tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27817243.post7343260149101713480..comments2024-03-24T03:28:37.007-04:00Comments on Life With Joey: A Little Understanding: Preparing the War PaintJoeymomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08254601805621175842noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27817243.post-71665294804186630782009-07-06T19:53:39.937-04:002009-07-06T19:53:39.937-04:00I'm glad that you're starting to get some ...I'm glad that you're starting to get some good answers. Go tell that school what's what!Stimeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09685801693683588805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27817243.post-71093326528726960822009-07-06T10:17:17.838-04:002009-07-06T10:17:17.838-04:001. Andy is in such capable hands. Seriously. You...1. Andy is in such capable hands. Seriously. You are an awesome mommy. :)<br />2. I did a quick PsycARTICLES search for SPD and ADHD/ADD connections and didn't turn up anything. Boo. I'll see what else I can ferret out. One thing that helps me keep autism, Asperger's, ADD, etc. in perspective is the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for them.<br />3. At least the doctor didn't want to put him on medication right away. I think too many doctors think drugs are the be all and end all answer to everything these days.<br />4. Oh, OF COURSE all children with autism are anti-social and hate people, didn't you know? *rolls eyes*little.birdyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07156310917613899680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27817243.post-4736629060775439372009-07-06T08:23:59.099-04:002009-07-06T08:23:59.099-04:00Well, you got something out of that doctor anyway....Well, you got something out of that doctor anyway. I really felt for you reading your description of the time in that office. Before Patrick's autism diagnosis we had a neurologist(seeing her for seizures) suggest he was ADHD. Actually, what she said was "you don't think that's normal, do you?". It was a love/hate relationship for sure.<br /><br />I agree with farmwife. Now that you have that letter...go get 'em. Get that IEP and don't take no for an answer!<br /><br />As a side note, since autism/aspergers was mentioned, Patrick's diagnosis is Autism but anyone who sees him now is positive he has Aspergers...I'm thinking because his speech is in the low-normal range now. I dunno, the spectrum is the spectrum and, for us as for many familes, it's all about the services.mumkeepingsanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03359192887444530869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27817243.post-77073391998691220312009-07-06T01:31:41.684-04:002009-07-06T01:31:41.684-04:00It is always [for me] disconcerting to consult the...It is always [for me] disconcerting to consult the 'experts' and find yourself explaining the basics / 101 guide to autism. Generally, as soon as I hear the idiot question e.g. autistic people aren't social = that's pass and parcel in autism, I resist the temptation to hit them over the head with something near to hand and treat them as the virgins that they truly are.<br /><br />I'm with farmwife two = use it, exploit what you can for the best outcome.<br /><br />Not social = doesn't it make you want to spit?<br />Best wishes as alwaysMaddyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05828186178060722812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27817243.post-29182029115632514642009-07-06T00:59:49.283-04:002009-07-06T00:59:49.283-04:00I was diagnosed with ADHD at age 8 (I'm 22 and...I was diagnosed with ADHD at age 8 (I'm 22 and in college now), and with "many traits of Asperger's" when I was 19. I think there are more connections between ADHD, SPD, and the autism spectrum than most professionals have ever acknowledged. There's an excellent book I found that I think you should check out. It's called "The ADHD-Autism Connection: A Step Toward More Accurate Diagnoses and Effective Treatments" by Diane Kennedy, Rebecca Banks, and Temple Grandin. ISBN: 978-1578564989 It really helped me understand a lot of things, and I think it would help you with Andy.Aimeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04491414735672741853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27817243.post-36754807004436286502009-07-05T21:06:00.480-04:002009-07-05T21:06:00.480-04:00Those are all excellent reminders, Farmwifetwo! To...Those are all excellent reminders, Farmwifetwo! Tomorrow will be the formal request for the meeting. I'm not thrilled with having to go through this again, but $@#$@&!! this should have been picked up two years ago when I had him evaluated the first time! And certainly by the second time we went through Child Find. What is the point of Child Find if you aren't going to find the kids who need service???<br /><br />And darn tootin' this is for service. Andy is a very energetic child. Fine. But now we have a professional saying this will get in his way at school. Not fine. I want an IEP. Enough of the putting-me-off crap. <br /><br />Our school OT is not worth the time to spit out her name. We keep Joey's OT time in his IEP in hopes that she is going to retire soon and the school hires someone actually useful. <br /><br />I'm going to hit up our private OT about this new development, since she works very well with the school people in our IEPs for Joey, and always has good suggestions. In fact, she's already sent them a list of recommendations for Andy, and that's the stuff we think he needs, so they already know what we're looking for, and none of it costs the school a thin dime (which kind of makes me more upset that we're having all this trouble). <br /><br />I have my Andy Notebook in order. I have batteries in the tape recorder. I have the diagnosis and the letter of recommendation in hand. We are now ready to rumble.Joeymomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08254601805621175842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27817243.post-86075137624847752272009-07-05T20:45:15.213-04:002009-07-05T20:45:15.213-04:00Don't sweat the diagnosis. USE IT. Make the sc...Don't sweat the diagnosis. USE IT. Make the school put in the accommodations required b/c you hold that piece of paper in your hand that say "You must do". Make certain you keep a copy, make certain you write down what happens at each meeting. Take a tape recorder, transcribe what they say and send it to them. Take a support person with you preferrably someone from the disability field/autism society/ADHD people that knows the system. NEVER go alone.<br /><br />My eldest son is probably full NLD by now, or even less b/c in a lot of ways he's pretty much normal, grades are good, with some mild social issues. No longer "a mild form of autism spectrum disorder". When he was psychometrically tested last Sept they offered to redo his Dx. I said "No". Why?? B/c his IEP reads Mild PDD... so what if they wrote it wrong.<br /><br />What it gets me is the OT. Without AUTISM in the dx there would be no OT. NLD, speech and language delayed with global delays... all not good enough.<br /><br />I told the psychometrist we'd discuss it at Gr 8 b/c finally in Gr 4 (this past year) we have an EA (quarter time Educational assistant)... took since Kindergarten b/c he could "cope" BARELY.<br /><br />USE it.... to quote the OT supervisor "a dx is only to get services". If it gets you the services you need for your son... who cares.farmwifetwohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02680758336779501712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27817243.post-83614662915157500372009-07-05T17:25:33.920-04:002009-07-05T17:25:33.920-04:00OK, so I'm not getting warm fuzzies for a good...OK, so I'm not getting warm fuzzies for a good long term relationship with this doctor. On the other hand, you're not marrying him, just seeing him for an opinion, and he may be the best you can find in your area.<br /><br />If you can afford it, get a second opinion. Pick the closest university and call them up. See if they have a grad close to you, or travel to the university. Universities aren't necessarily the end all and be all, but they aren't usually too far off the reservation.<br /><br />JoeClub 166https://www.blogger.com/profile/01816977079856902634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27817243.post-41610259043816428062009-07-05T16:50:29.965-04:002009-07-05T16:50:29.965-04:00Goodthing you feel like you got something positive...Goodthing you feel like you got something positive from this doc; I was getting madde & madder as I read!<br /><br />Any useful stuff over at sensoryplanet.com? Maybe email Carrie directly to ask her to point you to some good links/research re SPD/ADHD connection?<br /><br />Keep us posted. Hugs.Niksmomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14715465327343655483noreply@blogger.com