: ( ) Last minute tips? Hi all Long awaited doc appt is finally tomorrow. Any last minute tips or suggestions? Quick background: 7 yr old with current dx of ADHD, OCD w/anxiety. Seeing clinical psychologist who made diagnosis. School eval included ASP testing and came back with mostly " Significant " and " At Risk " traits. School wouldn't comment further on the ASP without medical diagnosis. Does have IEP at school based on " Emotional Disability " Saw Developmental Ped who refused to test him for ASP and said he was just a " cute little boy who doesn't listen well. " Have appt tomorrow with psychiatrist out of Phoenix Childrens Hospital. Child is very aware of his issues and complains about not being able to " turn his head off " and BEGS for meds. Pretty confident in ASP dx. Besides attention, obessive and anxiety issues, he is VERY literal, doesn't make much eye contact/can't read facial cues, has difficulty with all social cues, has difficulty maintaining relationships, has meltdowns, diffulcty with humor, difficulty with compliments, etc. Thanks all! Lori Lashley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 27, 2009 Report Share Posted April 27, 2009 Thanks again, Ruth! Unfortunately, we only have one Ped Neurospsych team here in Phx and that’s through Phoenix Children’s, but I will definitely make that appt and wait the wait! So, psychiatrist for meds, psychologist for the counseling/treatment and Neuropsych for true evaluation/diagnosis. Geez….and I thought my severely multiple-disabled 10-yr old with Athetoid Cerebral Palsy was the one whose plethora of specialists was enough! From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of r_woman2 Sent: Monday, April 27, 2009 10:19 AM To: Subject: Re: ( ) Last minute tips? > > So what do ya think? Noah will continue to see his psychologist bi-weekly, > and I will schedule the Neuropsych Eval, although I'm told it could be up to > 6 months. Just my two cents... I think you are heading in the right direction, just keep going. Psychologists are more trained to do evaluating than psychiatrists. The neuropsych will most likely sort out the dx. Six months is not long to wait--many have much longer waiting lists. It might be best if you made sure you saw a neuropsych with a specialty in autism spectrum disorders. Ruth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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