on meds for eval w/ school psychologist???

[Guest guest]

our 4 year old is on week two with intuniv. it is working wonders and we are

very pleased. he has an eval on Monday with the school psychologist for special

ed. services. our pedi and behavioral specialist have both dx DS with ADHD and

Aspergers.

should he be on his meds for the eval, or should I leave him off the meds for

the weekend so that dr. can see the whole picture???

[Guest guest]

The Aspergers should still qualify him. However, kids do differ to the degree

AS traits affect them. Does the AS really stand out to you, still, with the

ADHD under better control?

I always described my son as " mild " because in ways he seemed so compared to the

needs of others with AS. Like, he didn't need a structured day, routine, so

much as other children do, was the best behaved child, great student in regular

classes so far as behavior, grades. On the other side of that, with self-care

skills, motor skills, he needed a lot of help in those areas. And social

skills, can't leave that out!

So for school, he needed help with motor skills (occupational therapy) and he

could be a bit literal at times, things like that. I think sometimes assignment

instructions could be difficult (usually not though) when several steps given at

one time, etc. And all my sons (3) needed speech therapy.

Anyway, if you feel the eval may miss some areas, do speak up about what you

know about him at the evaluation.

We didn't get my son's dx until 8th grade (done outside school). He never

really had any plan/services for his AS traits, he managed okay (except that

social stuff). However, he did get severe OCD in 6th grade, and we did have a

504 Plan for him to help with that and his dysgraphia. OK, I'm rambling, sorry,

lol.

Will be interested to hear how the eval goes!

>

> He is on intuniv for severe hyperactivity. He is a different child with the

meds. We were able to go to a museum and an aquarium this weekend and actually

enjoy it!

>

> The school wants their own eval to qualify him for services for his aspergers.

It is a catch 22. He is doing well but I do want him to get the services he

needs.

>

> Karla

[Guest guest]

it is hard to say that the AS hinders him now that the adhd is under control.

he is still obsessive about airplanes and elevators, but in so many ways I am

just so happy to have a " normal " 4 year old son. a son I don't have to

literally restrain as we try to walk through a public place.

I called the behavioral specialist and the psychologist today and both nurses

said to leave him on the meds for the eval. I do still see the AS, I will just

be curious as to what the dr. sees without the hyperactivity crowding the

picture.

karla

> >

> > He is on intuniv for severe hyperactivity. He is a different child with the

meds. We were able to go to a museum and an aquarium this weekend and actually

enjoy it!

> >

> > The school wants their own eval to qualify him for services for his

aspergers. It is a catch 22. He is doing well but I do want him to get the

services he needs.

> >

> > Karla

>

[Guest guest]

Where I am at it is almost impossible to

get services. They need to see a child at his worse to get services. That is

just the way it is.

I agree with Carolyn.

Carey

http://www.GreenDiaperStore.com

We now

carry so much more than diapers! We have eco-friendly toys, feeding

products, bath and body, nursing products and more!

Fan us on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/West-Hills-CA/Green-Diaper-Store/37724744230

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Carolyn Weisbard

Sent: Thursday, December 30, 2010

8:44 AM

Subject: Re: ( ) on

meds for eval w/ school psychologist???

Ok, so maybe I am confused, but shouldn't the entire team

be looking at your son, not just the psychologist?? In my experience an

entire team is supposed to do the initial evaluation for the children.

Anyway, to your question. I would be very torn if I were you. I was

torn when I was supposed to be doing particular therapies with my daughter

during the evaluation. She was improving while doing the therapies and I

was torn because I wanted the school district to see the true her, but didn't

want her to not benefit from her therapies. Anyway, I think it is up to you,

if there is that big of an improvement and a possibility of the psychologist

not seeing what you see, I would probably take him off the meds for that time

period. I also think it depends on what you are expecting to get out of

the evaluation, if you don't want the school to do anything, then you are

probably good However, if you want preschool or other services, I

would show them his worst side. I know that sounds horrible, but take it

from one that has already been there and is having to fight for what is right!

Carolyn

From: jojubemom

<karlakahler@...>

Sent: Wed, December 29, 2010

11:07:22 PM

Subject: ( ) on

meds for eval w/ school psychologist???

our 4 year old is on week two with intuniv. it is

working wonders and we are very pleased. he has an eval on Monday with the

school psychologist for special ed. services. our pedi and behavioral

specialist have both dx DS with ADHD and Aspergers.

should he be on his meds for the eval, or should I leave him off the meds for

the weekend so that dr. can see the whole picture???

[Guest guest]

Hi there,

I do not have any experience with medications, so I would not presume to advise

you on that, BUT...we had my son evaluated for school district services when he

turned 3 and was transitioning from early intervention. He was (and is)

receiving both OT and developmental therapy privately at the time of the eval,

and the district psychologist did not take that into consideration at all. She

would point out things he was doing well, and I kept saying Yes, he learned that

in OT or DT, and without that support we would be in a much worse situation, but

she did not consider the effect that all the intervention was having in

improving my son's behavior/functioning. In the end he was denied services

through the school district. I am quite certain that the help we were getting my

son at the time of evaluation is the reason he did not qualify for services,

because he was not a total mess when they did their evaluation.

Good luck with whatever choice you make!

Bridget

>

> Where I am at it is almost impossible to get services. They need to see a

> child at his worse to get services. That is just the way it is.

