Added some diagnosis to our repetoire.

MirandaHobbes

Today was our long-awaited psych eval. DS is 6, pdd-nos. I thought we'd get results at a later appointment, one that DH was coming to, but they just laid it on me after having us wait an hour to confer (two psychs eval'd DS for two hours while I was simultaneously grilled by a third). They did Vineland, BASC, preschool IQ, and some others I can't remember. I wasn't suprised to hear ASD with "support". They all agreed DS is very high-functioning but his difficulties are primarily anxiety. Given the ASD, instead of GAD they diagnosed "Unspecified" anxiety disorder. It was unsettling to hear that he has something that affects him even more than the ASD. They referred us to a doctor for possible meds. Anyone on meds for this? What's it like? TBH, the possibility of meds hasn't really crossed my mind. On one hand I'm eager to try them and see what difference it makes, on the other hand, yikes. It was also hard to hear that he's just "barely outside the lines of ADHD" for impulsivity. This one hasn't been on my radar at all. They didn't diagnose him as such, because he is only showing impulsivity around his speech and he also didn't sit still once during the entire eval. I see him sit still for hours on end, but only while watching or playing the Ipad. So I guess it makes sense. While doing the IQ testing he would blurt out wrong answers before thinking about them. Then after some redirection he'd get the harder ones correct. She said it affected his score, which was "average." Also a little stingy, but probably just my Mom goggles that was hopeful his IQ would at least make academics easier for him long-term.

A couple things were nice to hear and made me a little weepy after being given all that. First, they were over the moon about his school placement. The evaluators all commended his IEP and said they wouldn't change a thing.

Also, they said they were exhausted after spending 2 hours with him. I don't think it has really sunk in that DS is difficult- we've just sortof rolled with it, and I don't have anything else to compare him to. But DH and I just collapse every night after he goes to bed and stare at the TV (and also, wine). While driving back to work with him I for the first time noticed that his nonstop chatter is anxiety driven- calling out house numbers and streets, asking how far we've driven, asking when we'll be there, telling me which cities are nearby. I always thought "anxiety" was being  upset or distraught. DS is relatively calm, but he never stops talking.The evaluators noted that he did this a lot throughout the two hours, always interrupting to comment on the time, what's coming next, when his next break was.

So anyway. Probably TMI, sorry for the novel. DH is in meetings so I haven't had a chance to talk to him. Onward and upward!

funchicken

Anxiety plays a big role in our house, too. I've realized it more and more over the past year. I find it so hard to deal with sometimes. It's something I plan to talk with the developmental pedi about at our next appt.

I agree with Auntie that the constant talking could be ADHD-related. From what I've read that's often how hyperactivity manifests itself in girls. DD1 has inattentive-type, and she talks all the time (not during class, though, so she can definitely control it to an extent).

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MirandaHobbes

-auntie- said:

 

Some of my favorites. I like BASC-2 and the full Vineland to tease out anxiety and somatic behavior in bright kids. Did they do WPPSI-IV as the IQ test? Did he participate in the SRP for the BASC?

No idea. The psych had a big stack of tests she gestured at that she said she went through with him. On top was the ADOS. I'll get the full results report in a month.

Did they give Anxiety Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified? Sometimes this happens when a person doesn't quite fit the GAD or SAD dx.

She  said and wrote  "Unspecified"- maybe it's the same thing under a different name. She also said it would likely change, and the ASD is primary and colors the anxiety (which is why he didn't get GAD).

 A couple things were nice to hear and made me a little weepy after being given all that. First, they were over the moon about his school placement. The evaluators all commended his IEP and said they wouldn't change a thing.

That's great that they were in agreement that he's well served in school. Were you hoping they'd insit he be in a less restricted setting? I know I went to my first few years of appointments hoping they'd admit they were all wrong and that DS was typical.

No, I was fully expecting ASD, and I'm pretty pleased with his LRE this year; he's only pulled out for a half hour in the AM and a half hour in the PM. He relies on those "breaks" to get him through the rigors of the rest of the day. I've never had any other professional look at his IEP and it is just a relief that outside professionals are happy with it. It's so hard to know what's considered "good" until you've seen the "bad"- after a rocky year last year this year is comparatively fantastic. I think that's why the results were so hard to hear; I was just starting to think things were getting better but oops- don't get too comfortable.

bliss611

The dev pedi just added ADHD to DS's ASD diagnosis (mild/ level 1 - symptoms close to PDD-NOS). She actually seemed more concerned about the ADHD than ASD.

He does talk a lot. Even when no one is listening. Don't discount the dx just because you see him sit still. Besides ipad & electronic games, DS can sit and play with play-doh for over an hour. But that's self-directed play. When asked to do other things. attention is minimal.

He didnt get a dx for anxiety disorder but we do deal with a lot of anxieties with DS as well. Social stories have been helping him understand what to expect. The unknown is still a major trigger.