A little upset (I need a sense of humor)

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natesmom
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06 Mar 2009, 3:49 pm

This shouldn't bother me but it does.

We got back the neurospsych report and I figured all was good. The neurospsych stated that Nate's ADHD-Inattentive symptoms could be due to his educational environment and said that we should wait until he is around seven years old for a more formal dx. Great. Everything looked good until I noticed that Block Design was taken out. He literally hit the ceiling - got as high as one could get on that subtest. I remember when the neuropsych asked if Nate had practiced it because Nate said he had. Why would I have Nate practice intelligence subtests? I can't blame him for thinking that after what Nate had said but really...I wouldn't pay for a neuropsych eval if that were true.

Over a year ago, I gave him the block design subtest for older kids. It is different than the test he took. It was a quick 5 minute assessment just because I was so amazed at his ability. IT was over a year ago and a different test. It does not invalidate his score on block design this time around. The neuropsych purposely left it off. If he added it, Nate's Nonverbal IQ would be around 145 not 131. I shouldn't even care but I do. I know a test does not reflect who a person truly is. It doesn't so it shouldn't bother me, right? It does. I am paying out of pocket for this assessment, so it bothers me. I already had the dx we needed for services. I went to him to get that cognitive and full neuropsych testing done. That block design provides a fuller picture of his abilities.

I will let go LOL. I will try at least. I will try to laugh about it. Nate remembers things so well. He actually remembered the instructions. I think he told the doctor the instructions almost verbatim. That should be funny. It is funny. I am still bothered.



Tahitiii
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06 Mar 2009, 7:26 pm

I would be annoyed if I paid for an assessment and
the guy knowingly and deliberately gave a false result.
And he's not even embarrassed?



natesmom
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06 Mar 2009, 8:06 pm

Thank you. I was beginning to think I am an overreactor. Well, I am in some ways but still, I do think I have a right to be slightly upset about it. The only way I can cope is to act like it's funny.



Tahitiii
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06 Mar 2009, 8:16 pm

I wonder whether the good doctor has a sense of humor.
Is it too late to stop the check?
Considering he didn't do what you asked him to do,
or what he agreed to do?



DW_a_mom
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06 Mar 2009, 9:09 pm

Why not ask the doctor about it?

But I do think it's funny that Nate remembered all the instructions a year later. That is genius in and of itself :)


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Mom to an amazing young adult AS son, plus an also amazing non-AS daughter. Most likely part of the "Broader Autism Phenotype" (some traits).


natesmom
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06 Mar 2009, 9:12 pm

I left a message for the doc to call me.

Nate's memory is pretty darn incredible



ster
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07 Mar 2009, 5:11 pm

perhaps there's another test that the neuropsych did that was a substitute for Block Design ?



natesmom
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07 Mar 2009, 6:48 pm

Good question, Ster
I am thinking perhaps that picture completion was used. I don't know. I don't give the WPPSI enough to know.
Those two subtests are completely different but have a higher correlation.

I wish I didn't get myself all worked up over this. The measure of a person is not really in "a test".



2ukenkerl
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07 Mar 2009, 7:14 pm

Nate PROBABLY meant he "practiced" it IN HIS HEAD! If so, he would score high LEGITIMATELY! He should be scored properly. Don't punish the guy for telling the truth!



0_equals_true
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07 Mar 2009, 7:49 pm

Seriously you shouldn't worry too much, you should see my reports. How often does it say "extremely slow" and "poor" in his report or "This is no normal cognitive profile...", etc?

Some people have large difference between different intelligence scales.

It is not your job to decide which test to do, that would mess up the point of such tests. If they thought your son had brain damage then they would do tests associated with that. Similarly if they thought it was necessary to investigate an areas he is doing well on they would do test applicable with that. These test are standardised for good reason but that doesn’t mean they don’t have built in dynamic inside the standardised framework. Some do some don’t and they can do additional or specific tests from the regular.

Sometimes they will not repeat past test because people remember how to do them. There is not enough variability otherwise.



ster
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08 Mar 2009, 7:24 pm

i think it must be hard to not second guess a dx when you're used to giving the same tests to others.........if you did your research about the doc doing the eval & know that he/she is highly qualified , then you just need to trust that they've done the best job they could do for your child.



natesmom
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08 Mar 2009, 8:37 pm

I am very convinced with the dx. I do believe he got the dx correct. It's just that he didn't include that subtest even though he gave it because he may believe that Nate did practice or that he remembered the test so much (not the exact test) that it could be invalid. You can give the same or similar test after a year of the first. It was definitely longer than a year. I guess Nate remembered the test almost too well, so the neuropsych honestly may not feel it's valid. Nate's memory skills are extremely good. I am so thankful he has my husbands wonderful memory and not mine LOL.

The more I think about it, the more I am convinced that my issue has to do with pride. My son got the highest score possible on the block design and I really wanted that on his record. I am proud that he got so high. I really should just let it go.

He is also one of the best neuropsychs around. I completely trust his expertise. He is a lot more qualified than me --- that is a great understatement. He has years of experience (30+ years) and works on some of the most difficult cases.

I will probably just ask him about it. I am sure it has to do with Nate remembering the test so well. If I were in his shoes, I would feel pretty stuck as well. I remember him saying that Nate may have such a good memory that a lot of things can literally seem like it happened yesterday. Perhaps that is why he cut it out. Thanks for mentioning that. It helps me to remember that he really is the best in his field in this area and that there probably is a good reason for him cutting out that test.



mom2bax
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13 Mar 2009, 1:20 pm

yeah as a mom we love to get out brag on about our amazing kids, especially when they have issues in other areas.
like kind of to prove that he is an amazing kid he just has skills in other areas.
i dunno i think that;s how i would feel or have felt about stuff too.
i want to say so waht if he can't cut a circle out of paper he is reducing fractions and he's only 5.
maybe becasue of the bad wap we want to show off our kids abilities for all to see and if a doctor certifies it it must be true..lol.
i know i was alittle annoyed when my son was assessed cause she was terstinghis reading but left thet number blocks out in front of him, she distracted him!
glad you are taking it with a grain of salt adn hopefully the doc will call you back adn give you a good explaination.