>

>

>

> I agree with Carolyn.

>

>

>

> Carey

>

> <http://www.GreenDiaperStore.com> http://www.GreenDiaperStore.com

>

> We now carry so much more than diapers! We have eco-friendly toys, feeding

> products, bath and body, nursing products and more!

>

> Fan us on Facebook at:

> http://www.facebook.com/pages/West-Hills-CA/Green-Diaper-Store/37724744230

>

> _____

>

> From:

> [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Carolyn Weisbard

> Sent: Thursday, December 30, 2010 8:44 AM

>

> Subject: Re: ( ) on meds for eval w/ school psychologist???

>

>

>

>

>

> Ok, so maybe I am confused, but shouldn't the entire team be looking at your

> son, not just the psychologist?? In my experience an entire team is

> supposed to do the initial evaluation for the children. Anyway, to your

> question. I would be very torn if I were you. I was torn when I was

> supposed to be doing particular therapies with my daughter during the

> evaluation. She was improving while doing the therapies and I was torn

> because I wanted the school district to see the true her, but didn't want

> her to not benefit from her therapies. Anyway, I think it is up to you, if

> there is that big of an improvement and a possibility of the psychologist

> not seeing what you see, I would probably take him off the meds for that

> time period. I also think it depends on what you are expecting to get out

> of the evaluation, if you don't want the school to do anything, then you are

> probably good However, if you want preschool or other services, I would

> show them his worst side. I know that sounds horrible, but take it from one

> that has already been there and is having to fight for what is right!

>

> Carolyn

>

>

>

> _____

>

> From: jojubemom <karlakahler@...>

>

> Sent: Wed, December 29, 2010 11:07:22 PM

> Subject: ( ) on meds for eval w/ school psychologist???

>

>

>

> our 4 year old is on week two with intuniv. it is working wonders and we are

> very pleased. he has an eval on Monday with the school psychologist for

> special ed. services. our pedi and behavioral specialist have both dx DS

> with ADHD and Aspergers.

>

> should he be on his meds for the eval, or should I leave him off the meds

> for the weekend so that dr. can see the whole picture???

>

[Guest guest]

I asked the same question myself when my son was being tested, and all said to keep him on his meds.

From: jojubemom <karlakahler@...> Sent: Wed, December 29, 2010 9:07:22 PMSubject: ( ) on meds for eval w/ school psychologist???

our 4 year old is on week two with intuniv. it is working wonders and we are very pleased. he has an eval on Monday with the school psychologist for special ed. services. our pedi and behavioral specialist have both dx DS with ADHD and Aspergers.should he be on his meds for the eval, or should I leave him off the meds for the weekend so that dr. can see the whole picture???

[Guest guest]

I agree with Carolyn and . My son was on stratera, zoloft, resperidon and clonadine when he was in 4th grade and up for his reevaluated. I was told, "he's fine as long as he is on his medication." They wanted to take him out of special ed services. I said, yeah, but that's the point...as long as he's on his meds, but I don't HAVE to medicate him. So...maybe I should take him off of his meds. They said they would have to isolate him then, so I said then I guess you need to keep him elegible.

Depending on where you are and who you are dealing with, sometimes the benefits the meds provide can alter the perspective of those evaluating him into thinking things aren't that bad. It's up to you really to decide. But just wanted to give you my experience. Good luck! ne

From: Carey <lisa.carey@...>Subject: RE: ( ) on meds for eval w/ school psychologist??? Date: Friday, December 31, 2010, 8:43 PM

Where I am at it is almost impossible to get services. They need to see a child at his worse to get services. That is just the way it is.

I agree with Carolyn.

Carey

http://www.GreenDiaperStore.com

We now carry so much more than diapers! We have eco-friendly toys, feeding products, bath and body, nursing products and more!

Fan us on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/West-Hills-CA/Green-Diaper-Store/37724744230

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Carolyn WeisbardSent: Thursday, December 30, 2010 8:44 AM Subject: Re: ( ) on meds for eval w/ school psychologist???

Ok, so maybe I am confused, but shouldn't the entire team be looking at your son, not just the psychologist?? In my experience an entire team is supposed to do the initial evaluation for the children. Anyway, to your question. I would be very torn if I were you. I was torn when I was supposed to be doing particular therapies with my daughter during the evaluation. She was improving while doing the therapies and I was torn because I wanted the school district to see the true her, but didn't want her to not benefit from her therapies. Anyway, I think it is up to you, if there is that big of an improvement and a possibility of the psychologist not seeing what you see, I would probably take him off the meds for that time period. I also think it depends on what you are expecting to get out of the evaluation, if

you don't want the school to do anything, then you are probably good However, if you want preschool or other services, I would show them his worst side. I know that sounds horrible, but take it from one that has already been there and is having to fight for what is right!

Carolyn

From: jojubemom <karlakahler@...> Sent: Wed, December 29, 2010 11:07:22 PMSubject: ( ) on meds for eval w/ school psychologist???

our 4 year old is on week two with intuniv. it is working wonders and we are very pleased. he has an eval on Monday with the school psychologist for special ed. services. our pedi and behavioral specialist have both dx DS with ADHD and Aspergers.should he be on his meds for the eval, or should I leave him off the meds for the weekend so that dr. can see the whole picture???