Who diagnoses Aspergers? Ped/OT?

[caeden&connersmom]

Very very new here.

My 5 1/2 yo DS started Kindergarten this Fall. He was very excited and loves it, but we got a notice that he had failed his speech testing twice. Absolutely floored as he has been talking/reading since he was 3 and is very intelligent. I was worried that Kiga would be so basic for him that he would get bored. He has had very little social interaction with groups of kids up to this point, I was a SAHM and did not belong to any playgroups, etc. We would go to the park and the library, and once his little brother was born, mainly stayed home or was at g-parents house.

So, DH and I have always thought there was something a little *off*. DH researched autism, but the first and foremost sign was delayed speech, and he definatley doesnt fit that.

But some things do, he doesnt make eye contact, he has a LOT of trouble with transitions, loud noises, bright lights, with focus, with absolute attention on something playing for hours, but then will turn around and be totally out of control running around like a maniac. I told dh that I dont think he can control it. He has other behaviors, he will hit with his head, wind up like hes going to hit you, but then just run in place and tap your leg with his hand. I had thought maybe he had trouble with impulse control. He has this tendency to Zone out, and we have often remarked he "marches to his own drum and lives in his own little world." Life is an I Spy game right now, where he is setting things up so he can find them. But he is also a cuddly, lovey boy who loves to help with anything I ask, asked me to teach him how to play chess (Uh oh, I have no clue!), makes the most amazing drawings and block creations you have ever seen, and is awesome with his brother.

In groups of kids his age (Like at a birthday party) he prefers to play off by himself, very happy in just observing the other kids. He likes things HIS way and watch out if he has to stop doing something he likes (Without a time warning, what a huge difference that made when I finally figured THAT one out) Now I set a time he can play on the computer, will give him a 10 minute warning, a 5 minute, then a positive, OK, times up, what shall we do next. I am finding that he will turn the computer off himself when he sees the clock says 7:30 now and will happily go play!!

So I stumbled upon an Aspergers website, and a lightbulb clicked. This IS my son! What they were describing is him, perfectly.

So now I ma trying to find out, what kind of DR do I contact to find out if this is indeed what I think it is? If we could get some kind of idea whats going on in his head, we can start giving him the tools he can use in situations that are difficult for him.

Any thoughts or information would be wonderful.

[mimim]

A psychologist or a neurologist wold dx a neurological disorder. I don't think a regular ped wouldn't be qualified, but if you have a doctor you trust, you could ask their opinion and for a referral.

[jessielove]

We spoke to our ped and requested a referral to specialist. She sent us to a behavioral therapist, who had our son evaluated by an OT, a PT and herself. They used their observations coupled with information that I gave them to dx Nate with AS.

[BensMom]

We got our dx from a Development Pediatrician. Its a specialty that is not even recognized by most insurance companies. What a kick in the pants that is, eh?

[alicia622]

You could have a regular medical doctor, psychiatrist or even therapist dx your son.

[sbgrace]

First talk with your pediatrician but I warn you that many pediatricians are not educated and blow off concerns in more mildly affected children. Generally a developmental pediatrician, neurologist or psychologist is the diagnostic person. You can do a google search with your state and autism diagnosis and might find a list of appropriate people.

[JBAmom]

I agree, see your ped first. Even if they don't suggest it themselves, request a referral to O.T. O.T. cannot make a diagnosis, but they can identify and help with sensory integration issues. My son had similar issues to your son, and other symptoms of Asperger's too. He has been getting O.T. since last June, and has improved so much in every way. He is doing so well in school at this point, that I don't see that he needs further intervention. If he has trouble in the next 2 year, I probably will take him to a developmental ped, or neuropsychologist for an official Dx so he can get more services. Another thing that might help is a social skills class. They are sometimes hard to find for younger kids, but it will give you tools to use, and give him social practice.

[mainesax]

I teach at a public school, and many times the special ed staff at the school can help recommend steps - many of which will be paid for by the school system.

Good luck with your little guy!

[KarenEMT]

We saw a developmental pediatrician for diagnosis. She did OT and speech evaluations and then made a diagnosis.

[DQMama]

Are you talking about my son???

We are going through the same thing. It is tough not knowing. I think it would be nice to have an explanation for why our kids are the way they are. You may get a lot of, "It could just be his personality." I get a lot of that, but I feel it is something more.

We started with Child Find but he was in his element with all of the academic-style activities they asked him to do and I don't think they found anything "off" about him. It was quiet and calm in there, and no other kids were around. No bright lights or loud noises. He did great of course.

I mentioned it to his ped when I took him in for a urine screen the other day and he said, wait for the report, come to him for a behavior consult, then he'll refer us to a specialist if necessary.

And yes, developmental pediatricians are not listed on my insurance web site:

[cchrissyy]

we're getting diagnosed by 2 profs... a developmental ped and a ped neuropsychologist. That's partly an accident of scheudling quirks and partly because we want two opinions.

both are recognized by our insurance (though both are out-of-network so we pay 30%). sometimes a dev ped is listed by insurnace in the regular ped listings, FYI.

The school psych did test him with the Gilliam Aspergers Disorder Scale and he scored in the cateogry for "highest probablity" but they gave those results with several disclaimer sentances about it not being a real diagnosis. I'm not sure why, but they really don't want to be on the reocrd as diagnosing this.

to find the right porfesisonal, you need to know who in yoru area speiclaizes in this. the las thing you need is the expense of a dev ped who speicalizes in ADHD or a pedatric psych who deals 90% of the time with depression. you need somebody qualified by experience, not just degrees.
Find local resources thorugh parent advocacy groups, nearby autism support chapters, or yahoo groups speicfic to autistic specturm disorders in your state.

[Lovenest]

You son sounds alot like mine.
We just went to a OT yesterday and he will start going to therapy very soon.
She picked up on alot that we have not noticed.
You may want to start with that.
I asked her about getting a DX and she said that would be a good idea, I dont know what we want to do yet. I want to see how therapy goes and then go from there. At the moment we dont "need" a DX or to give him a label.

[JohannasGarden]

We eventually decided to pay oop for the evaluator we think we'll be best for us. Actually, I think the school system will pay for an evaluation that's closest (better than what our insurance would be--well, with ins. it's more like first you do this insufficient eval. and hopefully the evaluator refers you for a second insufficient eval, and then, if you're lucky, insurance agrees to something more comprehensive) in quality, and that's often a good route if your child is in school. To get the school system to do it with a child who is not having major behavior or academic problems can be difficult, but it can be done if you check out the wrightslaw site and other sources to find out exactly which words you have to put in writing and where to send them.

Another important thing to find out is what the evaluation will entail. Like if you are certain that the eval. will be meaningless unless your child is observed interacting with peers, then you may want to make sure that's included or discuss submitting videos to be reviewed.

In the meantime, besides and OT, an SLP eval. might make sense--ask her to look at pragmatic language issues as well (that includes the stuff like eye contact, being able to manage the back and forth of conversations, managing conversing on a topic introduced by someone else).

Sherri