Therapy, Evaluations & Diagnoses

Yesterday was our first family session with J's therapist. It was interesting. The main topic was Y & J discussing how they deal with each other and some new strategies they can use, as well as encouragement for the ones they're using now.

Dr. M was very impressed and pleased by Y's positive attitude about J's autism. I always seem to get that whenever it's brought up that Y has always been that way. She loves J, thinks he's awesome, brags about him, is very protective of him, very accepting of him and wants him to succeed at whatever he sets his mind to. From what I keep hearing that attitude from the sibling of an autistic child is rare. I've been told that a large percentage of siblings have problems and issues with their autistic brother or sister. And, unfortunately, I have encountered a couple of kids who do have an issue with their autistic sibling, but it's hard to believe it's as widespread as I keep being told. Y has never had a problem or issues. She's loved J unconditionally ever since he was born. As she said to Dr. M why would she have a problem? She loves her brother. This is the only way of life she's ever known and wants to know. She doesn't know anything else and can't imagine it any other way. Then she asked why would she want to? And why would she hate her brother?

If this attitude is indeed rare amongst siblings of autistic kids then I'm very blessed to have such a wonderful daughter. And J is very blessed to have such a wonderful sister.

The session went pretty well. Y doesn't like J's therapist, though. She can't explain why but she doesn't like him. That's fine, she doesn't have to. J is the one who sees him on a regular basis, and he thinks Dr. M rocks. One thing I can say is that Y's therapist's style is very different from Dr. M. This could very easily be why she doesn't like him.

At the end of the session Dr. M asked me if Y had ever been evaluated for sensory problems or even asperger's. I told him she had a full neurological evaluation and that was when she was given the complete diagnosis of ADHD and clinical depression. He's convinced there's something more. He told me by watching her she appears to be someone who has some sensory problems. She is easily distracted by the littlest things which always pulls her off task. This was very apparent in the session. And it's hard for her to focus and concentrate. I've always equated it to the ADHD which is also effected by the depression but Dr. M thinks it's more than that. He's suggested I get her evaluated.

I'm going to look into it. I've been down this avenue before, with J, and I'm trying to remember who all I talked to and worked with. I have to do some research again to figure out who to talk to and where to get her evaluated. I have the same attitude with her as I have with J. If there's some kind of diagnosis there let me find it so I can make sure my kids get the best services and help possible to help them succeed.

The biggest problem is going to be Y. It took her a long time to come to terms with her diagnoses and there were several months that she hated having them. They made her feel stupid at first; she feels better about them now. And this is something she's been working on in therapy. I find it interesting because she talks about how awesome J is - autism and all, yet she doesn't like the idea of having a disability herself. I've told her she could learn a thing or two from J is regards to accepting yourself for how you are. She's knows I'm right and tries to follow J's example. But then Y has always been hard on herself, even when it's not necessary to be. Add to that she's a teenage girl trying to figure out who she is. All this combined is one big stress mess for her.

Now there's one thing Dr. M keeps keeps insisting on and it was brought again today: that J is not autistic, that he has asperger's. His reasoning is that, according to him, J has such a high level of speech that he cannot be just autistic. He has to have aspergers. I don't agree with this.

When J had his evaluation it was done at The Fraser Center in Minneapolis. It's considered the best autism clinic in the Twin Cities. When I sat with the psychologists who evaluated J they discussed with me that fact that he has the diagnosis of autism but is one social skill deviation away from having aspergers. It was this one deviation that placed him on the spectrum as autistic, "High-Functioning Autistic" as the doctors put it. From what I was told aspergers kids have a much easier time with speech and communication than auties. They have a much easier time getting their words out. This was where J had difficulty and where the deviation occurred which placed him just outside of having aspergers. Well, Dr. M doesn't agree with this. He's very convinced J has aspergers despite what the evaluation says.

Now Dr. M could be right. J could have grown into the diagnosis of aspergers but I'm not going to declare him as such until I get another evaluation and official diagnosis. Which means J needs a new evaluation. Dr. M has suggested J get this. I plan on it because J has progressed so much in the past year-and-a-half that I really wouldn't be surprised if I see some kind of change in his diagnosis (but right now I'm sticking with autism). I know his speech skills have improved so much over the past year-and-a-half. Goes to show how devoted and dedicated speech therapists can really help.

This autie/aspie debate has been ongoing with Dr. M and I since he first started seeing J but it's never been a problem. I stand by what The Fraser Center diagnosed; he thinks it's wrong. In due time we'll find out. The only problem is that The Fraser Center has about a year long waiting list! So I have to go somewhere else. I have a short list but I really want to get him back into Fraser. I'm thinking of getting on the list and getting him in somewhere in the meantime.

Either way, new evaluations are in the future, for both my kids.