Dara, it's hard to wait for appointments. When we put my son on a waiting list (ahem) it was SIX MONTHS. We kept telling ourselves there wouldn't be a six month waiting list if it wasn't a good place to diagnose our son. As it turned out,they still didn't diagnose him right, because he was so young, BUT we at least were able to get him interventions. Their "autistic traits/ADHD/ODD" got him in early preschool, which REALLY helped him in every way possible. I think, at his age, the interventions are more important than the diagnosis because he's so young and things keep popping up when they're older. If he has a speech delay, get him into speech. If he needs PT/Occupational Therapist (OT) get him that too. If you feel he'd do well in an early child development preschool, fight to get him in. The earlier the issues are addressed, the bettr. My son was misdiagnosed until age 11, BUT he had such good interventions, he is just a totally different child than we ever dreamed he'd be. Yes, he raged, bit himself, bit us, banged his head, echoed instead of talking, was hyper off the walls (which got him the wrong ADHD diagnosis) and he did not respond to normal discipline. If we put him in "time out" he threw his chair. We all didn't sleep for two years because he didn't sleep. Fast forward to age 13 1/2. He sleeps, he's calm, NOBODY believes he was ever dxd.with ADHD (he has morphed into a couch potato), he speaks really well, he's almost at grade level in school, and nobody even guesses he's on the high end of the autism spectrum. He actually does better medication free. There is hope, and you're willing to fight for your kid--the hallmark of the best sort of mom. I think you're doing the right thing. Just hang in there. And come here, if you're having trouble waiting. Meanwhile, good idea to have the school test him for possible early intervenions. I give an "A+" in parenting :smile: So many are in denial and hold off getting help!
