We have a Dx for Weston
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| Tue, 06-14-2005 - 5:03pm |
We had the interview w/ the psychologist today for Weston. She had observed him this morning during VBS ( and I thought Weston was doing very well at VBS compared to at school, though she already knew he fit most of the criteria after this morning!!) and then came to our home this afternoon to do the CARS and some discussion w/ us.
We now have a verbal Dx of Autism (she has to file her report and calculate his CARS score before the Dx is in his file). He fits the criteria and she said he'll have a high rating w/ the CARS (mostly due to his sensory issues) but she said he's certainly High Functioning! She was very nice and very helpful, but I found out that she's retiring at the end of July so will not follow us after that.
I'm feeling a bit sad and rather dismayed that he is HFA instead of AS or PDD-NOS. But I'm glad that Weston will be able to get services so I guess this Dx is good. It also should get us a bit of leverage w/ the school district, so I'm glad for that reason as well.
We still need to apply for medicaid and get on the waiting list at the developmental ped. but I'm feeling sad, but like I won a big victory as well.
Betsy

Hi Betsy,
I know it's hard to get the dx., even when you know it's right. And even when it's what your child needs. So strange to feel all those emotions at once, right?
We've talked about it a lot on this board, but these dx. "ebb and flow." He may be PDD-NOS at some other point, or AS, or maybe both... you (and Weston) are not married to the dx.
Hang in there,
Cathy
(& Jack Attack, age 3.11)
That is so great that you have a dx and now you can get the help Weston needs!! I remember when Jake was dx AS-it was so bitter sweet. On one hand you know what it is you need to help him and on the other he's your baby and you want him to just be "naormal" (and I use that term lightly, cause what exactly is normal?)
How is Warren doing? I know how hard middle school is. Jake had a good 6th grade yr thanks to his special Autism teacher and all the accomindations they provided. I hope Weston is doing better and he has a better year next yr.
Miss you on the other board!! I am beginning to think Katie isnt NT or that she is learning odd behaviors from her brother. Who knows! She gets so mad at stiff and screams at the top of her lungs, wint ask for help and her eyes go all over the place when she is talking to me. Hope Owen, Amelia and Martha are doing good too!
I am so happy for you and Weston!!
We must meet sometime-since we are only a state away and you live in the same place as my Grandparents!!
Liza
Did she say why she felt it was HFA and not AS or PDD-NOS? There is alot of overlap with the diagnosis and what one diagnostician may see as AS another will see as HFA another will see as PDD-NOS. Some will also err on the side of saying autistic to allow a child to access neccessary services. Like Cathy I think said, there is lots of ebb and flow. Kids can move up and down the spectrum and how the spectrum is diagnosed changes. he is still the same Weston whether he is autistic, aspergers or PDD. The important thing is you have an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis on paper and now can move on from there to get him needed supports.
I think I have mentioned, my kids have a variety of diagnosis depending on who is diagnosing. Currently there most recent psychologist (whom I respect) says Asperger's so I will go with that, but they both can fit autism as well and have that written in too.
BTW, was this a school psychologist or a school evaluation or private? I forget. If it is school they don't differentiate between different autism spectrum diagnoses. It is either autism or it isn't. That may be why too.
Renee
this was the psychologist for the state autism division-- this is to qualify him for services, a service coordinator, and medicaid, etc. (this is also to help me get leverage for the school district to get him more services-- esp in 2 yrs when we move into middle school)
her reasoning behind the HFA Dx was his language delay. Even though I can't get this school district speech therapist to say he has language delay, everyone else that evaluates him says it's there! And the original speech therapist said it was significant. (currently, he's in speech for pragmatic language and a fluency disorder).
She also mentioned that he exhibits greater sensory dysfunction and more autistic behaviors than a child she would Dx w/ aspergers. He interacts less w/ his environment esp when away from home than she would like to see if she were to Dx aspergers.
I do think we'll do some extra speech therapy privately, they will send me some recommendations for this when they send the full report. She mentioned that there is a private speech therapist that is just 15 min from us that works primarily w/ autisim spectrum kids. this therapist is also well versed in the type of fluency disorder Weston exhibits (she said that it's not an uncommon thing in ASD kids-- this is the first time someone has told us this!)
I have been trying to get ahold of the school district rep for our IEP, they left it hanging after the last meeting-- now I think she's on vacation for the summer. They did not schedule a time to meet back w/ all the info and decide what to do for him (our last meeting was 4-8-05), and I'd like to be able to get something together before school starts (early AUG). Tho I may be better off to wait until I have the written report in hand.
I'm glad we'll qualify for services, I do think the school district has been poopooing us because they didn't want to provide anything extra and that he really is probably more on the spectrum that we/they wanted to believe. I also think he's falling further and further behind his peers when it comes to all things social and verbal so this is a good thing. Just hard to hear.
Betsy