Eval Tomorrow

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-02-2006
Eval Tomorrow
5
Thu, 07-20-2006 - 7:41pm

Hello!

When I first posted, I told you all about the ADHD study we enrolled in for Michael. After the 4 1/2 hour interview with DH and myself, many questionaires, teacher's questionaires and copies of the IEP's, the psychologists at UB highly suspect Aspergers.
Well, tomorrow is the day!

I'm anxious, nervous and little on edge.

Michael will first meet with Dr. Hoffman for 1/2 hour (does not seem very long). I am assuming that he will either rule Aspergers out or have us follow-up with more extensive evaluations. Anyone have any thoughts about this?

Depending how things go with Dr. Hoffman, if he suspects Aspergers we are done with study. If he does not - we will have an appointment immediately following for the ADHD evaluation. (i.e. IQ test, observing Michael with me through two-sided mirror, etc. etc.)

I have so many mixed emotions. I have done a great deal of research the past month and I see so much of the Aspergers traits in Michael, but just as many that do not relate to him. He can not deal with change - he regresses for great periods of time, he has horrible fits, he does not hold eye contact, he doesn't like to be touched unless asked (except for those in comfort zone - DH & I). However, he cracks jokes, laughs, initiates play with other children and exhibits great empathy. We are lucky for these traits. However, no matter the diagnosis, I believe his sensory issues and Aspie-like characteristics must be dealt with. I am hopeful that we will be able to get help for him and for DH & I. Parent and teacher training feels like my major goal right now.

DH and Ihave had some arguments this week. I'm sure it is because of the anxiety about tomorrow. We have been trying hard not to critize one other when we loose our cool. Michael needs us to be strong - but sometimes its very hard!

Thanks for letting me vent. Hopefully we will get some answers tomorrow.

Kate Mc

Michael (5)
Sean (3)

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-16-2006
Thu, 07-20-2006 - 8:32pm

1/2 hr sound about right. When we had our 1st eval done, the over all time there was 2hrs but the DR focused on Adam for 1/2 hr and we got PDD. Now, next month is our follow up eval this time it's inhouse. Thank goodness! We understand this new doc doesn't read prior reports. I guess it's better do to no having an opinion walking in.
Don't fret, it's all for the better for your son, and it sounds like you are on the ball.
Stay Strong

nora

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2001
Thu, 07-20-2006 - 8:39pm

Kate,


it will be tough to hear but at the same time it is a relief to know why your child is the way he is.

 


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 07-21-2006 - 1:24am

Ya know when my Mike was your sons age we went through lots of the same things. In fact autism spectrum was first mentioned when he was 3 but even at 5, our Mike was so outgoing with peers, sweet and empathetic we thought he COULDN"T be on the spectrum and we convinced many doctors of that.

At 7 a doctor explained to us how our Mike was on the spectrum but had these strengths and she was very right for our Mike.

1- Outgoing. Many young AS kids are outgoing but they don't understand social cues or social failures. They want to play with others and may even be able to learn the basic "Hi my name is... do you want to play?" which works at a young age. The difference is you will see that there is some way they are not getting social cues. For my Mike it was that he kept perseverating at kids and bugging them while following them and they would get annoyed. For instance, one report in preschool talks about how he continued to perseverate on a monster theme way past when the other kids had finished he was still chasing them around and it did get upsetting to some of the girls.

When they are older and other kids get more socially savy then they may begin to have social failures and then will tend to withdraw and not play with others as much. This is what happened to my Mike. He did ok through K with a freind or 2 but it became obvious he was different. he was more interested in their legos than the other child and it grew from there until we started to get him some help.

2- Cracks jokes - what kind? Our Mike is a big kidder. He likes to think he is the class clown and does make people laugh. That is common. However, kids with AS may have a hard time understanding typical jokes because they are not concrete or the language is hard to understand. Perhaps it has a double meaning which is really hard for them. Mike now gets many puns (not all) but that is something that lots of aspies will learn. Plays on words and such. Certain jokes he does get but most he does not. He tries though and sometimes he is down right funny even on purpose.

3- Empathy - This was the kicker for us. Mike COULDN"T be autistic because he had empathy. It really is a incorrect stereotype that they do not have empathy. The doctor explained that many AS kids do have empathy, the difference is they usually don't understand things from another persons POV so they may not know there is any reason to empathize. But they can learn certain situations where someone else may need empathy. For instance when someone falls and is hurt and crying. Someones dog dies. Etc. They may not be tuned into or realize another person is hurt many times but if they do some are very empathetic.

My oldest is not empathetic typically. That is where her brain is a bit more autistic than her brothers. She really just does not get another persons POV at all to feel empathy until this year (she is 12). This year she saw a dead puppy on the side of the road and began to cry because she was sad the dog died and because someone would miss the dog. That was the first ever. Cait's obsession is animals in a big way so it makes sense this is how she learned it. She also cried once this year because I was mad at her. That was a first ever.

However, Mike has always been the most sensitive soul in our entire family. Once at 5 he didn't want me to tell Cait we had done something fun because she would be sad. That was the example I held onto forever that he couldn't be autistic. The doctor asked me how many times Mike had heard me say the same thing. It was learned though he is empathetic, he very rarely sees anothers POV in novel situations to know empathy. Once he was sufficating his brother because his brother was breaking a rule and he was afraid that brother would get into trouble. He showed empathy by not wanting his brother to get in trouble but had no clue how his brother would feel about being suffocated.

Hope that clarifies. I must go to bed.

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2003
Fri, 07-21-2006 - 9:52am

Wishing you lots of luck++++

Samantha

Samantha
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Fri, 07-21-2006 - 12:05pm

Kate,


I have to tell you regressions are kind of considered a hallmark of ASDs for many people and agencies.

-Paula

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