Diagnosis change

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Diagnosis change
13
Wed, 04-12-2006 - 4:33pm

UGH, well it wasn't a surprise I guess. It is just what I knew all along but I wasn't looking for a change today.

I was talking to our therapist who has known the kids for over a year. She was concerned with the amount of comprehenion problems, OCD issues, Anxiety, tics, etc that Mike has. She mentioned that he didn't really "fit" aspergers well but was definitely on the spectrum with autism spectrum being his main issue, but these other diagnosis were significant enough to be separate issues as well.

So after much discussion, the single diagnosis that fits him best is autism or HFA, and he also has comorbids of OCD, anxeity disorder, a tic disorder, mood disorder(or mood lability). She never said tourettes specifically or bipolar. I have to have her clear it up some for me at our next appointment. I think she was trying not to freak me out too much. So I guess he coule be alphabet soup with HFA, OCD, anxiety, tourettes, mood disorder and SID.

Now to try and figure out how to approach this with DH. This is not going to go over well and he already doesn't like mine and the kids therapist because she once brought up the possibility that he should look into AS for himself. Not that he was, just that he should look into it. He hasn't liked her since.

OYE VEY

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-19-2005
In reply to: rbear4
Thu, 04-13-2006 - 6:38am

Dear Renee,

I just wanted to send you and your family hugs and let you know I'm thinking of you. Eric's younger, but I understand how you feel. He still has the "PDD-NOS" diagnosis that is kind of a no-man's land. Often he does seem AS to me, but he had a severe lang. delay as a little guy so he can't be called AS. Now, we've had the increase in the OCD's, yet they seem to be considerably relieved by the digestive enzymes. Then there is the bipolar element in Eric's family history, although he shows no signs yet, as he is too young.

It's all so confusing and although we know labels are not important in and of themselves, they do help us figure out what direction to do in for treatment and how to help.

Hang in there. You are so great and so is Mike. You've both come so far and climbed so many mountains. You'll get through this one. But every time there is a reeval or a diagnostic twist it brings that original diagnosis pain up again, at least for me.

Hugs, hugs, hugs.

Maybe the Easter-bunny can bring everyone something nice, although I know you all are sugar-free. But we make little exceptions for holidays. I think we could all use a little chocolate!

Katherine

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Registered: 03-27-2003
In reply to: rbear4
Fri, 04-14-2006 - 10:32pm

"HFA, OCD, anxiety, tourettes, mood disorder and SID."

Really--you can look at it in a different way. HFA is HFA. But--OCD is a part of anxiety and anxiety is a part of HFA. SID is a part of HFA too. They really are all related--so you could say---HFA, tourettes and mood disorder.

Boy--if I listed all the things my son really is......I keep it short and simple.

My son has:
Bipolar
HFA

But he is also---expressive language disorder, ADD(but only in school), SID, OCD, anxiety, and then the part of bipolar that makes them look--ODD and CD.

Why did they change from Aspergers to HFA? He must have a language delay? Then some people think AS and HFA are the same thing.

Holly
Jacob---6yo

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: rbear4
Fri, 04-14-2006 - 10:53pm

Well, we have always known that Mike had anxiety and tics and all these other things that are usually just part and parcel to ASD. However, some of them go beyond what is typically seen in a kid with ASD and she feels they are to the level of requiring a comorbid dx. Even tics are part of ASD so I am not sure she will diagnose that one out separately.

In particular I think his biggest co-morbid would be OCD. I could see not diagnosing Anxiety separate since OCD is an anxiety disorder. That is one of the questions I have for her. I am glad I am seeing her next week to work this out.

The biggest ones she mentioned that I think she will list as comorbids that are beyond a regular ASD are OCD and mood disorder.

What she said specifically is that Mike does not present as a typical Aspergers child and Aspergers does not cover who he is accurately. He has comorbids that go beyond what is typical in an AS kid, especially his OCD and mood issues. She also mentioned tics and anxiety so I am not sure what she feels rises to the level of comorbid.

I related it to Cait and my nephew "N". Cait is classic Aspie, N is classic mid functioning autistic. She works with both. Like she said, he is not like Cait as an aspie and his autism affects him more than that, but he isn't as autistic as N either. However, Mike has other issues that neither N or Cait have.

Confusing, I will hopefully get more info next week.

Thanks for your thoughts! As you can see I am still processing through this so I write way more than anyone would want to read, lol.

Renee

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