MM: He had full neuropsychologist testing done 2 years ago- although this was at the beginning of erratice behavior and patterns hadn't been revealed yet. Wouldn't there have been some indication of Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) or Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) through those results? His results were all over the board.
Not necessarily. difficult child 1 wasn't diagnosed with Asperger's until he was 15. We can look back and say, "Oh yeah, we could see it but didn't recognise it" but part of autism/Asperger's when it's high functioning, is high IQ which means high adaptability and learning to manage in their own way. part of THAT, is learning to hide it. Not in any sneaky, "I don't want you to diagnose me" way, but almost instinctively because they DO want to fit in.
As easy child 2/difficult child 2 has gotten older, we are seeing more problem symptoms with her. The doctor doesn't see it, he says "She makes good eye contact with me, she's OK." But she KNOWS him, she feels safe making eye contact with him. Just an example.
difficult child 1 when assessed by a multidisciplinary clinic, was hard to assess because he was at the upper age range of what they handled. They asked him to write something for them, so he did - word for word the chapter of the book he had been reading. I didn't realise; they didn't know; he didn't intend to 'cheat', he thought when they said, "We want to see how well you can write," they meant his handwriting, not his ability to create prose (which has always been shockingly bad). Literal-minded.
A mild Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) can be hard to identify. You child still may not have Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), but I think what MM & I are trying to say - never dismiss the possibility. You always need to keep an open mind, because it can be a chameleon of a condition (as can BiPolar (BP), I believe).
Medicine is an inexact science. We deal with our kids the best we can, the only way we know how. A label only changes what we do, when the label comes with advice. otherwise we go home and do the same things.
With the possibility of Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) or BiPolar (BP), there is advice which can help. Regardless of diagnosis, it's an interesting exercise to try the advice and see what happens. You never know - you might luck out and find a behaviour technique which makes your lives easier.
When you mentioned paper clips, I immediately thought of those desk ornaments from the 70s which were magnetic and full of paper clips. I wonder how he would go with one of those permanently on his desk? Would it help, or hinder? Sometimes knowing they can have access to what they obsess over, can reduce the intensity of the obsession.
Marg
