I took my youngest son in for a Child Find screening the other day. This is the child whom I have long considered the most "typical" of my kids. Unlike the other two, he didn't have a language delay. Unlike my autistic son, he hasn't had any social delays. Unlike my oldest, he's isn't overly anxious and he is also not a weirdly model student.
He's just...typical.
Until this year. This year he started showing signs of obsessiveness. He's become more sensorily rigid. He has trouble with some speech sounds (which is, in itself, kind of typical) and he's become more rigid and resistant to transitions. In autism terms, he's become perseverative and slightly echolalic.
So I took him in to be screened. I showed up completely unprepared and when the psychologist asked me why we were there, I fumbled for words at first. But then I started to remember things. I remembered how he wore a stuffed duck head as a hat for a solid year. I remembered how he refused to wear anything but yellow t-shirts for a couple of years. I remembered all the things that has caused me to call him alternatively adorable and quirky and batshit crazy. In an affectionate way, of course. I think he—and his quirks—are adorable.
He passed all of the screenings individually, but put together, the team decided he needed more extensive evaluations for speech, OT, and educational testing. Cool. I'm all for evaluations. Especially free ones. I told the psychologist that I understood that her brief psych screening didn't indicate that his obsessiveness merited Child Find intervention (i.e., it doesn't affect him academically), but I wondered if her opinion was that I should continue psychological testing privately.
"Does he," I asked, "present similarly to other kids with OCD?" Because that was my initial concern.
"No," she told me. "Not OCD. More like PDD." Which is my autistic son's diagnosis.
You could have knocked me over with a feather because I have never looked at Quinn as a child with autism. Huh. Interesting. On the one hand, I don't see a lot of the behaviors in Quinn that make up autism. But on the other hand, at least I GET autism. I understand it. And honestly, I would much prefer some autistic perseveration than obsessive compulsive disorder.
I've been spending the time since thinking about my youngest and how he might fit on the spectrum. And I've come to the conclusion that, like most of us in my immediate family, he is a little "spectrum-y."
I understand that what this pscyhologist did is not a full workup. I get that maybe he does have OCD. Maybe he does have PDD. Maybe he has nothing and is just a weird, fun little boy. I don't know. But if he were indeed "spectrum-y"—and that could well be an official diagnosis for all I am concerned—it would make sense.
Because I see spectrum-y behaviors and traits in all three of my children, as well as in myself. This new possibility makes him more one of us. I await his full evaluation with interest. But no matter how it turns out, I am happy he is part of a spectrum-y family that will value his quirkiness and make him feel welcome, normal, and part of something.
Jean writes about her life and autism on her personal blog, Stimeyland. She runs an autism events website for Montgomery County, Maryland, at AutMont. She also writes a column called Autism Unexpected for the Washington Times Communities.
My eldest is the most "autistic" of the 2. And he's the most "normal". When he was re-dx'd (started at mild PDD and then got a wishy washy dx which was useless at school) the Dev Ped told me his speech delay was "normal" not "autistic" and he would grow out of it. And at 10 has. She told me he couldn't be PDD b/c he was "normal" verbal.
ReplyDeleteTherefore he was Non-verbal learning disorder with a speech language delay. NLD doesn't have a S/L delay in the dx. But now at 10, he definately has mild NLD. NLD usually isn't picked up until they are about 7 to 9 yrs of age... having a PDD dx at 2.5 has allowed us to get a grip on the OCD and social/behavioural issues early.
Remember - no 2 kids on the spectrum will present the same way though. Even in sibblings. And whether he is on the spectrum or not, as you know, evaluations and early intervention can be such a good thing - whether it is for a small issue or something that lands him a dx of something too.
ReplyDeleteSpectrum-y...I think that is a great way to describe it.
ReplyDeleteQuinn is a very lucky little boy to have a mom who "gets" him.
I'm so glad to hear that someone else uses the term "spectrum-y." (And I'm not surprised in the least it is you!) We're all spectrum-y in the Channel household, and the more we learn about autism, the more we see little bits and pieces of it in all of us, diagnosed or not.
ReplyDeleteI think it is way, way cool that you are talking about this and sharing your evaluation adventure. So many parents travel down this road and feel so alone. Reading about someone who knows the road well and now writes about another walk down that road provides such a unique and important perspective for the new "road walkers."
Thanks for sharing your story. Wish you and your children the best.
