After doing so much research online and through my college regarding Autism Spectrum Disorders the constant diagnostic statistic of for every girl diagnosed with an ASD there is FOUR boys diagnosed with it. (I am using my memory here from my reading and none of my "statistics" may be actually accurate I am going by what I have read online).
For one thing it is my personal belief that it is because girls are less aggressive and more emotional anyway. Therefore a girl having temper tantrums is not too far from the "norm" of a girl crying when upset, etc. A boy have extreme emotions seems to be a little more noticeable.
I always hear that the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders has something like tripled since the 90s. This makes people thing that it is being over diagnosed. However, I find humor in that. The fact that all of these non-profit organizations have created public interest in the media and increased the knowledge of symptoms this has created a net that allows people with milder forms to be caught in the net to receive treatment. The knowledge of the disorder was what they intended when creating these agencies and charities.
My daughter just recently received the "official" diagnosis of PDD-NOS. This diagnosis is due to the fact that she can speak. Her more severe behaviors are obsessive, controlling behaviors, tantrums, and lack of appropriate social skills. She also has repetitive behaviors like humming, rocking, and twisting and flapping her arms and wrists (although ironically I never really noticed anything weird about her hand movements until after she received the diagnosis, now I notice it all the time.).
Getting the diagnosis has helped already. For one thing I feel that I understand her problems better and have started to "pick my battles".
I have eased up on letting her no wear things she doesn't want to wear (underwear with no tags);
I am more tolerant of her hyperactivity;
I use simpler ways of talking to her and more sure she understands me;
I give her one direction at a time;
I let her talk about what she wants to talk about and try to keep her talking and making eye contact;
I try to be more affectionate and take notice of everything she does that is appropriate;
The diagnosis has also helped the school realize that she needs the services. She now has a behavior plan and reduced amount of homework that is more at her level. She will also be participating in a social skills group to learn how to "play nice".
If you have a child and you're worried about symptoms, push for an evaluation. The worst thing you will be told is that there is nothing wrong. There is nothing wrong with hearing that. (although if your gut still tells you otherwise you might want to seek a second opinion). This is especially with girls. Girls are less likely to get diagnosed probably because they still present as less severe then boys. It is my personal belief that there are just as many girls as boys on the "spectrum" and that they are under-diagnosed, particularly "milder" cases like my daughters. My daughter's severe symptoms are her behaviors and social skill but she can speak and although her conversations can be one-sided, she can still have them.
Of course the more severe the case, the more intervention is needed. I am fortunate that my daughter doesn't have classic Autism in which they can't talk or care for themselves and there is mental retardation. However, just because it is considered "mild" in comparison to other kids "on the lower functioning end " it is still serious when comparing to another "normal" child's social and academic abilities. There is still a need for intervention, in fact in some ways the milder cases are probably the ones who should receive services because there is more of a chance for those services to help the symptoms and give that child more of a chance of "recovering" from it.
I love my daugher, she is adorable. SHe wants to learn to play the guitar! Maybe we will teach her:)
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Daughter's Behaviors
Yesterday I received the report on the Functional Behavioral Assessment completed by a Certified Behavioral Analsyst through the school.
My daughter's behaviors at school were even worse than I had thought. She was reportedly laying on the floor for most of the day; chewing on her sleeves, pencils, not complying with teachers directions, running away, climbing trees, hugging the staff, talking to peers without them responding to her, talking and singing to herself, pacing around the room, yelling to other kids (not responding), not making eye contact, screaming, rolling on the floor, crawling under the desks, running out of the classroom, as well as failing to interact appropriately with peers.
This increases my anger that the school has more then once labelled her as "average." I am angry at myself too because early on in her life her symptoms were present, but then she was put on medication, which helped. I remember thinking that she might be autistic because of the humming that she does whenever she is "zoned in" on something.
I didn't really understand Autism then (and I still don't now but I know it a little better). The humming reminded me of another child with Autism but that particular child didn't speak. When Piper began to speak I dismissed it. I went down the ADHD road, the Bipolar road, the Dyslexia road (and she definitely has ADHD and Dyslexia as well), and the Autism thing kept coming back up.
