Thought disorder? Dx today
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| Mon, 02-20-2006 - 9:56pm |
Hello,
I had our second appt with the doc today and am pretty concerned. I have been convinced that Ethan (age 6) has AS. Although he is pretty social he exhibits many symptoms, especially the unusual conversations. Today he had some very disjointed conversations with the doctor. When we were finished, the doc said that he doesn't think he is qualified to dx Ethan, since he is a behavior specialist and he recommended a psychiatrist. He said Ethan's conversation was too disjointed for AS--he uses made up words and phrases that make no sense at all. THe doc says it is complicated, tho, because ethan can hold it together well enough that his K teacher has never really seen him do this! It often takes a while for people to realize that Ethan talks like this, because most of the time he has normal conversations. The doc seems to be leaning toward a thought disorder -and is recommending antipsychotic drugs. I don't know what to think and could use your input!
TIA!
Debbi

2 thoughts, First has Ethan had a language evaluation? Is it possible that some of these conversational problems are due to a problem with processing or comprehending language? Or perhaps a problem with expressive language. If he has a processing disorder it could be that the thoughts are going to fast for his brain to process and keep up with. Processing problems are very common with kids with ASD and other similar difficulties. I would check out a processing problem before going to the thought disorder place.
Next, I would have him evaluated by someone who specializes in autism and related disorders. Conversations are frequently a problem for kids with HFA/AS. Some kids can go on and on forever about a topic and only have some pragmatic problems but at its core autism and aspergers are social communication disorders. Communication in some way is always affected even if mildly. So dismissing an Autism spectrum disorder due to problems with conversations is confusing to me.
Then Again I don't really understand what you are meaning by a disjointed conversation. Could the phrases be echolalia of something else? Does he do it when stressed and can't form appropriate conversations?
I would also look into thought disorders before letting them go down that path. From my understanding that is a pretty severe diagnosis and not something you would want them to apply lightly to your son.
Renee
Wow, I would definitely have an expert do a diagnostic evaluation at once if they are worried about a thought disorder. Absolutely make sure that the evaluator is familiar with Asperger's, because kids with AS sometimes make up a few words.
My middle child Dakota, who is adopted, was diagnosed with a "thought disorder" last summer when the psychiatrist was trying to decide whether or not he had childhood schizophrenia (luckily, it turned out he has an extreme case of Bipolar Disorder, which has a better prognosis). My son was making loose associations ("I thought about hurricanes, then Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans and all of those people died, so I must be the cause of Hurricane Katrina" or something would happen to him because someone said something on the radio (or vice versa). Dakota was paranoid and hallucinating and delusional, thought spies were watching him, etc. This does NOT sound like your son, from what you describe.
My youngest child, Ethan (just like yours!), was recently diagnosed with Asperger's at age 8. He sometimes has silly conversations, but certainly does not have a "thought disorder." It sounds like the doctor who evaluated your son is overreacting, unless your son is having psychotic symptoms that you haven't mentioned. I would definitely not put your child on antipsychotics or anything with the symptoms you describe. It really would be good to get a better diagnostic evaluation done to clear up the diagnosis. In the meantime, trust your instincts. Believe me, there is a world of difference between having a psychotic disorder and having Asperger's.