evaluation with new Psychiatrist - we have the diagnosis, now what?

Shari

IsItFridayYet?
Just got home from the evaluation (it was at 8am - 10:30 now). It went well.

She had the previous psychiatrist's notes, notes from devped, and notes from the behavior therapist he works with weekly.

Apparently the prev psychiatrist wrote in her notes that he was on the spectrum somewhere, tho she wasn't sure if it was Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) or just "on the spectrum". I did not know that, but new psychiatric agrees hands down. She noted hand flapping during the evaluation that I wasn't even noticing.

She also said there are some definite red flags for BiPolar (BP), as well as attachment problems. Not Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD), but a disordered attachment. I don't think she's making a diagnosis of that, but is noting it.

The toys she had in her room were a doll and legos. difficult child did the intermittent "flying" legos and beat the crud out of the doll. She got a good, altho stil scaled down, glimpse of difficult child.

She spent a lot of time at difficult child's level talking with him. He never looked at her. She used her hands to put his face towards her and he still avoided the eye contact.

Only once thru the hour and a half or so did he "lose" his attention with her, tho, even tho he didn't seem to be paying attention, he was answering questions and keeping up with the conversation. She doesn't agree that ADHD fits. Hyper, yes, attention problems, no.

We were sent to her by BT based on his comments to murder his sister and pee on her dead body, among others. She tried to get him to talk about his sister, but she didn't get a lot. She asked him about his mom, if he liked her, and he said "I love mommy".

She asked him why. He said "She's so beautiful."

She asked him if he loves mommy because she takes care of him. No answer.

She asked him if mommy brings him food? "Yes" (no eye contact).

She asked him if mommy takes care of him? "Yes" (still no eye contact).

Why do you love mommy? "She's beautiful". Why else? "Oh, her clothes and hair."

She pointed out that that was not a typical response from a 5 year old. There's an attachment, but its not the usual.

That doesn't really explain anything, but it makes me feel a little better that its on paper somewhere, because we've all always felt his attachment to me was strange.

Oh, and when I showed her the videos at the end of the evaluation (I almost forgot them), she said it just confirmed in her mind that we're dealing with autism.

As for what to do now, she suggested taking this info back to devped and asking for therapy from the autism center. Get him back into Occupational Therapist (OT) full time, keep up BT, and check in with her in 3 months after we've tried the tenex (sooner if we can't make it work). She works in the same office as BT, so that will be handy.

Thanks all for all your input and dialogue. I think I had given up. You helped me find a little warrior armor to dust off. I needed that push.

PS - the possibility of the attachment thing....that just makes my blood boil. I WILL be spending today hating my ex. Maybe tomorrow, too.
 

Star*

call 911........call 911
Shari,

I think knowing what you are dealing with is the first step to breathing easier and finding out where you need to go from here for help.

I'm glad you were able to get answers - that warrior mom armor comes in handy doesn't it?

Star
 

LittleDudesMom

Well-Known Member
Shari,

I'm so glad that you have something to go on. Sounds like this doctor really spent some time with you guys and was definately looking for particular reactions and actions.

I hope this information helps you get the supports you need for difficult child (and for you!).

Sharon
 

4sumrzn

New Member
It sounds as if you had a good visit. Hopefully this is the beginning of more positive things to come to help guide in the right direction.
 

'Chelle

Active Member
When we finally got the diagnosis of Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) for our difficult child, and he got the right therapy and accomodations at school, things for us improved by leaps and bounds. Don't know if your difficult child is in school yet, but with this diagnosis you should be able to take this to the spec. ed. department and get some accomodations set up right away for him. Hope with this new diagnosis you can get him the supports and therapy he needs and things will improve for you too.
 

BusynMember

Well-Known Member
I've thought, by your description of this child, that he sounded like a spectrum kid. BEWARE that Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) looks like autistic spectrum disorder and is often diagnosed when the child is autistic. Autistic kids don't make good eye contact, don't like to be held, and certainly have attachment problems as far as relating to people in a "typical" way. I'm glad you have a diagnosis. and hope you can now get the right type of interventions in school and in the community. They can really help! It's totally up to your discretion and knowledge of your child, but I'd not worry about that attachment diagnosis at this time.
 

Jena

New Member
hi

good for you. i'm glad you guys went and got thru it and i know for me i wnat to know what i'm dealing with as well it helps you to breath a little easier.

listening to well let's just treat the symptoms gets a little aggrivating after a while

jen :)
 

susiestar

Roll With It
Glad you got a good evaluation from the doctor. I also thought you were seeing a lot of "spectrum" disorders. A shame the previous doctor didn't bother to tell you. Arg.

Kids with autism don't attach the way other kids do. Just don't. Maybe can't. Many states are pushing to get services for autistic kids, so this may be a great thing. Not having the disorder, but being able to get services. Did that make sense??

Anyway, glad you are on the road to some help.

Susie
 

totoro

Mom? What's a difficult child?
Just the fact that someone spent the time... and listened. Seemed to see him... hear him!!!
How nice. I hope you can move forward... to the right therapies, help, structure all of it... the right steps.
 
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