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<blockquote data-quote="SRL" data-source="post: 18770" data-attributes="member: 701"><p>Marg, it would make sense since Autism is a neurologically based disorder that neurology would be the specialty area to go but let's face it they can't specialize in it all. Psychiatric problems and learning disabilities also have neurological bases but neurologists aren't the place we typically send parents to evaluate those. I think Autism sort of leans in this direction as well due to the developmental aspects such as speech. They aren't even claiming to be superior at picking it up: a study done by a team of neurologists and pediatricians here in 2000 basically gave the medical community as a whole a failing grade in early identification of ASDs. Since then a joint campaign between the pediatrians assoc. and the govt. Center for Disease Controls has been launched and seems to be making a difference.</p><p></p><p>For what it's worth, given all of the various cold, hard realities surrounding Autism evaluation, I personally think we would all do the parents seeking advice here a favor and suggest that they tap into their local resources to look for the best specialists in their area to diagnose (such as in contacting a local Autism Society). All specialty areas have their pros and cons: One parent might emphasize a neuropsychologist because that's what helped her child but neuropsychs lack medical degrees and I feel strongly that young children especially need to be seen by a developmentalist MD type. Neurologists have the brain background but parent reports (and their own internal study) suggest they are hit and miss for accurate diagnosis and downright poor for kids who are most likely to slip under the radar. Developmental peds have a broad background and are good at dxing Autism but the waiting lists for most of them are 6-12 months these days plus they aren't appropriate for older kids and teens. Autism clinics are reported to be good but they are few and far between. Add on restrictions by insurance companies plus distance factors and I think we'd serve parents better by suggesting that X, Y, Z are the specialty areas known to be best at accurate diagnosis and for them to check with local parents for suggestions instead of pushing for our preferred specialist because thats who helped our child. The possibility also exists that there are others options available in their areas that we know nothing about. For instance there is an ADHD clinic at a hospital near me that is absolutely top notch at diagnosis and treatment of all disorders with ADHD overlap. I wouldn't have one single qualm about referring a parent there with a child who had suspected Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) plus ADHD because I know theyd get a highly professional multidisciplinary evaluation and great follow-up. Most of us dont live in the community of the poster: we dont know if the neuropsychologist is lousy or if the neurologist is the best in the area at dxing ASDs or the developmental pediatrician not worth the 9 month wait or that a regular psychologist who we'd normally never recommend here totally has their act together inside an Autism Clinic...or if theres something totally unknown to us (such as that ADHD clinic) that might be the wild card best solution of all.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="SRL, post: 18770, member: 701"] Marg, it would make sense since Autism is a neurologically based disorder that neurology would be the specialty area to go but let's face it they can't specialize in it all. Psychiatric problems and learning disabilities also have neurological bases but neurologists aren't the place we typically send parents to evaluate those. I think Autism sort of leans in this direction as well due to the developmental aspects such as speech. They aren't even claiming to be superior at picking it up: a study done by a team of neurologists and pediatricians here in 2000 basically gave the medical community as a whole a failing grade in early identification of ASDs. Since then a joint campaign between the pediatrians assoc. and the govt. Center for Disease Controls has been launched and seems to be making a difference. For what it's worth, given all of the various cold, hard realities surrounding Autism evaluation, I personally think we would all do the parents seeking advice here a favor and suggest that they tap into their local resources to look for the best specialists in their area to diagnose (such as in contacting a local Autism Society). All specialty areas have their pros and cons: One parent might emphasize a neuropsychologist because that's what helped her child but neuropsychs lack medical degrees and I feel strongly that young children especially need to be seen by a developmentalist MD type. Neurologists have the brain background but parent reports (and their own internal study) suggest they are hit and miss for accurate diagnosis and downright poor for kids who are most likely to slip under the radar. Developmental peds have a broad background and are good at dxing Autism but the waiting lists for most of them are 6-12 months these days plus they aren't appropriate for older kids and teens. Autism clinics are reported to be good but they are few and far between. Add on restrictions by insurance companies plus distance factors and I think we'd serve parents better by suggesting that X, Y, Z are the specialty areas known to be best at accurate diagnosis and for them to check with local parents for suggestions instead of pushing for our preferred specialist because thats who helped our child. The possibility also exists that there are others options available in their areas that we know nothing about. For instance there is an ADHD clinic at a hospital near me that is absolutely top notch at diagnosis and treatment of all disorders with ADHD overlap. I wouldn't have one single qualm about referring a parent there with a child who had suspected Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) plus ADHD because I know theyd get a highly professional multidisciplinary evaluation and great follow-up. Most of us dont live in the community of the poster: we dont know if the neuropsychologist is lousy or if the neurologist is the best in the area at dxing ASDs or the developmental pediatrician not worth the 9 month wait or that a regular psychologist who we'd normally never recommend here totally has their act together inside an Autism Clinic...or if theres something totally unknown to us (such as that ADHD clinic) that might be the wild card best solution of all. [/QUOTE]
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