Re: Thank you : Getting a Diagnosis

[Guest guest]

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

> >

> > Hello,

> >

> > 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 more. 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.

> >

> > 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.

> >

> > 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?

> >

> > Thank you for any feedback.

> >

> > DJ

> >

>