SO very confused about autism | Autism PDD
Who diagnosed your child with autism? I somehow doubt that the staff at the residential placement is more qualified than the person who made the diagnosis. However, if you weren't satisfied with how the diagnostic evaluation was conducted, maybe you should seek a second opinion for your own peace of mind.
Otherwise, I'd encourage the staff to share their observations and be as specific as they can, with the goal of improving behavior and well-being rather than with the hidden goal of proving or disproving the label.
The humming and long showering sound like sensory-based coping mechanisms (he might also spend a long time on his hygiene routines because it's a socially acceptable reason to be alone). If you're wondering about what kind of sensory issues your son might have, this checklist might be helpful.
http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/sensory-processin g-disorder-checklist.html
Good luck with everything.
Hey Julie, well you know we have been/still are going through that too. It's so hard to get an actual dx that EVERYONE can agree on! Mason's psych always tells me it's better to treat the symptoms than to worry about a label, but like you said you just want to know so you can stop wondering all the time. Good luck with everything and keep me posted on how things go!
i will have to be patient and let the professionals gather their info and then we may have some answers soon
Hang in there Julie!! I hope it all works out for you and your ds. Hi all
i hope i can get your ideas here as i really feel this is a great place
my ds is 13 years old and is in a special residential program
he gets to come home on weekends and we can visit him often
he is receiving excellent care
the process at the program involves teaching him to self-regulate
there is alot of practice of deep breathing and relaxation exercises
he has opportunities to "talk" or vent about any stresses with the staff or on site psychologist
the confusion.....???......they are questioning his autism diagnosis
they don't "See" autism
He is very social and i taught him to use his manners ALOT
He comes across as very sweet,quiet, and shy
He barely interacts with the other 4 clients at the program and prefers to interact with the adults (staff)
Once in awhile they hear his oddities
He humms alot or sings parts of songs (usually throughtout a day it's the same line of a song
all day) In the shower he acts very strangely and talks loudly even yelling about things that have made him angry all the while doing his very long process of showering and brushing teeth and getting dressed (takes him an hour usually)
WE have been told he has Tourette's in the past, OCD,ODD,anxiety and the latest was ASD.....I don't know what he has anymore....
I would like to know so i can stop wondering all the time
We can appear as very normal and no one would guess anything was off
but he misunderstands people and covers up that he is confused by agreeing and shaking his head yes as though he understands
He doesn't get jokes alot of times and misinterprets facial expressions often
The topper is ...he told the staff he is very worried about school
He says he can't concentrate
Information doesn't stay in his head anymore
He used to be a TOP student and now he really struggles
The psychiatrist at the place feels ds is on too much meds. (5 meds.) and he is thinking of trying something for attention difficulties
We have not tried such meds. until now because all other docs. saw he could sit still very well and such.....i've always thought his attention was troubling him so I am glad the new doc. is considering this route
ANY ideas y'all?
Sorry this is so long ...TIA for your suggestions
Julie
I read your post and am confused as well.. so I cant imagine how confused you are!
I hope you can find someone that specializes in multi-diagnoses and give him a thorough eval in all these areas so that you can get some real answers...he may have every single one of these diagnoses but you need someone on the same page and not making you second guess what is going on all the time. My heart goes out to you..I hope you find some answers and peace of mind soon:) Keep us updated:)
Hope the meds get adjusted:)
It is confusing. And every kid is sooo very different. My ds also has bits
and pieces of other neurological disorders and I sometimes think that it
not that my son got a wrong diagnosis but that we can only diagnose by
grouping symptoms into bundles that it is justnot as neat together in
reality. I keep coming back to the fact that my son's diagnosis pervasive
developmental disorder is actually pretty accurate - bits and pieces in all
areas of development are disorderd. One book I found kind of interesting
was 'kids in the syndrome mix' which kind of said that many kids with
neurological difficulties do not fit neatly into one category.
I hope his staff can help sort it all out, I am glad that they do not just take
a cookie cutter vision to the kids.
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