NineLives
09-27-2004, 10:08 PM
My son recently had testing done to see if he qualified for help from our state voc rehab. Now I'm told after 9 years that he doesn't fit the diagnosis of autism and their diagnosis is PDDNOS. I'm really confused because I believe that my son is autistic, but that he has been able to improve his coping skills enough that the autism is not as apparent. I guess I should be happy that the autistic traits are not as evident but now it's got me wondering if the first diagnosis was correct. He will still qualify for help from voc rehab, but I just wasn't expecting this change in the diagnosis. He is 17 and will be 18 in a couple of weeks. Really confused here!
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edaisy80
09-27-2004, 10:59 PM
Mt brother-in-law is 22 years old. He was daignoised with ADHD when he was 5 years old. Then when he was 9 he was diagnoised with Autism. Well about 2 months ago they said it was Autism after all but Aspergers syndrom. Its weird. He's been seeing the same doctor (phyciatrist) since he was 9. How does it change I don't understand. I just thought I would let you know about my brother-in-law.
Redhead23
09-28-2004, 07:55 AM
PDD-NOS is another term used for people with symptoms resembling autism, but who either have too few symptoms to match the minimum requirement in the diagnostic criteria, OR they are only very mildly affected in one or more of the key symptoms of autism.
PDD-NOS is still an autism spectrum disorder. It's just not "classic" (Kanner) autism.
PDD-NOS is still an autism spectrum disorder. It's just not "classic" (Kanner) autism.
NineLives
09-29-2004, 08:55 AM
Thanks for your replies. The brother in law thing is interesting because he has been seeing the same physician. This was a different physician in our case. Also when he was first diagnosed the psychologist told us to learn as much as we could about Aspergers syndrome. No matter what their tests show I still feel very strongly that it's an autism spectrum disorder which I did not realize PDDNOS was considered. At an autism conference that I attended that diagnosis was discussed and they basically said that a diagnosis of PDDNOS was really not a diagnosis at all. We are still going to continue with things the way we have thus far because he is doing really well. I just never imagined that they would give us a completely different diagnosis.
Redhead23
09-29-2004, 09:15 AM
"At an autism conference that I attended that diagnosis was discussed and they basically said that a diagnosis of PDDNOS was really not a diagnosis at all."
The reason for that is that many want a precise label, and if their kid does not fit the AS description, and does not fit the Autism description, then the kid gets the PDD-NOS diagnosis, and people are upset because they want their kid to have a specific label for their disorder.
PDD-NOS is not given to spite people or to mean the kid is not autistic. Until more research is done to determine more specific sub-types of PDDs, it's the only way to describe a child who has neither AS nor classic Autism, but still shows some clear signs of autistic impairment.
The reason for that is that many want a precise label, and if their kid does not fit the AS description, and does not fit the Autism description, then the kid gets the PDD-NOS diagnosis, and people are upset because they want their kid to have a specific label for their disorder.
PDD-NOS is not given to spite people or to mean the kid is not autistic. Until more research is done to determine more specific sub-types of PDDs, it's the only way to describe a child who has neither AS nor classic Autism, but still shows some clear signs of autistic impairment.
KathleenW
09-30-2004, 11:35 AM
I think of the term as being autistic that you have severe problems with language and social interaction. Every child that I know that has been through the ABA program "lost" their diagnosis of autistic.
My son was originally diagnosed with very mild PDD. They told me that he would be mildly handicapped. After ABA and speech therapy for over a year they told me that he no longer shows any signs of autism. Does this mean he is cured? No. Even though his IQ is above average and his speech and social skills seem perfect his brain will always be different from people without autism.
My son was originally diagnosed with very mild PDD. They told me that he would be mildly handicapped. After ABA and speech therapy for over a year they told me that he no longer shows any signs of autism. Does this mean he is cured? No. Even though his IQ is above average and his speech and social skills seem perfect his brain will always be different from people without autism.
Asperger family
12-10-2004, 09:19 PM
I dont know for sure, but my sons teacher thinks ADHD and autism might be one in the same...maybe that could be possible. His psychiatrist says that autism can evolve into aspergers. If they learn and are grasping their education, learning to talk, then they could "evolve " into aspergers. My guess is to never depend upon the diagnosis, just the symptoms, because those change all the time. Maybe ADHD evolves into aspergers or autism, who really knows but I always hear stories like these, where the childs dx changes or they overcome obstacles.I dont think thats a miracle, but I think thats a job well done by those contributing to it and the child. Because that takes alot of work, mainly for us its breaking the barriers or finding away to get "through to him" on each obstacle.
Asperger family
12-10-2004, 09:24 PM
Im curious as to exactly what PDDNOS is, I dont really understand it. I always thought that it was a more aggressive kind of child who fits characteristics of autism.Like a child with more behavioral issues than a calm autistic child(is that possible..lol) So anyways, i dont know, but if anyone knows, please let us know..thanks :wave:
Sami34
12-10-2004, 09:51 PM
Hi, My son was diagnosed with PDD NOS (Not Otherwise Specified) since 3 years old. We've been getting some help on Social Interaction and Language skills from the school district.
What I learned in the past year is that nobody can hardly tell the difference in PDD NOS kids from other typically developping kids - except PDD NOS children are shy and don't talk much (social and language issues).
Interestingly, some areas of the state I live in don't even recognize PDD NOS as 'disability'. I was told to be careful about moving from one city to another (if we ever decided to move someday) because of this. It's really bizzar...
What I learned in the past year is that nobody can hardly tell the difference in PDD NOS kids from other typically developping kids - except PDD NOS children are shy and don't talk much (social and language issues).
Interestingly, some areas of the state I live in don't even recognize PDD NOS as 'disability'. I was told to be careful about moving from one city to another (if we ever decided to move someday) because of this. It's really bizzar...
Asperger family
12-11-2004, 04:53 PM
You know what sami, I always saw those kinds of kids in school, mainly boys. There were boys who were virtually totally anti social, and I can remember one girl.Boys are boys, but it seems alot of boys have more communication problems than girls, but just as well, there are girls who do too. I was never totally anti social, but I do stress socializing and more than not, dont start a conversation unless something crazy just makes me do it. I do like to make friends, I do get lonely and tend to cling to "my friends" which isnt alot.I just hate the process, , I just want to be compfortable right away and thats not really how it works....Im still trying though.Hey maybe communication should be a class studied in school, what could it hurt?
smileyk
02-12-2005, 12:28 PM
The reason the diagnosis changes is because early intervention works...and people who don't know your child don't know how he "used to be." Any diagnosis should include a retrospective account of the child by his parent. Children tend to look the "most autistic" when they are 4-5 yrs. old...so the parent should think about what their child was like at that age. I don't really know if I believe that autism goes away or is cured...I just think maybe it changes or something...who knows?? Also, I don't think autism evolves into AS...children with AS typically have no history of language problems and generally have average or above average IQ.....I think kids with autism can get intervention and then have no language problems (except maybe pragmatics still) and finally be able to demonstrate that they have average or above average IQ, but they still have history of language problems/disorders. What do you guys think?
BetsyAnn
02-12-2005, 02:13 PM
That is the way I also see it.