Re: Re: Follow up Psych Appt Today

[Guest guest]

What different tests would they do in Texas to qualify for sped?

Roxanna

Autism Happens

( ) Re: Follow up Psych Appt Today

>

> In the examples I gave, do you agree that's what I should be pushing for? Or am I off base?

For starters, you can request an autism evaluation from the school district, in writing, of course. They don't have to wait for the neuropsych. I would look through the diagnostic criteria, find a concrete example of how your son fits each pertinent item and put this in the request. This can double as parent input for the evaluation. Whatever you request in writing--that is, all your concerns and areas to be evaluated--they must answer to in writing. So, this is one of your big chances to voice your observations and they must give an answer.

I don't know how they do it in other states, but in ours an autism eval is very different from a regular SPED eval. It is a whole different set of people and different tests and criteria. So, just because he already has an IEP doesn't mean you can't still request an evaluation specifically for autism. They will have to do their own autism eval to confirm your private one anyway and fill in any gaps.

You're doing good to confront all these things when your child is so young. I had to learn all this the hard way through trial and error. We got held off from the school district autism eval for a couple of years because a school psych made a judgment call that his symptoms were not severe enough to warrant calling in the autism team. She confirmed verbally that he had atypical behaviors that were consistent with AS. If I had known better, all I probably would have had to do at that point is ask for an autism eval in writing with appropriate supporting observations. I don't think she would have lied about her observations that he fit AS. But, I didn't know. It was "okay" getting our own neuropsych eval done and coming back with it, but we really lost a lot of time. And that is never good.

Ruth

We found the real 'Hotel California' and the 'Seinfeld' diner. What will you find? Explore WhereItsAt.com.

[Guest guest]

Hi Pam

Thank you for the detailed insight

regarding the meds and the protocols. That is very helpful. (Why can’t I

get that from the psychiatrist??!!)

Interesting point about the ASD dx and the

IEP. Am I chasing my own tail at trying to get the dx? Should I let it go and

focus on the symptoms (obsession, compulsion, perseveration, sensory

sensitivity, attention difficulty, social difficulty and anxiety)

That’s what I tried to do at

yesterday’s appointment.

Lori

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of susanonderko

Sent: Monday, May 18, 2009 6:11 PM

To:

Subject: ( ) Re:

Follow up Psych Appt Today

There is a lot to sort out and your son is very young.

Sometimes stimulants reduce impulsive behavior but increase

anxiety.

Sometimes explosive behavior can be due to a austism spectrum

disorder or due to anxiety or due to a mood disorder.

A protocal often used with kids is to start to treat the

anxiety first and anxiety can take up to 8 weeks to be treated

if it is drug resistent like OCD often is. Sometimes kids

need to get to an adult dose if your son has OCD.

If there are any worsening symptoms on SSRI's you don't know

if your child has BP or is just one of the 25-50% kids

that are sensitive to SSRI's.

You can try a trial of stimulant because this work fast and you will

know if there are adverse reactions rather quickly. I think kids

that are high on dopamine (like BP) don't do well on a stimulatants that often

increase dopamine levels.

If your child does have a mood disorder there are many protocals

for treating this depending on if depression is being treated

or mood cycling.

If there is agressive behavior and Autism then risperdal has

been tested in trials. But some kids gain weight on Risperdal or

Abilify and also some develop some tics.

Trying to figure this out in a little guy is tough.

If you are lucky you may hit on the right med. If it is trial

and error it takes time to be patient with the medications

and see how they work.

Your child is still young one benefit is that he is hopefully

more cooperative than my daughter and perhaps much more cooperative

with medication than a teenager.

You are on the right track. Hope you find a solution quickly

but also be prepared for it taking time and don't lose hope.

You will find a solution.

Oh and the neuropsych report may reveal a learning disorder but it

won't help you figure out the medication protocal unfortunately.

And if his behavior is disruptive at school the school may suggest

a more structured setting in an out of district placement. Which

be prepared for this and not shock and look and see it may be

a good fit.

If you have an IEP why do you need another DX of AS? Is there

other services you want to get that you are not getting.

One advantage I can think of is to keep him out of schools

for kids with conduct disorders. But if he has a IEP

you are already covered aren't you?

Pam

>

> Hey all!

>

> Figured I'd hit you all up for tips again!

>

> Today's the 1-month follow up with the Psych.

>

> Son Noah is recently 7. Dx ADHD/OCD/Anxiety. Has IEP. Psych said AS was a

possibility but he believed he could " keep Noah off of the Autism

Spectrum " if he treated the ADHD/OCD. On paper, wrote " Ruling out

PDD-NOS. " Seemed to think Bipolar was a real possibility too.

>

> Noah has been on Tenex since the last appointment. I have seen no

improvement--if anything, his anxiety has worsened. The increase in

appetite is NOT worth it.

>

> I'm leaning toward explaining all that and requesting to switch to a

stimulant. I'd rather have the decrease in appetite if it has to go ONE

direction. What do you think??

