A diagnosis…..kind of!! !

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Well, this week has been busy, we have seen a specialist in ASD's and today got the final verdict for our 9yr old dd!! I understand it but at the same time…not! She has basically said that she doesn't quite fit into either 'box' but has some Asperger traits and some ADD traits-which I can see and understand. Without sounding like a need/want a 'label' what do I tell people when I need too??? I have done some online research on the spectrum but it seems like it is changing or has changed in terms of Aspergers no longer being a term used to diagnose. [i] I can see why its all 'blurred lines' and I'm quite happy with the outcome and suggestions made but somehow it doesn't seem 'final', if it makes sense???!

She may have both mild ASD (this is the new official label that folks previously dx with Aspergers will get) and ADHD (they always include the H in the name now even if the child isn't hyperactive). It used to be you we're only supposed to get one label or the other, but with the DSM-5 that restriction has been removed. I would use whichever label fits a given situation. For instance, with the school you might want to emphasize the ASD because that gets more help, while in an extracurricular setting, other parents may have a better notion of what ADHD entails.

Are you going to get an official report from this expert that you can use to get help from the school system?

The problem I see ahead of you is that without a definitive check in the ASD box, you are likely to find it more difficult to access some of the services and accommodations you will want for the ASD traits. Real life, I think most people aren't entirely A or B, but I've seen with other families we know how failing to get someone to put a mark in the "right" box gives you less tools to work with.

So, I suspect what you've gotten is thoughtful and accurate, but is it what you need?

I am going to go with DW_a_mom on this. It sounds like you what you got amounts to a diagnosis for neither, when it comes down to it. That won't help you access much in the way of assistance either through the school or through private insurance, I would not think (though do not know, as we got a definite autism diagnosis pretty easily, through the school system.)

I would look very carefully through the report to see if you agree with all the elements of it, and maybe consider a 2nd opinion. Have you tried going through the school for testing.? (I f you are in the U.S)

One thing that set the professional diagnosis we got from the looser ones (one by the school, three by therapists who were not diagnosticians) was the breakdown of the diagnosis into specific deficits and a discussion of how to handle each individual deficit.

I see that this step is missing in diagnoses all too often. While I agree with the above posters that a general label can make it easier to get the services you need, if you get a doctor's report saying your child has a pragmatic speech deficit and needs speech therapy, the school will most often take notice. Same for OT, depending on the deficit. Executive function is a little trickier...but again, your doctor should be able to help.

I would ask if your doctor could go through the diagnosis and break it down in that way: what are the deficits that point to AS? What are the deficits that point to ADHD? (Those are very common co-morbidities, so if your doctor isn't aware that she can be both, you may need a second opinion.) What should you ask for to address those deficits? What treatment options are available medically, and what should the school be doing?

Thanks! Yes, she will be producing a report which breaks down each deficit and has given us some recommendations already in terms of accessing services, OT, etc. I think for some 'closure' to this part of the journey I felt like I needed a definitive diagnosis, but as Momsparky says, if each area can be addressed, etc then that is whats most important. I'm happy with the professional we have seen, she came quite highly recommended in this field. We are in NZ and so I am not sure whether the lack of a specific label affects any entitlements, my daughter currently doesn't need any kind of help in class, obviously they could change in the future!?

One thing to look for: did she get her speech tested for pragmatics? Many people miss that part - it's the social and nonverbal aspects of speech, so a hyperarticulate child may have a deficit in that area. Also important to note that an important part of the deficit is not simply having poor pragmatics, but the differential between pragmatic and regular speech skills. http://www.asha.org/public/speech/devel ... matics.htm

This is an area where support at the school can be very important; most schools do have a speech teacher and offer this therapy.