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.
:)