Re: Re: Thank you : Getting a Diagnosis

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The school people are under the impression that you can only access help if you have the "right" dx. This is not true. If he qualifies for services, he will qualify for all the services that he requires based on his specific needs. It is not based on his dx. So if he needs social/pragmatic help and he has an IEP, then he should receive that help as required and decided upon by the IEP team (of which you are a member). They often tell you things that they believe are true but which are not true at all - basically because that's the way it's done. So often over the years, I have heard that we couldn't have this or that or they didn't do this or that. It's all bogus. You have to push sometimes, but the law requires that they address all of his special needs regardless of his dx. For more IEP information, see www.wrightslaw.com

Also, I would not say that the ST wasted your time. The truth is, you can't rely on one specific evaluation to be the answer. So far, a dx of AS comes after a full evaluation in all areas and if he meets the criteria, then he gets dx'd with AS. He could just have anxiety and ADHD as well. You might have to see a private evaluation team to get a definitive answer. Sometimes the school staff are not qualified or knowledgeable enough to do this. Certainly, most people on IEP teams are not qualified to make a dx at all and are qualified only to observe if the child needs special education help. It is interesting to note that a person can have a dx of anything such as AS and not qualify for an IEP. This is because qualifying for an IEP and special education services is based on need and not dx.

Roxanna

Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.

( ) Re: Thank you : Getting a Diagnosis

Hello,

Thank you again for your advice regarding getting a diagnosis.

We had my son's evaluation this morning by a team of ASD experts. His speech therapsist indicated that he seemed similar to other children that she sees on the spectrum and that my past evaluations that indicated ADHD were not thorough enough and it really made me doubt past evaluations. She made me think that I was in denial and pretty much has told his teachers and the principal for the last 3 years that my son should have a diagnosis of autism (she tried to get us to sign off on "autistic like" to obtain services but we chose not to do so.

This evaluation included testing, parent interview and a batter of questionnaires from the teacher, etc. The team today does not feel he has Asperger's but rather ADHD. They said my son scored 6 and they only worry when they get to 15 on their testing. I still think that the social skills programs that help children on the spectrum would help my son who was quite language delayed. Since this is the 3rd independent evaluation that indicated ADHD and not ASD, I guess I'll focus on that now.

I'm really frustrated with the speech therapist for wasting our time, although I have to admit that he comes off as "spectrumy" at school possibly due to his own anxiety. Fortunately they told me that he can get some accommodations with ADHD, although others in the past said it's not the helpful of a diagnosis and that ASD offers more support.

Thanks again,

DJ

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> > Hello,

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> > I am new to this board. I am going through the process of having my 10 year old tested for Asperger's/HFA. I have had him evaluated several times in the past due to being a late talker and having a few very mild issues on the spectrum but the physicians did not agree. His speech therapist, however, thinks that he may be mild Aspergers. He definitely has some traits (strong math and science and poor social skills, lack of friends, talks too loud sometimes, relates better to younger children and adults, social anxiety). The docs feel he definitely has ADHD but doesn't need medication. He is a bright child. He gets teased at school for being different (misses social cues, socially awkward at times but not always) although the kids know he is very smart. He is in a regular classroom and only received speech therapy as a support (working on social pragmatics) but they are saying he tested out and no longer qualifies but with a diagnosis of autism, they could offer him m

ore. He comes off as aloof and mostly interested in reading about science and physics. He is the top math student in his class for 2 years in a row at a distinguished school. Advanced test scores. He plays well with 2 neighborhood kids but at school he is in a shell.

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> > His dad does not want him tested and stigmatized. He is going to the 5th grade this year but I am starting to worry about middle school and him getting teased, bullied and being misunderstood in general as he tries to navigate the world.

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> > Is the stigma of a diagnosis hurtful in any way? Does the diagnosis help the child get better resources? Are teachers more understanding? What about other children?

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> > Thank you for any feedback.

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> > DJ

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