Evaluations and official Diagnosis’ | Autism PDD
I can tell how relieved you are feeling by the tone of your post. I think it's much easier to deal with the dx when you have a good doctor that gives you straight forward answers. And now that you know exactly what you're dealing with, you can make the best decisions for your child. I'm very happy for you and your family.
Yayyyyyyyyy go us. We are on the path of unconfussion and not so mixed emotions.
As some of you know Zachary was DXed by his Dr. on May 2nd to be "somewhere on the autism spectrum". Since he isn't an expert he sent us to one.
Zachary's official Diagnosis is classic autism. We discussed for a minute and I asked, ok can you explain to me why and how you came up with that diagnosis... what about PDD-NOS. She smiled and said sure. She explained that Zachary is having enough delays in all three area's (social, play, and speech) to be classified as having autism. She said we usually give a PDD-NOS DX for childeren who are having like big delays in 2 of the areas but maybe only one or two delays in the other. We talked about what she thought about him functioning well and she went on to explain about the 50/50 prognosis for kids who recieve intensive therapy early in life. Meaning that 50% of them do well, go into mainstream school with lil' to no help, some go to college and live independantly as adults.... she said, but there is also the 50% who end up not doing some of those things. I asked what did she think about Zach... and she said at this point since he has made some progress in ST and gained some speech, even though she can tell he's not understanding half of what he's saying meaning he's echoing... more than I even thought he was.... but even still he's making progress and that means all the world, because once we get the funding figured out... He will be in therapy around 25 hours a week.... right now he recieves one hour of speech. We asked about school this september and she explained that Zachary is not ready for full inclusion school which I completly agree with... and since kenosha doesn't offer special ed specific at all... it's either inclusion or nothing.... she explained that Zachary doesn't have the skills to cope with school right now... He doesn't have enough play skills, he doesn't have enough communication in any form and he doesnt' have barely any social skills for kids his own age to even be able to imitate them.... plus with him recieving ABA, having a new baby in the house, school would just be one more thing that he has to learn... all of what she said I agreed with... she told me to not let the school push me into putting him school because they will. I said, but wouldn't the social interaction be benificial... and the Dr. explained, yes it will be... in about a year from now when we can get his other skills more on track....She explained also that... if you weren't eligible for funding for Zach's therapy... I would say yes deffinatly send him to school because SOMETHING is better than nothing at all...but because we are eligible this is the better route. All in All I would say it went perfectly well and besides her saying "He has classic autism" which caught me off guard a bit because I was expecting a PDD-NOS diagnosis I agree with everything she had to say.... and I'm not disagreeing with the DX's at all... like I said, just not what I had thought... I didn't think He met enough of the criteria because he is somewhat social. Anyways thanks for listening to the rambling *laughs*... I'm glad this part is all over....Now....
Off to the Neuro which will be done in about 2 months the pediatric psych. said... she said I could do it now, but she wants us to get settled with the new baby first.... all of this is being done through thier program (WEAP), which I kind of like because it means that everyone is more likely to be on the same page. Also the wait to get into childerens neuro is 13 months.
LOL I'm tired now after writing the novel.
Good Sarah that you got an official dx. It could still turn out to be pdd-nos. But with the official dx of autism, the services you will get. You can also apply for ssi now.
Tammy
How great to finally have that relief of knowing. I'm hoping to get there too. Best of luck on the other doc appt and I hope his therapy continues to help him progress.
Amber Cyndie, I would do exactly what I did... take him to another Dr. who specializes in ASD and ask for a specific DX. I took Zach to a pediatric psychologist and now he has the DX of autism... now we go on to the neuro Dr. to figure out how severe. It's a long process, but as long as you are presistant... you will get there. Good luck Cyndie, you need to call your insurance and ask questions too. My insurance company explained to me that once my son is officially diagnosed then they will cover everything but the co-pays for all mental services. My son is currently diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder, but until he is labeled on the spectrum by the Meyer center he cannot be covered for most services. In my area, Houston...we have over a 1 year wait to get into the Meyer center. I called every other child psychologist and psychiatrist I could find and none of them can handle a child under age 4. My son is only 28 months. Even the pediatric neurologist is over six months waiting list. I have learned so much on this forum that I am just starting to help him myself. And I already see improvement from teaching him to sign for certain items. May you be blessed, Julianne hello, i am new to this. my son 3 1/2 just got dx with (asd) austic spectrum disorder. is this classis autism or ppd-nos.he was also dx with sensory intergration. i am so confused after reading all this for the last 3 hours i am at a lost for words. we went to the specialist after a year of speach therapy and no luck the school kept saying he is speach and develop. delayed. but i knew there was more to it. after getting the official dx the school says they dont see it. but they also only see him 2x week for 30 min. they have not seen him for 3.5 years with his meltdowns and everything else . this dx explains alot of things that has happened since he was born. he was a very difficult child and nothing like my 1st!! i need alot of help with what is the next step to take. he has been accepted into the school starting in sept. into special education. i hope he does ok with his social problems he does not play well- he hits and throws alot. they recommend ot but insurance does not cover this. i dont know what to do. with the diag. of asd do they qualify for ssi and medicare? please help Cyndie sarah, so my next step is to take hime to a pediatric psychologist and get an official diag. of ppd or autism. so asd is not official that just states they are on the spectrum. this is all so confusing. i went to the doctor my ped. told me to go to at childrens hospital her in virginia. and that is who said he has asd. how do you find an ot?? thanks kellie-it seems you know alot about this stuff and i just keep getting sick to my stomach over all of this. it is one thing after another i find out one thing then need to check on another-who has time for anything else except to deal with their child with asd. i love my boys so much so i guess the house work will just have to wait. mason diag. came from dr accardo which his title is developmental pediatrician. very well know her in va. should i call back to childrens hospital and see if they can give me a better diag. other than asd. or they can "change" his diag. or should i get a second opionion from another doctor i just know know how or who to take him to since i was referred by his ped. to him. thanks for your listening ear.
