more testing

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Boring topic, I know.


My son - DX with autism at age 2. Continued dx at 2 1/2 by development pediatrician specializing in Autism and undx at the same time by clinical psychologist specializing in Autism. Both work together but completely disagreed.

Nate was recently reevaluated by clinical psych and dx with PDD-NOS. Psych didn't use the "typical" assessment instruments. A neuropsychologist will be giving him a neuropsych workup in January with more of the traditional tests. He is thinking that Nate's profile will be more indicative of High Functioning Autism only based on what I told him. His view is that Nate probably won't meet the typical profile of Aspergers and will meet the neurological profile of Autism. This is due to his fine motor skills being high and his incredible spatial reasoning skills. I think his verbal skills will be at least in the average range but I do believe his nonverbal scores will be higher. I could be wrong about his verbal skills, though. The thing is he desires social interaction. Most individuals who are high functioning autism have a less desire for social interaction than Aspergers. He really seems Aspergers to me. He seems pretty mild on the spectrum whether or not he is considered to have HFA or AS.

The doctor stated that in the end, dx doesn't really matter. I would still advocate for the services he needs (which will be easy if Nate goes to the school I work in) and give him what he needs at home. I really like this doctor.

Anyone here have a child dx with Aspergers and their child's nonverbal and verbal scores on intelligence tests were about the same or their nonverbal came out higher than their verbal. Just curious. I was reading that there is some evidence to debunk the neurological profile theory. I think the neuropsychologist will be basing his dx primarily on how Nate scores on the test as well as a few other assessment instruments

I don't think my son's testing has ever gone into the areas you ask about, but I will say I totally agree with this:

All these tests, in the end, are just tools. Every single child is different and needs to be dealt with as such. I remember an early conversation I had with my son's pediatrician, after someone had first suggested that he might have sensory integration disorder. The pediatrician didn't have much patience for the label and didn't want to do any follow or OT because he said, "the very best thing you can do for your child is get to know him and parent accordingly." On that, he was right. It's when we find ourselves at a total loss, and realize there is something "more" we can't get to, that experts become important. JMHO.

Thank you. That is very good advice

As I understand it, the deciding factor of AS vs. HFA is speech delay. So, I guess if he developed speech normally, or mostly normal then it would be AS. If there was a noticeable delay, then it would be HFA.

If it makes you feel any better, I didnt talk till I was 2 year, 8 months. I am fairly non-social, and I am much better with math and analytical thinking then words. Even today my speech is still off, I dont stutter, but I often have breaks in my speech and the words dont always come out in the right order. Its somewhat difficult for me to say what it is that I am thinking. So, I would fit into the HFA box much better then I fit into the AS box.

However, I turned out fine. So, dont worry too much about the DX, your son wont be that bad off if he is more autistic then aspie.

Thanks Tracker! You always make me feel better!!

My son was delayed in speaking. I think he started to speak around 2 years, 6 months to almost 3 years. I honestly believes he fits in the Autistic category. I don't know why I am stressing about it so much. It really shouldn't be a big deal. I should just focus on my son and not worry about what category he fits under. I don't even know why I am doing that. Why?

Natesmom, I know why it bothers you so. Because your just like me and want a concrete clear answer. You don't want to waffle back and forth when talking to a doctor or another parent who asks about it. Gosh what do you say? I mean there's Autistic disorder, HFA, Asperger's, PDD-NOS and even ASD. So many damn labels and you just want one answer right?

Well at least that is me. I have learned to live with it (altho I jump back and forth between HFA and As for my oldest.) He has had dx's from Autistic Traits, ASD, Asperger's and Autistic Disorder even. His doc now says As so I have left it like that. I do think tho he's more Autistic because of the late speech (around the same time as your son) and he pulls away from people and friends even tho he is friendly and can handle things for a certain time. He is pretty much an introvert. He actually kinda sounds alot like you tracker with your description of how you talk.

Now my younger son, well he certainly is an Aspie because you can really see the difference in socialization between the two. And he didn't have a speech delay.

But then again they are so different (one internalizes, one externalizes) but then again the same.

Laine, you are right. That is why it bothers me so much. I am sick of this roller coaster ride. I hate waffling back and forth. When he went from Autism to PDD-NOS, I felt strange saying PDD because that is not what I said before. ASD sounds like all encompassing. I like that. I just wish that someone would get it straight. I guess if most professionals can't agree on the diagnosis between individuals, we will never get a straight answer. The neuropsychologist told me that he feels a lot of individuals who are dx with Aspergers could actually have HFA instead. I guess it does depend on language and how one interprets that.

Ya know Asperger's, PDD-NOS have different dx's codes than Autism. Some doctors feel it's a different disorder, then you hear Non Verbal Learning Disability (which is not even in the DSM 4 and you get even more confused lol!! !)

My NP says that he feels that As is going to be added into the Autism Code/dx when they come back out with a new DSM. 2012?

Believe it or not I have a 21 yr old who was dx'd with ADHD and Borderline Personality Disorder when she was 5. People and Doctors choke on their own spit now when I tell them LOL. This was back in 1992/1993 and Asperger's didn't even hit the DSM until 1995.

Now that she's older, I do think she's an Aspie. She's doing great now because she had so much therapy when she was 5, but it's interesting, her therapist did a lot of floor therapy. Things they do now for kids on the spectrum. Interesting, I did alot of floor therapy with my boys just cuz I knew it would be good for them.... and I didn't know they were going to turn out spectrum.....

Unfortunantly I see red flags in my 3 yr old grandson, and my dd won't listen to me.