did ei and your pedi disagree?

Re: did ei and your pedi disagree?

• robynlesley member

  January 2012

  My pedi is the one who suggested DS get a speech and hearing evaluation if he wasn't speaking in 2 word phrases by 21 months but he referred privately and I took it upon myself to call EI, knowing the eval at least was free.

  I did get the referral to a developmental pediatrician as I did have Autism concerns this Summer, as he started with EI. And after the evaluation it was determined that he does not but he does have developmental delays (expressive language, gross motor and adaptive self help) and mild sensory issues (but not SPD). My pediatrician gets cc:d on all reports but DS has not seen the group for anything but sick visits since his 2 year well visit.

  Prior to 18 months, DS was developing typically with the exception of his speech stagnating and actually declining a bit. DS did have a few "red flags" but they all went away as his language improved.

  EI testing can be flawed in that a child's mood on that day can affect how he/she scores. My DS was shown to have a significant cognitive delay at his initial eval but is actually a few months ahead (scores 30-33 months and he's 29 months).

  So I think a child can have developmental delays without any specific cause. And, that being said, a pediatrician only sees your child for a few minutes every few months. As a parent, you know your child best and what he needs.
  

  
  
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• kar5162 member

  January 2012

  Evaluations can be fairly subjective and very subject to the cooperation level of the toddler so it wouldn't surprise me to hear your pedi and EI disagree. DS recently had a (private) OT evaluation (at 26 months) where he was evaluated at an 8 month level for a number of fine motor activities. Which is completely wrong - he is behind, but not nearly that much so, he was just incredibly uncooperative that day. (The OT thinks she's amazing and he made tremendous progress in the first 3 sessions where he's really just agreeing to particiate a bit, but whatever.)

  It's a bit tricky since they don't give you (at least not where I am) the full results of the evaluation, but I'd look first at where EI evaluated him super low and see if those really seem to line up or not. As an example DS's OT eval said can stack 1-2 blocks consistently, but I know he can and often will stack 4-5 regularly and sometimes will do 6. Now he "should" be stacking 6 so he's a bit behind, but he can stack more than 1-2.

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• CrazeyJaneyR member

  January 2012

  My pedi actualyl said "He made eye contact with me. He's doesn't have autism".

   This was before my 2nd son was evaluated. He did eventually get a DX of autism. 

   

   

   

   

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• MaxandRuby member

  January 2012

  In regards to your general question (DS2 does not have autism) yes EI and DS2's original pediatrician disagreed. The disagreement was if DS2 had torticollis or not. DS2's original pediatrician would not diagnose it even though I felt he had it. EI was working with DS1 and literally took 1 look at DS2 and asked if he had it. Long story short, EI came in and worked on DS2's undiagnosed torticollis - this was at 4mos. Apparently he had other issues that they had noticed but I didn't notice until the 6-8mos mark. DS2's original pedi didn't really take my concerns seriously either and he eventually got a CP diagnosis. I have the EI PT and a new pedi (at the 9mos well baby visit) to thank for getting us on the road to a diagnosis and services....and for validating my apparently accurate concerns.
  

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• Ginlyn0 member

  January 2012

  We never went through EI so I can't comment on that particularly but my DD's pedi was never concerned about DD. She met all milestones on time or ahead of time. I mentioned my concerns to her numerous times over a few years and I was told she was fine. We sought out a neuropsychologist to have a complete testing done at the age of 7 because of several issues interferring with school work. She was diagnosed with AS, ADHD and anxiety. Her first psychiatrist that we were sent to for meds for ADHD confirmed ADHD and anxiety after his first visit with her but told me she couldn't possibly have AS because I answered yes when he asked if she had ever shown me any affection. He said he has never seen anyone with AS show even their parents affection.... And somehow her anxiety was causing all the other issues (sensory, repeatative behaviors and rituals, social issues). We switched doctors....

  DD(14),SD(13),SS(11),SS(9),DS(3)
  
  

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• JenGK

  January 2012

  luvmybaby28:

  my pedi was happy with my son's development, said that ei is "trying to fit every child into a box."  I went to see another pedi to get a referral to see a developmental pedi and he observed my lo playing with toys and interacted with him quite a bit, he was also very happy with his development and said he was right on track and "definitely not autistic."  He still referred me to the developmental pedi because I was requesting it, but he said there was no need.  He said that the ages and stages questionairre that we filled out at his 18 month appt was less than a standard deviation behind.  I was curious if anyone else had a similar experience, ei found my lo to be at a 3-6 month level in more than 1 area.

  How much did you share with your pedi vs. the EI evaluation team?  Specifically, did you share with him what you have said about your son's constant tantrums?  And his difficultly with transitions?  I myself gave more credit to the EI team's evaluation based on both the amount of time they spent with my kid and their experience with developmental delays.  When I first brough up concerns about Z to my pedi, she said that he was just quirky and would likely outgrow it.    Have you made any progress in getting him speech therapy?

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• Ginlyn0 member

  January 2012

  -auntie-:

  gin9874:

  Her first psychiatrist that we were sent to for meds for ADHD confirmed ADHD and anxiety after his first visit with her but told me she couldn't possibly have AS because I answered yes when he asked if she had ever shown me any affection. He said he has never seen anyone with AS show even their parents affection.... And somehow her anxiety was causing all the other issues (sensory, repeatative behaviors and rituals, social issues). We switched doctors....

  UGH!

  If you read the translations of Hans Aspergers first descriptions of "his" syndrome, one of the things he specifically remarks on was how the little professors in his group missed and were deveote to their mothers.  In the institution in which they lived, they were unusual in this respect.

  I was really disappointed with him. What is sad is that this particular psychiatrist was the Pediatric Director for one of the largest Mental Health Hospitals in the area.

  DD(14),SD(13),SS(11),SS(9),DS(3)
  
  

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• malcivar member

  January 2012

  Our pedi believes DS may have been over-diagnosed but has never discouraged us from getting him services.  DS actually goes to an office with several doctors and for the most part they all seem to feel this way but again, none of them have discouraged us from getting services.  Their philosophy is that "it can't hurt" but it is a little confusing when you've got one set of experts saying "he probably is" and another set saying "probably not".

   

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

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