Through the school system if the child is diagnosed with autism they do get more services. I know with both of mine they were diagnosed through an evaluator that the school district had a contract with. They were also diagnosed by the day treatment center and by their neuro. As far as labels, we use labels everyday with people and things. Like when you go to the store, if there is a really slow cashier, you have labeled her as the "slow cashier", and try to avoid her checkout line. If you have seen her enough in the store and you saw her somewhere else, in your mind you would refer to her as the slow cashier. Even though you might not say that outloud. As far as the word "handicap", that isn't used that often anymore. But having grown up with a mother that has a disability I might look at things differently. She always says she has a disability, she is not disabled. And she isn't. If you have a learning disability like dyslexia, after you have the proper training in that area to be able to read right, you don't refer to that as a handicap. You refer to it as a learning disability and how you have learn to adapt with it and achieve great things with it. Maybe the hubby has issues with the word "handicap", which is not politically correct to use anymore.
Tammy
We went to a Center that diagnosis Autism and Spectrum Disorders. It was an all day evaluation and they did many different tests and combined them all to fill out the criteria for the DSM-IV. Initally my son was diagnosed with PDD-NOS pending an Autism diagnosis based on a social evaluation with peers. After that evaluation was done he made the critera for Autism and his diagnosis was changed. I am one that believes that getting a diagnosis if your child is in this spectrum is important for therapies etc. Also for some insurance companies without that diagnosis you may not get certain things. Also I agree that the school system depending on where you live is more apt to help your child with needs geered toward their diagnosis especially if your school system has an autism class or specific helps for autistic children. Also here in my state Adam now qualifies for respite hours, funding for certain activities etc....all because of a diagnosis. Also even with for instance his OT and Speech, Now that he has a diagnosis they seem to be more able to help him because of the understanding of the disorder and how he learns.
Karrie
DH thinks tht we can get him to talk more and use sentences. Us and ST. That's to him solves the problem!
Eventually you might get to that point. But that doesn't deal with the present. Do you think he has the perception that if he doesn't acknowledge his problems , the child's problems, that they don't exist?
Tammy
It took me a long time to come out of denial too - all you can do is keep pointing things out - the more you are educated on signs and symptoms the more you can keep mentioning it.
It also helps if he is exposed to typical kids so he can see for himself the difference.
Ok, I still deal with denial...some days are better than others. The one thing that helped me was someone constantly pointing things out. Now granted it made me mad, I hated the person that kept telling me - I kept thinking they didn't know my daughter well enough, they weren't seeing the whole picture on and on I would justify my daughters actions...but when reality hits, it will hit hard.
:(
Melanie
I am new to all this...but what does DS mean?well, we are all different in our feeling of this but...here is my opinion. my ds (dear son) is 4.8. he was interviewed by a neurologist, and a pediatric specialist. 40 minutes to 1+ hour appts. he also had the exams by the iep board. psychological, behavioral, speech..... they will not tell you your child is asd. take all of those evals and get an appt with the pediatric neurologist, and have them read all of it while you are there.
to me, it is better to know and begin interventiona dn change what you need to change at home.. MY MOTTO IS IGNORANCE IS NOT BLISS, IT IS IGNORANT!....you can use that.
my husband is in denial too, he is absolutely no help, except giving meds - which i have to say is a MAJOR help. if you have a special needs child, he has needs that require special intervention and those need to be addressed.
many drs are wary of dx autism b/c it is so on the rise. they want to be absolutely sure that the child really is b4 they lable him. i appreciate that, but you have to stand up for your kid. keep a journal of eveything you child does that leads you to believe he is autistic and take that to the dr w/ you. have dr address every example you give, and you will either make him question it or diagnose it properly.
there are many programs that you could be entitled to under the childs disability, but they also many depend on your income. to me, i would much rather label my child autistic and get him the help and understanding that he needs, than to try to ignore the obvious issues that my child has. my dh used to say bust his a$$ and he'll stop throwing that fit, when he doesn't get his way.....guess what? he won't stop! he will melt down until he throws up or passes out! a "normal" kid will not do that to themself! read every book you can. one i found to be most compehensive is by addell jameson tilton. she is the mom of a asd kid. its is call everything parents of autistic/ aspergers need to know.......it also address the guilt phases, denial, fear, and other things we all go through as parents, and could be very helpfull to your dh.
them more you read, the more you will understan that either you child IS asd or not!
remember, the drs are PRACTICING medicine, you are your childs only ADVOCATE, and it is up 2 you to address his needs.
hth, keep in touch! this is a fantastic board and no one understands us like WE DO!
kate
Hmmm ... talking in sentences would be nice, but if your son is autistic, then he would also be displaying social and behavioral delays. Speaking won't necessarily solve THOSE issues. We took our ds to a developmental pediatrician and she was with him almost 2 hours, mostly asking us questions about his behavior. Initially, I was worried about our son being labelled, but now I couldn't care less since the only people who know his diagnosis are those who we tell. And what differemce does it make HOW the school 'labels' him as long as he's getting the therapies he needs to maximize his potential? You know what? Anyone who thinks differently about your son be/c of a dx (which may change after therapy and time anyway) is not worth your concern or energies -- they're not real friends. Some kids on the spectrum are able to be mainstreamed into regular classes early on in school, so it's not even like they'll be looked at as 'different' by their peers based on a dx (which certainly their classmates wouldn't be told).
I don't think that autism has the stigma it used to even 10 years ago. This populaton is growing so fast and it shows up more in the media all the time. I'm not too into labels--but they are a necessary shorthand for the medical, social and education worlds.
pat
good luck with dh.
My DS Dad is in denial of it all. I am hoping that if hears it from other parents...
What kind of evals did your kids have to determine a dx? What kind of eval was it and how long did it take? Does 'labeling" help a child get more help? Ins vs state ins? What determines the therapies that the child entitled to?
DS is verbal, starting to talk in sentences, potty trained at 4(daytime only), can't ride at bike, echolia, some creative play, poor diet, poor eye contact, social with kids but doesn't have clue what they are playing, doesn't ask why, where or when, poor fine motor skills.....
Currently DS is going to private speech(pd by state ins), waiting to into Intermediate unit for preschool intervention(IEP), dx by Dev Ped was 40 min said he knew the grayhaired ladt doll was grandmom so he has good creative play, good scial skills so with speech and IU he should be fine, didn't want to label him.
DS Dad thinks labeling makes him handicap????
HELP!