Who should make diagnosis??

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2001
Who should make diagnosis??
3
Mon, 06-13-2005 - 8:13pm

My son was diagnosed by a pediatric neurologist.

 


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
Mon, 06-13-2005 - 10:38pm

I think a lot of it depends on who you are able to get in with. I brought up concerns to our pediatrician (after 6 years with a family physician who was no help at all) and she got us in with a developmental pediatrician she knows.

So far, the developmental pediatrician is the only person we've worked with in the medical profession. aside from the regular ped. She made the dx, she prescribes meds (he's got a mood disorder in addition to AS). She once gave us the name of a pediatric neuropsychiatrist, but when we found out testing would cost $2500 out of pocket we didn't pursue that.) I think a developmental pediatrician is meant to be more of a liason type of person than a specialist, like a neurologist.

I guess the bottom line is, does the doctor know about ASD's, or whatever your child is dealing with. This board, and others like it, are great because they help us educate ourselves about what might be going on with our kids. Without this kind of info, I could have taken my child to a doctor who tried to dx and medicate him for something like ADHD (or just label him a bad kid), and I wouldn't have had the knowledge to disagree.

I think a pediatric neurologist is just fine. If you are happy with the doctor and agree with the diagnosis, that's what matters. Oh, and I suppose one might charge more than another.

It amazes me how few options there seem to be here in the SF Bay Area. If we have hardly any choices here in a metropolitan area, then I'd think it would be much harder in more rural areas. Apparently that's not true, though. Oh well. I'm rambling now. ;)

Evelyn,
mom of David 7; Nathan 3.5

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-09-2003
Tue, 06-14-2005 - 1:04am

I agree with Evelyn; the doc who knows most about ASDs and other neuro-developmental problems is best to diagnose.

~ Chelsea
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 06-14-2005 - 8:33am

I agree with the others. For my kids the initial diagnosis came from a neuropsychologist (Cait), a neurologist (Mike) and a psychologist (Dave). They were also then confirmed by other doctors the kids needed to see for one reason or another. So, for example, Cait's has been confirmed by neurologist, psychologist, developmental ped and school.

More important than which kind of doctor you see, I think it is important to see one who specializes in or is highly practiced in autism spectrum disorders. We have now a neuro who specializes in ASD's but I also have worked with knucklehead ones in the past who wouldn't know an ASD if it bit them in the nosey.

When I am looking for a new professional for one reason or another I always search until I find one that specializes in autism. Often I find the local autism society of america or other parents of autism spectrum children know who that would be in your area.

Renee

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