I'm glad to hear that you got an exact diagnosis. As you already know this will help so much for services needed. Cyndie, About OT therapy. If you have difficulty getting an OT over the summer (everyone has already suggested ideas to find one) then the school should hopfully provide OT therapy in the fall along with speech and whatever your child needs. afriend, First of all welcome to the board. Secondly your not doing your friend any favors by not saying anything if you feel that there is something wrong with your child. NO she will not like it and it very well may cause some problems with your friendship but a true friend you will be by saying something now so that she can get an evaluation and therapy started as soon as possible if needed. Your friendship will survive all of this if it is a true friendship. I wouldn't jump the gun and tell her you think her child is autistic though. I would simply state the delay's that her child is showing and just ask her if she has mentioned it to the doctor yet. Come across as concerned and caring and be prepared for anger. If it wasn't for my sister being persistant with me about my son.....he would have never gotten the help he is getting now. OH it hurt so bad but now I thank her so much for caring enough. Good luck, Karrie Hello everyone. I am new to the board. I have been reading posts and I really think my best friends 14month old son is on the autism spectrum. How do i go about talking to her about this ? I don't want to seem pushy or nosey but I am worried because she gets really defensive when someone notices how different he is. What should I do, if anything? Welcome afriend I would look into some of the characteristics of autism Common Characteristics http://autism.about.com/cs/whatisautism/l/blcharac.htm Poster of Autism signs http://www.autism-biomed.org/poster.htm and also some normal developmental milestones http://www.thenewparentsguide.com/baby-development-month-13t o15.htm http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/actearly/milestones_3months .html And then if there still seems to be some delays mention them to your friend. 14 months is pretty young, and remember the NT kids can do what ASD kids do but ASD kids are to the EXTREME! Good luck! thanks steelersfans!!!!! for the links. I will check them out. Hopefully he will be okay and it is just something he will grow out of because he is so young. It is just that I have never been around a baby so different meaning he does not respond to balloons , toys or laughter though he finds certain things that make him laugh or nothing seems to phase him at all. I just don't want my friend to miss out on valuable early intervention or is 14 mo too early. thanks again afriend 14 months is not too early to start Early Intervention if they determin him to have delays. Thats about the age I started my son with EI. Good Luck It varies too much from state to state. Here some hmo's won't accept certain clinics because they are not in their "community of plan". Also when blood tests are ordered if the proper code is not written down it screws up the processing. Its kinda hard to keep secrets anymore with everything on computers. For example I had a cortizone shot for pain in my shoulder. But the bill came from a clinic that I hadn't been to in over a year. Took me awhile to figure out what it was referring to. Seems the doctors put the wrong code down. My insurance didn't cover all of that either. Tammy
I bet if you took the same young toddler to several different experts- some would diagnose autism, others pdd-nos.
Glad you were prepared for the diagnosis (as much as anyone can be) and I wish you and your family all the best. 
Kellie
Some states require a doctor's prescription for OT services.
Since you are currently working with a speech therapist, s/he may be
able to refer you to an OT clinic that specializes in working with
children with autism ... or at least one that has a good
reputation. Then, if I were you, I'd call and ask if you need a
doc's prescription for an evaluation and treatment of your son.
Where I used to work as a PT we were allowed to evaluate people without
a prescription, but couldn't treat them. (Getting the
prescription is no big deal ... usually the doctor's office will just
fax it over to the OT.)
ASD is not a specific diagnosis. It's like saying "I have a pet
at home" but not specifying whether it's a cat or a dog or a goldfish.
:) As Sarah said, you should probably bring your son to another
doctor who specializes in autism and get a specific diagnosis.
There are several types of doctors who do this ... some work out of
neurodevelopmental clinics. You should look online in your area
to see if there are any large autism centers and they'd be able to
diagnose your son more specifically.
I caution you, however, to check with your insurance for the exact
diagnoses they cover! My son was dx'd as PDD NOS and, although
that is a type of autism, it's not classic autism and classic autism is the only thing they'd cover under mental health. Don't tell anyone 
but we had to get the diagnosis changed to a medical diagnosis so that they'd cover his services.
I agree with Karrie! Your friend will definitely not like what
you have to say ... and she may even get defensive. No one likes
to hear anything but how wonderful their child is! But as Karrie
said, you'd be a true friend to mention that there may be delays and
ask if the child's pediatrician is aware. If your friend changes
the subject, I would drop it. You've done what you can to say
something and it's ultimately up to her to care for her child as she
sees fit. Remember too that 14 mos is EXTREMELY YOUNG. LOTS
can change in 4-10 mos (when the child is 18 mos or 2 yrs), so I
wouldn't get too intensely forceful with the issue. Even
developmental specialists would most likely not diagnose a child as on
the spectrum at such a young age.
You're a good friend to be concerned.
Kellie
http://www.eci-lps.org/is_this_typical.html
http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/welcome/conditions/developmen taldelays.html
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