>

> Noah's social issues were AWFUL last week. He had to be permanently

separated from another student and was told not to speak to her anymore. This

was after a meltdown at her and a group of kids. He rose and screamed

" I've had enough! " at the top of his lungs. I'm not exactly sure what

prompted it, but from what I can tell, he tries to hang with a group of kids,

but doesn't take part in the conversations they have--he instead tries to

dominate the conversation with his current obsessions (locks and fire alarms)

and tries to tell them what they can and can't do. When they don't listen, or

try to tell him he's being " wierd " he blows up.

>

> He's also on edge at home--crying at the drop of a hat or getting

intensely worked up because we turned the door knob differently than he would.

>

> There is 150-kid waiting list for the Neuropsych exam. They won't even schedule

him until he's #10. Probably will be a year. Signed up and waiting with bells

on.

>

> HOW DO I GET SOMEONE TO PUT MORE WEIGHT/STRONGLY CONSIDER THE ASPERGERS

DX??

>

> In the examples I gave, do you agree that's what I should be pushing for?

Or am I off base?

>

> Thanks everyone!

>

> Lori Lashley

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Chris

The doorknob was a bad example to use

because that wasn’t actually something he’s exploded about, I was

just trying to demonstrate the kind of thing that will melt him down. (sorry)

As for the locks and fire alarms, that is

ALL he will talk about and wants everyone to listen. When other people don’t,

(especially peers) he will get angry or cry and try everything to get the kids

to listen and make the conversation about that. Now if the group is playing a

game or something, Noah will try to transform that game into something that

allows him to fit his obsessions in. When they don’t say or do what he

expects, he loses it. When in a group, (or even with us) he’ll reject

any suggestion and won’t be happy unless he can do what HE wants to do.

(most of the time, an activity that doesn’t necessarily make sense and

revolves around his obsessions. )

There is definitely strong OCD, but I

really feel like it correlates to AS because he finds certain topics (That

interest no one else) so fascinating and will totally dedicate himself to that.

(even though he has NO attention span) Also because of his inability to read

(or even care about) social cues.

Lori

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of

Sent: Monday, May 18, 2009 7:25 PM

To:

Subject: ( ) Re:

Follow up Psych Appt Today

Hi Lori, just quick thoughts. The doorknob issue seems

related to OCD to me. I'm saying this from the perspective of having a son with

OCD and Aspergers. As to wanting to be in control so that other kids are doing

as he says -- well, harder to say. OCD can cause that too, but then with his

obsession about locks & fire alarms seeming more Aspie-related, it could be

related to the AS. Is he just talking on & on & on...about locks &

fire alarms and wants them to listen (or maybe just keeps on talking when they

are no longer listening) or are there precise things he expects them to say or

do and he gets upset when they don't?

>

> Hey all!

>

> Figured I'd hit you all up for tips again!

>

> Today's the 1-month follow up with the Psych.

>

> Son Noah is recently 7. Dx ADHD/OCD/Anxiety. Has IEP. Psych said AS was a

possibility but he believed he could " keep Noah off of the Autism

Spectrum " if he treated the ADHD/OCD. On paper, wrote " Ruling out

PDD-NOS. " Seemed to think Bipolar was a real possibility too.

>

> Noah has been on Tenex since the last appointment. I have seen no

improvement--if anything, his anxiety has worsened. The increase in

appetite is NOT worth it.

>

[Guest guest]

LMAO Chris!

They certainly do have attention spans

when its on THEIR interests, don’t they!?

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of

Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 3:05

PM

To:

Subject: ( ) Re:

Follow up Psych Appt Today

Yeah, the locks & alarms seem on the Aspie part

(not OCD). used to just talk on & on about his " topic "

and many times I'd end up saying, " you know no one's listening now? "

because I had talked to him about his going on too long about things and others

losing interest, etc. LOL, attention span isn't a problem when they are talking

on interests or knowledge, etc.

>

> Hi Chris

>

>

>

> The doorknob was a bad example to use because that wasn't actually

something

> he's exploded about, I was just trying to demonstrate the kind of thing

that

[Guest guest]

I agree - it's very AS.

Roxanna

Autism Happens

( ) Re:

Follow up Psych Appt Today

Hi Lori, just quick thoughts. The doorknob issue seems

related to OCD to me. I'm saying this from the perspective of having a son with

OCD and Aspergers. As to wanting to be in control so that other kids are doing

as he says -- well, harder to say. OCD can cause that too, but then with his

obsession about locks & fire alarms seeming more Aspie-related, it could be

related to the AS. Is he just talking on & on & on...about locks &

fire alarms and wants them to listen (or maybe just keeps on talking when they

are no longer listening) or are there precise things he expects them to say or

do and he gets upset when they don't?

>

> Hey all!

>

> Figured I'd hit you all up for tips again!

>

> Today's the 1-month follow up with the Psych.

>

> Son Noah is recently 7. Dx ADHD/OCD/Anxiety. Has IEP. Psych said AS was a

possibility but he believed he could "keep Noah off of the Autism

Spectrum" if he treated the ADHD/OCD. On paper, wrote "Ruling out

PDD-NOS." Seemed to think Bipolar was a real possibility too.

>

> Noah has been on Tenex since the last appointment. I have seen no

improvement--if anything, his anxiety has worsened. The increase in

appetite is NOT worth it.

>