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Welcome to the LoCo Message Board>
Need diagnosis!
krisE
2 post s
15-Aug-2008
5:18 PM
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I am a new member of this group and found out about it b/c I was invited to join a while ago. I didn't join originally b/c I have been told by my son's teachers (Loudoun County special ed) and doctor that "he does not have autism". I spent my time trying to figure out what he does have w/o much success. He seems to have some symptoms of everything - autism, Asperger's, ADD, CAPD, but nothing really "fits". He has been "discharged" from special ed and now has no services and no IEP. However, I firmly believe he NEEDS services. I am in the process of having him diagnosed (hopefully) with a developmental pediatrician. Just from going over all his paperwork she feels he may have Asperger's. She hasn't met him yet so can't make the dx yet. I don't think Asperger's really fits him. I have come across one disorder that seems to fit him called semantic pragmatic disorder. It is on the autism spectrum but is used more in the UK than here. It seems to cover all the language and social problems of mild autism and Asperger's but not the hand flapping, adherence to routines, etc. This is my son!!! He does not understand language and all its nuances and does not make friends easily but does not have gross motor clumsiness or repetitive movements, etc. It may be the same as mild autism? Does anyone have a child diagnosed with this or have first hand knowlege of it? I am SO frustrated trying to get a diagnosis. He really needs services/IEP, etc. Any advice on getting a diagnosis for a child on the mild end of the spectrum?
Thanks,
Kristin
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Alex911
8 post s
16-Aug-2008
11:17 AM
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Hi Kris,
I understand your frustration and I would recommend an evaluation by Dr. Ronald Federici, an expert in the autism field, who practices in McLean, VA. He is a neuropsychologist. He is very familiar with Loudoun County. My son was mislabeled 3 times before I took him to see Dr. Federici and he is high functioning autistic/Asperger's. My son did not hand flap or have any gross motor delays, but had a terrible time with language nuances, social interaction, abstract and higher level reasoning concepts and auditory processing problems. Hope this information helps.
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jodi folta
3 post s
20-Aug-2008
9:47 AM
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I would strongly recommend that you get an advocate to help you in getting the services your son needs. While obtaining a diagnosis could be helpful, it likley will not make your issue of getting services any easier. This is something that a good advocate is needed for. It doesn't matter what the diagnosis is (in fact, by law a diagnosis is not even required for special ed services) what matters is what your son's needs are and professional assistance in this area can be the best use of your money/resources.
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Alex911
10 post s
20-Aug-2008
3:42 PM
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Hi Kris, I agree with Jodi wholeheartedly... even with a diagnosis from your develpmental pediatrician you will need an advocate to get proper services for your child, especially since he has been "discharged" and is no longer under an IEP. Contact LARC's Eleanor Voldish for a consult.
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KNOW AUTISM • Loudoun County Autism Network • www.locoautismnetwork.com
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