Who does the diagnosing?

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OK, after reading a tiny bit of Tony Atwood's book, we're ready to have my almost 7-year-old son diagnosed with ASD or Aspergers. It's all there and always has been but his brain tumor and resultant delays/issues have clouded his issues for me. We don't really care anymore if his differences are results of his brain tumor or ASD - we'd just like everyone to understand him better.
So who diagnoses ASD/Aspergers? He has a neurologist that he sees twice a year for his anti-epileptic drugs. Would he be the one to make the diagnosis or should we be seeing someone else?
Thanks,
Carolyn

Since your son has a neurologist I would start there. In my state we have only 2 people who do the testing. and I know one is part of a Neurology Clinic. If your office doesn't have anyone on staff they should be able to give you the information for your area.
One thing that will help before you call is not have a test in mind. I called and said I would like have my son tested. First question "What testing are you referring to? and will your insurance even pay for this?" I had no clue so it was hang up and get more information.
Research D-KEFS testing. That might be what you are wanting.

good luck

I don't think you will ever get a diagnosis of Aspergers or Autism in a child with a brain tumor. The symptoms may be the same but there is a previously diagnosed organic cause for them.

The brain tumor was removed 3 years ago but the symptoms are still present. Even if they want to call it "secondary to a medical condition", I'm OK with that as long as he's eligible for services. I can tell this is not going to be easy! His neurologist seemed to think the two "conditions" had nothing to do with one another but I'm betting his neurosurgeon would feel differently.
We'll see.

Autism is never "secondary to a medical condition". It is a difference in the way we are wired, perhaps an evolutionary difference in our DNA. You can't "make" an Aspie by giving them a brain injury, just like you can't "cure" one by making organic changes to brain structure or shifting the balance of hormones in the bloodstream with medications.

You will probably find that this is a rather "hot topic" in the Aspie community.

Thank you. I think I get it now and I understand how that could be a hot topic. I do believe that they would consider diagnosing Aspergers as existing alongside any complications from the brain tumor (because his neurologist brought up the idea) OR I've heard of kids who've been diagnosed with "Aspergers traits secondary to a medical condition." Hopefully someone can figure out which diagnosis best fits our son.

in my experience, neurologists dont diagnose asd.

these are the professions that ive come across that do diagnostic services:
neuropsychologist
psychologist
developmental pediatrician

now, not ALL of a given profession will do diagnostic services. you have to ask specifically if the individual can do evaluations and diagnose asd. some do, some dont. some universities have autism centers that will do comprehensive diagnostic services as well.

i have found it incredibly difficult to find someone to do diagnostic services. the area i live in is a black hole for autism resources. it took 20 calls to find one psych to do a diagnosis, and then she wasnt even very familiar with asd and gave the wrong diagnosis anyway. i had to go farther afield to find a neuropsych 120 miles away who is more experienced with asd to get a correct diagnosis. we are going back to the neuropsych later this week for my SO to hopefully get his first diagnosis ever.

Both of my younger kids were diagnosed by a psychologist at the San Diego Regional Center. I and one of my older daughters were diagnosed by a Psychiatrist who specializes in ASD (hes kind of old fashioned and still does therapy with his patients). I would ask your sons pediatrician or his neuro to point you in the right direction. Also, you can have Autism and a brain tumor or Autism and Down Syndrome or Autism and Epilepsy....it does exist with other brain disorders and can be diagnosed. Sorry about the words "brain disorder" if that offends anyone.

My son was diagnosed by a developmental pediatrician, but Azure Crayon is right. I have come across several psychologists who will perform the testing. It can be extremely frustrating to find one that will take insurance. And the wait time can be several months or longer in some cases (not all)

Good luck! and welcome to WP

I would contact the major autism socieities in your city, state or country and ask them. I would be incredibly suprised if they did not know who to go to diagnostic purposes. Autism Spectrum Disorders can exist with other conditions, no matter what they are, but they are more likely to be more thorough and want more information about his very early development, etc. If the brain injury or whatever had caused the problems then removing it would have at least helped the situation to significantly improve. I know of people with downs syndrome and autism and they do have very classic autism, blind people with autism, deaf people with autism, etc. I will admit that of all the case I know of they had very full blown low functioning Autism, but I do know of children who were diagnosed with autism and it disappeared when the tonsils were finally removed (he had the largest tonsils the head of surgery at a major children's hospital had seen in over 40 years and they were amazed he was breathing with them.). When they were removed he was able to sleep through the night and also began to talk. Behaviour was being caused by lack of sleep, caused by not being able to breathe when lying down, and the not talking was due to the pain he was experiencing!! He has some very minor aspergers traits now, but one they think will improve with time, it has only been 3 months. But his speech has just taken off and his sleeping is brillant, and now he is not tired he is able to focus and take in what is needed, control his behaviour better, etc. Sometimes we can be very quick to diagnose a child with something when it may be something totally opposite. Makes you wonder if we should not be doing a full medical check up first to ensure that there are no underlying physical problems. I have heard of children being diagnosed with Autism to find out when the child is almost 15 that they are almost blind. When they questioned the optomestrist, pediatricican, etc, the response was you were already burdened by the autism, you didn't need to know that and it would not have changed anything anyway. Mind you the site is correctable with glasses, but they claimed such a child would not have worn glasses. Heard of similar things with hearing tests. Mind you when the parents find out and modifications and the like are put in place to help with it, the behaviour improves dramatically. They may still be autistic to some extent but at a much lower level if that makes sense. Some professionals really need to be held to account. THey did report the professionals to relevant professional boards, but they simply gave them a warning. They were not interested in suing and it would not have changed anything anyway, the insurace company pays for that, not the professional if that makes sense.

Even when a neurologist suspects an ASD, they are not equipped to make the diagnosis in a child because at present, the brain structures involved are in the research phase. A recent study in the UK found remarkable reliability in confirming diagnosis of adults with an ASD using an MRI, but children develop at different rates and at present the functional MRI diagnosis for children is not recommended.

Its usually an educational professional in the diagnostic field in states where an educational diagnosis is accepted for special education services. Otherwise your best bet is a child/developmental psychologist.

My children were diagnosed by a pediatric developmental specialist. I am going to a psychologist (the PhD kind, not the MD kind).

When I became concerned about my son's behaviors (beginning about age 2 1/2), I took him to our pediatrician, who said, "He is fine." When things just got worse, I took him to a neurologist (when he was about 6), who said, "It is not autism, because he makes eye contact." Eventually, I figured it out myself after happening upon Tony Attwood's GREAT book. Then I took him to a developmental pediatrician (at age who diagnosed him with AS. It was a long, rocky road.... I just wish I had known more about AS from the beginning.... Always trust your mother-instincts!
Good luck! Joanne