Confused by diagnosis proccess

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New to this forum! We just recently started our journey to getting s diagnosis for our son. At age 2 we had his hearing checked because he is non verbal and ignores us when we call his name. His hearing is fine. From there were did the MChat where he got high risk.

His pedi refered us to an occupational therapist who we met wih today. She believes his is on the autism spectrum and could also have sensory processing disorder. She said to get an official diagnosis we need to meet with a neuropsychologist - which I'm now waiting to hear back from.

So we're starting occupational therapy in 3 weeks. Do I tell people he is on the spectrum (like I believe) or wait for an official diagnosis? And why didn't my pedi just send us to the neuropsychologist first?

Here are some of his behaviors:
• Refuses to takes baths, has to shower instead
• Doesn’t have predictable sleep pattern
• Resists going to bed/falling asleep
• Cries when waking up from naps/sleeping
• Needs help to fall asleep
• Wakes up throughout the night
• Doesn’t respond to name
• Doesn’t calm easily
• Doesn’t tolerate new foods, very limited diet
• Doesn’t sense wet/dirty diapers
• Severe separation anxiety
• Doesn’t enjoy interactive games
• Bothered by dirty hands
• Cries when left with less familiar people
• Late to talk, sleep through the night, play with toys
• Can’t use utensils well
• Prefers to play alone
• Always has something in mouth: toys, clothes
• Walks on tip toes
• Craves movement
• Repetitive, non purposeful play
• Breaks toys
• Becomes frustrated when not understood
• Bites & pinches others for no reason
• Clumsy, bumps into things
• Wanders around aimlessly
• Frequent spinning, jumping, flicking ears
• Not interested in play, doesn’t play pretend
• Only plays with children by chasing them
• Resists eye contact
• Only interested in playing with trains
• Can’t catch balls
• Loves flicking lights on and off
• Likes to lick objects and people
• Hates having hair cut, nails clipped, teeth brushed
• Enjoys dropping objects repeatedly
• Seems to get upset for no reason
• Only attached to three people: mom, dad, and grandfather
• Likes things in certain place, will continue to put them back if moved
• Likes to watch the same videos on repeat
•

Hi and welcome. I have 21mth old twins, we realised they had ASD at 16 months and got our official diagnosis at 18 months. I started telling people we we believed they had autism and were pursuing a diagnosis straight away (as well as researching and arranging our therapy).

I mainly wanted to reply to you to recommend a book that has helped me understand and connect with my twins far more than any other. It is called an early start for your child with autism, and is a very inexpensive and straightforward book based on the early start denver model, which is the therapy model I am now using with the twins. Seeing an OT is a great start and there is lots of other great reading to do to learn more about your child's sensory needs, but this first book will give you techniques and methods to connect with your child today. It has been life changing for my husband and I.

It is pretty overwhelming learning about autism with your very young child in the beginning. I found this video very helpful http://www.kennedykrieger.org/overview/ ... -of-autism for myself as well as sharing with others.

I also found this list of red flags very helpful for myself and for sharing with others (there are a lot of lists out there!)
http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/ ... ontext/917

Cheers

Lee

That's great. I am a big reader and, though overwhelming, seeking out information constantly was a necessary strategy for me in those first few months. It really helped that simultaneously I was implementing a few basic changes (covered in the first few chapters of the early start book (especially chapters 4&5) so that I was seeing a real and immediate change in my relations with Holly and Kate. It gave me hope, which I sorely needed! Good luck.

Regular pediatricians aren't always all that tuned in. When we first thought it was ADHD (before dx), DS's ped at the time referred us to a neurologist -- who only dealt with seizures, not ADHD. The 2nd referral she gave us had quit practicing, and the 3rd wasn't covered by our insurance. When he finally got the ASD dx, I scheduled an appt to tell her about it, hoping for some advice on what to do next, and all she could say was, "What do you need from me?"