ReplyDeletePlease vote for South Florida Academy of Learning (A Special Needs School for ) win 500K Kohl’s Cares Contest. Go to http://www.pleasevoteforus.com/ and vote! It’s a Free Vote! Thanks!
abercrombie fitch, abercrombie kids, hollister, swarovski, prada, handbags outlet, hair straightener, lululemon, cheap true religion, cheap oakley, adidas superstar, tiffany, horloges, new balance outlet, air max, michael kors outlet, michael kors outlet, polo ralph lauren outlet online, nike store, cheap shoes, coach factory outlet, lululemon, mizuno running, ferragamo, kate spade, cheap jerseys, tiffany jewelry, kate spade, christian louboutin, longchamp, ralph lauren, adidas schuhe, cheap michael kors, tiffany, nike free run, replica watches, burberry outlet, tommy hilfiger
ReplyDeletezhuo20160817
ReplyDeletecoach outlet clearance
michael kors outlet
longchamp bags
cheap uggs
burberry outlet
bottega veneta handbags
longchamp outlet
cheap oakley sunglasses
nike free run black
michael kors outlet clearance
pandora charms
oakley sunglasses
michael kors outlet
nfl jerseys wholesale
supra for sale
discount oakley sunglasses
yeezy boost 350 black
cheap jordans
ugg australia
jordan pas cher
true religion outlet
michael kors outlet clearance
dolce and gabbana outlet
michael kors handbags
sac longchamp pliage
christian louboutin
louis vuitton bags
ghd flat iron
ray ban sunglasses outlet
ugg boots
oakley sunglasses
ugg boots
nike huarache
ugg outlet
levis 501
as
A very good and informative article indeed . It helps me a lot to enhance my knowledge, I really like the way the writer presented his views. I hope to see more informative and useful articles in future.
ReplyDeletestarfall | brainpop
yeezy
ReplyDeleteadidas yeezy boost
kobe basketball shoes
nike dunks
air jordan 12
golden goose
prada sunglasses
michael kors outlet
nike huarache
oakleys sunglasses
I am so impressed that there is such information about this matter that have been uncovered and you’ve done your best, of course with so much class. Jual Mobile File
ReplyDeleteDR WILLIAMS CURED 7 YEARS AUTISM
ReplyDeleteI am sharing this testimony for my daughter who suffered autism for 7 years. I am doing this, because I was her mother and caregiver during her dark days and am very happy to share it so that others can be helped through DR WILLIAMS HERBAL MEDICINE. It was a tough a battle for her; I was not actually the one who hard autism, but bearing the burden makes me understand what parents whose children and love with autism go through.
Lesia now 19 and was diagnosed with autism at the age of twelve, for seven years, she fought against her diagnosis. I must admit it was never easy for us as a family; we had to constantly watch her, and answer questions that we couldn’t explain. On several occasions, she asked if she will ever stop having speech delay and get well like her school mates and be the best swimmer she dreamt of becoming. She was a very happy child; and had a ‘normal’ childhood and there was no suggestion that she would later on develop autism.
She refused to accept defeat and fought autism. She religiously kept to her medications in spite of their side effects. We all wanted a cure, so that she can chase her dream and live a normal life like every other child. But the more she takes these medications, the more her school grade drop. She couldn’t concentrate and we noticed that her memory was being severely adversely affected. Each time we went back to the hospital, her medicines were changed to a different one. Seems like, each change of drug brings about change in side effects. After about 6 years on Abilify , Geodon , and other medicines, it seemed the autism started to increase in frequency. I had to make effort to reduce her medicines with plans to eventually stop it all. We found an alternative treatment in homeopathy, which was better than her English drugs. Gradually, I reduced her drugs, and her autism were no longer as frequent as it was as when she was on conventional drugs.
With our little breakthrough with homeopathy treatment, we made further search for natural cure. Fortunately we saw testimonies about herbal medicines which cure autism. We saw a lot of claims though, contacted them and didn’t get a useful reply. Lucky for us, we finally got a reply from Doctor Williams, he directed us to his blog where we saw a lot of information about his herbal medicine . Without further delay I made a purchase for her, I switched her over to it. We had great breakthrough, that in 3 weeks, her autism reduced. After 1 months as Doctor Williams promised , all autism symptoms stopped. It was like a miracle for us. since all this days now Lesia became autism free. Her story is quite lengthy, I hope it also help someone out there.for more information you can email Dr Williams on drwilliams098675@gmail.com
yeezy
ReplyDeletesupreme clothing
supreme hoodie
kyrie 6 shoes
off white clothing
supreme clothing
christian louboutin outlet
retro jordans
yeezy boost 350
kobe shoes