Her Neurologist has made the PDD-NOS diagnosis based on my observations, the schools testing, neuro-psychological testing, the schools comments in communication books, and the fact that he has been involved with Piper for the past 3 years.
I am angry about the way my daughter's teacher implied that Piper's learning problems were all abotu me not practicing her spelling words and homework with her. I have gone over and over again in my head thinking that i am the reason for her difficulties. I know that living with my parents before living with me probably does have an environmental aspect to her condition that probably contributed to her problems in some way. However, I am feeling that the genetic aspect of her condition, combined with the fact that my other children do not have the same issues despite being in a similar living situation, makes it clear that this is accurate.
I have endured criticism by other parents, the school, my own parents, family, and friends all that think I just have this desire to give my daughter a label.
Reading this FBA has made me feel more confident that finally an independent evaluation has proven that my daughter's behaviors are linked to something other then me just being a bad mother.
I absolutely believe that she is on the Autistic Spectrum and finally her behaviors, the dyslexia, the ADHD it all just makes so much more sense now. It may be a while before the school will accept the diagnosis and I may have to get even more testing (Sigh, this poor child has been put through a battery of tests) but eventually I will get her the services she needs.
The school must provide my daughter with certain services and no matter how long it takes I am going to get them for her. I am definitely interested in hearing other peoples stories! Thank you for listening. My daughter is not this monster they portray her as. She is a sweet, loving, little girl who loves to please. She just needs to understand what is being asked of her in order to do it correctly.
My daughter's behaviors at school were even worse than I had thought. She was reportedly laying on the floor for most of the day; chewing on her sleeves, pencils, not complying with teachers directions, running away, climbing trees, hugging the staff, talking to peers without them responding to her, talking and singing to herself, pacing around the room, yelling to other kids (not responding), not making eye contact, screaming, rolling on the floor, crawling under the desks, running out of the classroom, as well as failing to interact appropriately with peers.
This increases my anger that the school has more then once labelled her as "average." I am angry at myself too because early on in her life her symptoms were present, but then she was put on medication, which helped. I remember thinking that she might be autistic because of the humming that she does whenever she is "zoned in" on something.
I didn't really understand Autism then (and I still don't now but I know it a little better). The humming reminded me of another child with Autism but that particular child didn't speak. When Piper began to speak I dismissed it. I went down the ADHD road, the Bipolar road, the Dyslexia road (and she definitely has ADHD and Dyslexia as well), and the Autism thing kept coming back up.
Her Neurologist has made the PDD-NOS diagnosis based on my observations, the schools testing, neuro-psychological testing, the schools comments in communication books, and the fact that he has been involved with Piper for the past 3 years.
I am angry about the way my daughter's teacher implied that Piper's learning problems were all abotu me not practicing her spelling words and homework with her. I have gone over and over again in my head thinking that i am the reason for her difficulties. I know that living with my parents before living with me probably does have an environmental aspect to her condition that probably contributed to her problems in some way. However, I am feeling that the genetic aspect of her condition, combined with the fact that my other children do not have the same issues despite being in a similar living situation, makes it clear that this is accurate.
I have endured criticism by other parents, the school, my own parents, family, and friends all that think I just have this desire to give my daughter a label.
Reading this FBA has made me feel more confident that finally an independent evaluation has proven that my daughter's behaviors are linked to something other then me just being a bad mother.
I absolutely believe that she is on the Autistic Spectrum and finally her behaviors, the dyslexia, the ADHD it all just makes so much more sense now. It may be a while before the school will accept the diagnosis and I may have to get even more testing (Sigh, this poor child has been put through a battery of tests) but eventually I will get her the services she needs.
The school must provide my daughter with certain services and no matter how long it takes I am going to get them for her. I am definitely interested in hearing other peoples stories! Thank you for listening. My daughter is not this monster they portray her as. She is a sweet, loving, little girl who loves to please. She just needs to understand what is being asked of her in order to do it correctly.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Daughter's Diagnosis Road has reached the end.
