Hi there, They told you that Daytrana is Ritalin (I am pretty sure...didn't look it up so if wrong sorry, but it is still a stimulant) in patch form? So, the appetite issue may still be there but it may work better too, each stimulant is different for each child. My son takes Ritalin and he eats better that is because he is so hyper he can't even sit to eat. but it is true stims can increase seizures (makes sense right, they increase brain activity).
Marg is SOOO right, do not get too hyped about the IQ results....my son's total scores have varied over the years including the scores of the subtests varying across testing sessions and within the tests. For some kids they actually are not even valid (true). But to use them to look over time at strengths and learning style can be helpful. It also can be helpful if a child has high scores in areas to see there could be a style of learning to emphasize (if overall score is high can help you too, but even with a high IQ there can be significant things going on that can make learning hard so comprehensive testing through the neuropsychologist and speech language pathologist as well as occupational therapist and an audiologist--for now audio to make sure hearing is ok and can discriminate between sounds... may be able to look at some sound processing issues in the brain at his age but he may be too young and not really able to do some of the testing but the Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) can help you sort through what to test)
No ONE symptom rules in or out autism so enjoy that he has some level of fantasy play. Can you break into the play and make something happen. If you have a barbie or use one of his transformers, can you start them dancing on the blocks instead of crashing them? Does he have to direct the play? this information is not diagnostic, just giving you things to write down to share with the people who do the assessment. The "high" interest toys he has are really common for kids his age but can be obsessive and rigid for kids with autism and can shift over time. My son has LOVED and knows everything about NASCAR including memorizing all drivers and numbers the very first time he watched. He can at age 15 tell you the day he started watching and who was racing. Now over the years that has stayed number one, but he has added other sports, again with a super high focus, doesn't enjoy watching with others....it is his thing. He also loves green and only recently started using other colors in his limited drawing. Again, lots of kids love pokemon, but kids with autism take it to a whole 'nother level, smile!
Even if IQ is off, or not accurate the language delay does lead you to think autism vs aspergers if this is the issue at all. (There are some now who say if it really resolves, more like a speech delay, then it can be Asperger's but not officially, also many think Aspergers means that kids wont have as significant problems, and that can be true...but there are many with Aspergers who have complete impairment of future life and some that are married with kids... Kids with autism vary widely too... and many can seem like kids with Aspergers but maybe have a few more significant issues like the language issues or a harder time with learning some things in school. Not the end of the world in either case! (Also, please note... the labels for autism are changing in the medical community so in the end if this is autism-like...it could be called Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) or Autism Spectrum Disorder no matter if it is aspergers like or autism like etc...)
I know that even as an Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) I didn't want this for my child and I already knew he had a brain injury... I cried and argued with my co-workers who I had asked to evaluate him for some behavior ideas. But over the years I have been grateful for the answer. many will tell you here that whatever the answer (and you dont know yet, we can't tell you what a child has here... we are just going by what your neuro suggested and what you are telling us but we cant see him and we are not qualified to do that, just lots of moms, some dads, with a lot of experience....even if we do work in the field we can't say without seeing a child what our diagnosis impression/thought can be, ok ??) so dont panic, this is a process.
The good thing (sorry probably sounds like a dumb word to use here) is that once you know of the issues like if he is more of a visual learner, or if there is a delay in a language area, or if there are sensory issues like not being able to tolerate textures/touches-smells-tastes-sounds or if he seeks textures, touches, smells, tastes, sounds... and many other issues.... well...........you can do something not just fly by the seat of your pants, your child can be understood from their perspective. You can begin therapies that really do help. And you are especially blessed to be doing this at a young age because early childhood supports are really more easily available in many areas.
We are holding your hand here, your son sounds like he has some really good skills that can be used to help him to learn and once you get the seizure issue helped, he may have an easier time simply because he will feel better. My son was older and he KNEW something was wrong. He finally asked if he had to die to get rid of this, and they listened! That is how they found the seizures. And the seizures may not account for everything, but some doctors will dismiss the impact these can have on a person but do the research on temporal lobes and frontal lobes and you will see that if the functions of those areas (personality, judgement, impulse control, attention, MOOD, language, speech, memory, hearing are all in these areas) are disrupted, naturally there can be problems.
These posts were probably a lot to take in and please know that every single word from these people (I know this because they have been my life line) comes from true love and compassion having walked in the shoes of worry and love for our children. You sound like you are gathering up your resources and have good doctors with you and that you are ahead of the game compared to many others! It can be a huge fight for many to get any information at all and it is not for lack of trying so give yourself a pat on the back for that and realize that your children are blessed to have such an awesome mom.
HUGS, Dee