Had doc appt yesterday for ds... | Autism PDD
Amber,
How wonderful that your doc didn't blow off your concerns and was so supportive of your seeking a dx! I hope you get an appt soon.
I found out tonight for the first time that my nephew (and niece, for that matter) had autistic-like symptoms as toddlers/preschoolers but seem to be growing out of them. (They live in Canada and I rarely see them ... maybe once a year.) My nephew really didn't give much eye contact, he didn't start talking til after 3 y/o, and he had strange ritualistic behaviors (like needing to go up the stairs only a certain way and when he couldn't, he'd have to start from the bottom of the steps again) and he spun in circles a lot. My B-i-L was concerned, but apparently his in-laws got angry at him and insisted there was nothing wrong. Well, it seems he's okay after all. His sister, my niece, was extremely withdrawn and would NOT play with other children and would have TERRIBLE tantrums. She also didn't talk much until she was closer to 3. Now they say (at just over 3y/o) that she's talking in sentences. So who knows??? Now I'm kind of half-wondering if maybe Luke could be misdiagnosed be/c he's been making such progress?? (I KNOW that's wishful thinking ... but, hey, I'm 37&1/2 wees pregnant ... allow me my fantasies!!
I pray for your sake and for Aiden's that he's NT and just a bit delayed. But as we know, if he winds up on the spectrum, there's hope and potential and progress to be made. Fear not! We'll be here for you no matter what!
Kellie
Thanks! Wow that is strange. So why do some kids have autistic behaviors like that and then not? Sounds weird to me. I know nt kids can be weird and delayed and go through phases and all that. But anyone I know who had strange things w/ kids their kids never grew out of it. Like I do have a cousin that is autistic. He is severe though, which is why I never thought anything of my son. I only knew of the very obvious cases. I also had a friend (for short time as she moved) who had a son that was 3 and still not talking or making eye contact etc. I didn't meet him much, hence why I'm still so dumb on the disorder, but she told me before she moved that he was dx'd autistic. I wish I could have had her stay here then maybe I could compare.
Amber
So I was very nervous going to ped appt. It was just ds's standard 2 yr checkup. He looked at him and what not. Then I dropped the bomb of my concerns. Since Aiden was interacting fairly well w/ the doc I thought he'd think I was nuts. He's a great doc though. He just said that if I think there is any reason to suspect this disorder it is a valid reason to check into it. He said that it never hurts anything to find out. Even if he is mild it is good to know for future. I told him I called a number for a center in a city across state, as nothing in our city really. They sent me paperwork to fill out and send back and we go from there. He said that sounds good and let him know if I need any referrals or info of any sort.
He didn't even try to give his 2 cents, as he admitted he is not qualified to try to do a diagnosis. He has seen some cases, and when they are like Rainman he says he can usually tell parents his suspicions. However, when it's a milder case like asperger's or mild autism every child can be so diff and the symptoms can be so hard to see in a short doc visit. So he said I know best and I should check it out.
I felt better after the visit, even though I won't feel absolutely better until I know the "answer" to my questions. If he is nt, what then? That would mean he's a very odd child w/ social probs and strange behaviors. At least w/ a spectrum dx I could explain things. I'm not saying I don't want him to be nt, but...i dont know does that make sense? I know he's got something "off" and if I can't explain it then I won't know what to do!
Amber
HI AMBER you sound like me 2 yrs ago...its not that we WANT SOMETHING TO B WRONG BUT YOU NEED A ANSWER TO YOUR CHILDS DIFFERENT BEHAVIORS..BEEN THR I KNOW..BUT JUST BE TOTALLY HONEST WHEN FILLING OUT THE PAPERWORK AND IT COULD TAKE COUPLE MONTHS to get a appt. but good luck with this..i know the mindboggling going threw your head...but just relax and see what happens..YOU ARE SEEKIN A DEVELOPMENTAL PEDIATRICIAN? EVEN A PYSCHIATRIST N NUEROLOGIST CAN GIVE A DX. cyndieI think that's awesome that your dr. listened and didn't blow off your concerns.
I totally understand what you're saying. I didn't want anything to be wrong with my son either, but getting a diagnosis was a relief in a strange sort of way. I finally had a name for what was wrong. Being in limbo was the worst part for me.
Amber,If I were you, I wouldn't be concerned so much about a label ... in fact, from what I've heard (though what on earth do I know?!
)
before children enter into public school, there is NO label associated
with them, no matter their dx before entering. The schools won't
know if your son had early intervention or not unless you bring it up
(or unless E.I. is involved with setting up preschool or
something). I'd be more concerned at this point with getting
Aiden evaluated so you can initiate any other therapies (if he needs them) OR to set your mind at ease.I'll be honest with you ... I was an "I don't want a label put on my child" person, too, before Luke got this diagnosis. For the first week or so after Luke was dx'd I was a virtual basketcase thinking that my son is [sound of DOOM] "autistic." And now, frankly, I couldn't care LESS about a 'label' be/c the people who would judge him based on a label can jump in a lake, if you know what I mean!
The only thing ...
and I mean the ONLY thing ... I care about is Luke getting any and all
intervention that will enable him to fulfill his true potential
(whatever that may be) and to help him have a happy life with love in
his heart and soul. The last thing I want to do is to freak you
out or, God forbid, try to make you feel guilty ... but I'd hate for
you to regret letting time slip away on a "just in case" thing.
Heck, I'm still hoping that Luke, too, will "snap out of it." 
We can always hope. But we're hedging our bets (and hopes) by
trying to get him involved with as much therapy as he can tolerate
without causing him to lose out on his childhood (which seems
impossible be/c so far everything is at most one hour per day!).Good luck on whatever your decision is. I support you either way!
Kellie
Thanks you everyone. I can always count on words of encouragement and support from you all.
Amber It is great that the dr is that open to you!!! The first dr I took my ds to told me it was my parenting or lack there of :( The 2cd dr I took him too said it was either a brain injury from birth or PDD. He felt PDD was the more appropriate diagnosis due to the stims and a few other idiosyncracies. Plus there is more funding this way. I found my ds interacts better with authority figures and adults so he doesn't appear to be behind socially *but* when you get him around kids his own age, he is lost. Can you get some caregivers, etc to give you ancedotal reports?? If you take him to a playgroup, they may be able and willing to do this. I found my ds's daycare was great when it came to this even though they did not think it was an autism spectrum disorder due to having a high needs autistic child and asperbergers child in the program. They saw similarities but not enough they felt it fit my ds. I really hope you find the answers you are looking for.
Bryce is due for a re eval this year ......I also have a
fear that they will try to take his dx away.....that they may miss what
I know to be true. It took so long to find the dx
that truely fit......we feel comfortable here.....it fits, it gives him
a group to belong to, others who can relate.
Sound silly or paranoid? We had such a run around for
years....I hate to think of going through that again!
Good luck to you!! bonnie
Copyright Autism-PDD.net