Finally....a diagnosis...or closer anyway

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We've finally changed pediatricians to one who specializes in kids with special needs. She's given my 4 yo ds a diagnosis of adhd, autistim spectrum (aren't sure yet where he lies on the spectrum), and possibly bipolar. This literally breaks my heart!! Needless to say, I'm in search of services for him and so far I'm coming up empty handed. We're having him tested in February. That's the earliest we could get him tested. I'm also going to check with the local head start for home based services. He has LOTS of food issues and I really don't want to take the chance of him getting something that makes him VERY sick. I just don't know where to turn and I'm so overwhelmed. I haven't even taken the time to sit and cry. I know he needs help and that's what's important. I love him so much and don't want him to lose ground developmentally any more than what he already has. He's gone backwards in every single area of his development, but he does awesome with computers and video games. We're also using sign language with him to supplement where he can't communicate or can't get the words out. I've suspected parts of the diagnosis for quite a while, but it seems like a dream now and it can be so overwhelming at times. We also have a 3 year old and an almost 7 month old so we really have our hands full.

Please do not accept the adhd and bipolar labels just yet. When my son was in public school, they tried to suggest that he has bipolar. I think that's a label that gets thrown around a lot these day and I really think only a very slim minority of children have true bipolor disorder.

A young child with ASD can be all over the place due to sensory issues. They also have inappropriate responses to social situations and it might look like a mood swing to someone who's looking to diagnose a mood disorder.

My son regressed quite a bit around age 5, but he's made huge improvements since then. It seems to be a roller coaster. At age 10, no one would say he has bipolar. He's gotten quite a bit of control over himself with age and he's so much less unpredictable.

I would give your kid a chance to mature a bit. Also, to diagnose bipolar, he would have to undergo a neuropsych evaluation. A family doctor can't do that.

Oh Mary, it's a lot to take on for sure. We didn't have the younger kids when our son was diagnosed but the wife was pregnant so there was a LOT of uncertainty [read:fear] of how G was going to react to having a baby brother. He had some sound sensitivities so there was a time pressure cooker there to get support in place. Plus trying to figure out how to make sure his younger sibling got the attention he deserved in the face of the older's needs. It was all tough and overwhelming, the uncertainty of the future, learning about this "Opposites World" of autism on top of garden variety parenthood. Had another 'surprise' child just after he turned 4 too, we just weren't sure we were ready for that. But it's worked out, rough around the edges and occasionally even terrifying as it can be at times.

Sounds like he's showing some signs of a bright child, so that makes the long term prognosis good. Already with the sign language means he knows to and wants to communicate, that's great. Communication on his terms is still communication, that is a solid foundation to build off of. He'll figure stuff out too and I suspect Tortuga is right, things will start to level out as he matures and gets a better handle on self-awareness and self-regulation. Plus it looks like you are pointed in a good direction.

Crying is fine. Just remember to breath and make sure you watch closely so you don't miss out on enjoying the happy moments and the "good" parts of the bitter-sweet ones too. Get ready for roller-coaster ride of your life.

give yourself a little time to process the dx.............it's a difficult road to travel. it takes time to get through it. seek out someone you can talk to- a therapist, pastor/priest...etc....

EXACTLY!!

I couldn't have said it better. It drives me crazy when doctors or other professionals try to dx bipolar and ADHD when a child most likely has autism, especially at such a young age. Sometimes the ADHD is obvious but it's so difficult to sort out whether or not the behaviors are due to sensory issues, like Tortuga said. Your pediatrician may be really good and all but I encourage you to give your child time to mature and seek out a neuropsychologist that specializes in Autism for further evaluation. Make sure the neuropsychologist has that specialization. It is extremely difficult if not impossible to say that the bipola- like symptoms are not due to the sensory issues at such a young age.


I am really glad you found a good pediatrician, though! Those are very hard to find, in my experience.

You are doing great. I love it when parents are proactive:)

Thank you all so much! My son has so much going on right now and I really want to get him the help he needs. I'm just not sure where to go with this information. I'm trying to homeschool him cause he has so many dietary problems. The list of foods he can have is shorter than the list of foods he can't have! I'm just not sure where to turn next. I want to get speech therapy, OT, and ABA all in place, but our medicaid doesn't cover the ABA. I'm just not sure where to turn next. I'm not really accepting the ADHD and bipolar diagnoses just yet. He's got lots going on which only comlicates matters even more. I've been on the phone more in the last week than I think I ever have. I've been also doing research online. I'm just not sure where to turn.

Mary, I personally find the first line defense on "where to turn" to be your own instincts. Our kids need us to see what their sensory issues and to mitigate them; they need us to understand them as they are. You are reading and acquiring knowledge and that is great, absolutely great. With that knowledge you can fine tune your instincts. Especially since you plan on home schooling, the most important first step is for you to understand your child's unique needs. Go ahead and find some ABA and OT and other services, but don't allow those to consume your life or your child's life. He will gain the most from you, at this stage in his life.

BTW, I think hearing the words is one of the most difficult things to take. I'm not sure why; they're just words. But it was really, really hard to hear. I remember that. Give yourself some time. He's the same boy you've loved and admired since birth, and you're the same mom.

Thanks so much, DW! I really have had a hard time letting the words sink in. I've just dug in and tried getting started getting him the help he needs so badly. It's finally starting to sink in though. We've applied for SSI for him as well as getting him started on some other services.

Beautiful and so true!