To diagnose or not to diagnose....

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My 6 year old son has been diagnosed with ODD. I have the feeling that this is incorrect. I think he has Aspergers. What are the pros and cons of seeking another diagnosis?

I'm not sure about Aspergers, you mean HFA?

This is my first time hearing of ODD, It doesn't sound very specific, almost more of a traumatic incident or diet, etc. - cause and affect. - where does ODD come from? :s

By different diagnosis you mean different doctor or different diagnostic testing?

I hope he gets a different doctor, preferably a psychometrist, and he have more than one doctor assessing him with various tools and assessments.

The pro's would be seeking more in depth advice, such as medications, diet plans, remedial interventions, anxiety training and both short-term and long-term effective coping procedures.

The con's would be money. There is probably more con's in NOT seeking a new diagnosis.
It also depends on what you hope to get out of a diagnosis, ;problems; cause and effect, ;solutions; cause and effect.

also, whatever he is diagnosed with, will you be telling him? :s it might be crucial for self understanding as well, for the diagnosis to be correct.

But I'm just a forum writer good luck!!

Thanks for your reply

ODD - Oppositional Defiant Disorder

As he is only 6 I am not going to tell him just yet unless he starts asking me things that would lead to me talking to him about AS

I was a late too find out about my diagnosis, but I don't regret that, because I got the help I needed a long the way.

my only regret is how hard I tried to be normal.

I lost happiness in my search for it, if you know what I mean. (but then rediscovered it)

I hope he doesn't make the same mistake. I pushed myself away from most of my strengths.

which helped me develop into my weakness', but at the same time I could have been happier knowing not everyone has what it takes to be 'normal'. Some of us have it different

especially with a stubborn attitude, I managed to understand ethnocentrism after a great deal of reading.

sorry, kinda just had a mini breakdown, just re-realized I'll never be or understand what it's like to be normal. maybe act it, if I'm lucky. I better get to sleep, thanks for listening

Many thanks for your insight and honestly. I have a feeling we are going to be friends. I am a mum trying as best I can to understand and support my beautiful son. I am battling against some of my family members who refuse to belive that by son has AS. I will listen to and appreciate any ideas and advice you can offer me.
PS Sleep well

My son 13yrs now, been searching for answers since he was about 7 ish all the time knowing something wasn't right. My daughter also having difficulties.

My son was diagnosed with ADHD and ODD, but last year he was dx with AS the Dr dropped the ODD because with AS what looks like Oppositional behaviour its not.

I think its important for children to understand their difficulties I had a exhausting battle trying to get answer probably still exhausted from it, but a parent needs answers and so does the child.

My son from time to time seems unhappy about dx as now he has three AS, ADHD, & OCD (that's how he looks at it).

Also its important if you child has difficulties at school so he can get the support as soon as possible my son was able to mask his difficulties which he was having at school by internalising it all only letting me know. I would go to the school and they would look at me like I had two heads insisting nothing is wrong with him. I had my reports to confirm.

Things are slowly falling in place for him has his supports and the school are aware still not sure they believe . I feel if my son had received all his supports at primary school, post primary would not have been so difficult. Early intervention important if needed.

My daughter on the other hand ADD, GAD manages school no problems, didn't need to look for supports. But she is 15yrs old and way too depended on me and her Father I suspect AS. I feel the some other co-morbid develop as a coping strategies when the main difficulties is not addressed.

although she is not getting support from school she will be getting CBT from the local services hopefully this will help with anxieties.

If you suspect its important to get the correct dx as soon as possible that's my experience and opinion.

ODD is often viewed by school officials as a parenting/environmental induced problem, while AS is seen as a developmental problem. If you are seeking services, the AS dx may be more helpful. Also, if it is really AS and not ODD, then the way to approach/handle situations in the classroom is totally opposite.

The following website gives a chart showing the difference in behaviors for a child who qualifies for Emotional Disturbance (Anxiety, Depression, Schizophrenia, sometimes AS, OCD etc.) and one who is Socially Maladusted (the school term for ODD and CD)

http://www.schoolpsychologistfiles.com/ ... ility.html

I would definitely go for a reassessment. I don't think ODD is a particularly helpful label for any child to have, it's one of those labels that tends to carry a fair amount of stigma and misunderstanding ("it's bad parenting", "it's just a naughty child" etc.) and I would not put up with anyone attaching it to my child if I was not 100% certain it was correct.

I think you need to do what it takes to get this one right. ODD and AS have opposite protocols, and having an AS child managed as ODD by the schools can be disasterous (and probably vice-a-versa, as well).

Some kids actually have both, but it you read the recent thread on oppositional behavior you will get some ideas on what could actually be going on when an AS child appears oppositional.

Wow, thank you for that link Eureka - it puts everything into context and I am going to be taking this to the school. It is so clear that my son is having difficulties due to emotional disturbance when presented in this format! Exactly what I needed right now.

cutiecrystalmom