After a heartwrenching, stressful journey down the road of a diagnostic nightmare my daughter's Autism Spectrum Disorder (well more specificially PDD-NOS) diagnosis has finally been made. Her symptoms, behaviors, combined with the results of what I feel is a million different types of evaluations, neuropsychological assessments, sensory testing, behavior observations, school testings, and more, showed that she met the criteria and the Neurologist made the diagnosis.
Getting the diagnosis for my daughter was particularly difficult for two reasons. The first being that she was put on medication at only 4 years old. This was not done by me, this was done by my parents, with whom she lived at the time. The medication helped with the symptoms and she seemed to develop reasonably well (until now when she is stalling in development and other kids her age are flying by her). The second reason is being that she can talk. The medication helped her appear just a little "odd" instead of the full range of symptoms.Most people think of autism as a condition in which the child can not speak. Myself included. In fact most can speak.
My daughters unmedicated symptoms are becoming more apparent because as she grows older and the medication dosage remains the same she has outgrown the dose and i refuse to up the dose. My daughter lays on the floor, removes her shoes, runs away from teachers, hides, plays obsessively with water, steals things and keeps a collection of them, collects trash and rocks, she licks people and objects, chews anything she can, makes odd noises and moves constantly. She doesn't understand social "rules" and is controlling, will interrupt anyone, she lacks the ability to control her body. She is also prone to tantrums, biting, screeching, as well as other defiant behaviors. She is also sensitive to noises that might not irritate an average person (soft clicking, keyboard, cell phone keys). She also can not grasp math and reading skills (she's dyslexic ). She writes upside down and backwards. She has difficulty following instructions. The medication reduces these symptoms, but doesn't eliminate them.
My daughter's official diagnosis as of today is PDD-NOS and ADHD. PDD-NOS is a diagnosis that is on the higher functioning end of the autism spectrum but still comes under the umbrella. This diagnosis SHOULD get the school to give Piper the services at school that they still are refusing. I believe I still have a long road ahead to get the school to help her. They have pretty much labeled Piper as a disobedient child. Every comment about her is negative. She REFUSED to do this. She took off her socks and shoes and hid. She sung to herself to get other students attention.
It is so sad that my daughter who is sweet and loveable for the most part, is getting treated like this because the school wants to save money.
Anyway my next meeting is March 8th, 2012 I will let you know how it goes.
:)
Getting the diagnosis for my daughter was particularly difficult for two reasons. The first being that she was put on medication at only 4 years old. This was not done by me, this was done by my parents, with whom she lived at the time. The medication helped with the symptoms and she seemed to develop reasonably well (until now when she is stalling in development and other kids her age are flying by her). The second reason is being that she can talk. The medication helped her appear just a little "odd" instead of the full range of symptoms.Most people think of autism as a condition in which the child can not speak. Myself included. In fact most can speak.
My daughters unmedicated symptoms are becoming more apparent because as she grows older and the medication dosage remains the same she has outgrown the dose and i refuse to up the dose. My daughter lays on the floor, removes her shoes, runs away from teachers, hides, plays obsessively with water, steals things and keeps a collection of them, collects trash and rocks, she licks people and objects, chews anything she can, makes odd noises and moves constantly. She doesn't understand social "rules" and is controlling, will interrupt anyone, she lacks the ability to control her body. She is also prone to tantrums, biting, screeching, as well as other defiant behaviors. She is also sensitive to noises that might not irritate an average person (soft clicking, keyboard, cell phone keys). She also can not grasp math and reading skills (she's dyslexic ). She writes upside down and backwards. She has difficulty following instructions. The medication reduces these symptoms, but doesn't eliminate them.
My daughter's official diagnosis as of today is PDD-NOS and ADHD. PDD-NOS is a diagnosis that is on the higher functioning end of the autism spectrum but still comes under the umbrella. This diagnosis SHOULD get the school to give Piper the services at school that they still are refusing. I believe I still have a long road ahead to get the school to help her. They have pretty much labeled Piper as a disobedient child. Every comment about her is negative. She REFUSED to do this. She took off her socks and shoes and hid. She sung to herself to get other students attention.
It is so sad that my daughter who is sweet and loveable for the most part, is getting treated like this because the school wants to save money.
Anyway my next meeting is March 8th, 2012 I will let you know how it goes.
:)
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