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Autism & Asperger's Syndrome (Expert Forum)
please help
Answered by
William H Ahearn, Ph.D., BCBA - Behavior Analysis, Learning Deficits, Severe Problem Behav, autism
The New England Center for Children
Questions in the Autism & Asperger's Syndrome forum are answered by researchers at the New England Center for Children. Topics covered include Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Antisocial Personality Disorder, Asperger Syndrome, Autism, blindness, bullying, clinical depression, deafness, dyslexia, mental retardation, and social alienation.
please help
by cell88, May 25, 2009 10:30PM
is it normal for a 4 year old (autisum) to have a normal pet scan mri ALSO ALL MEDABOLIC TESTS ARE NORMAL HE HAD A HEARING DELAY AND STILL HAS A SPEECH DELAY HE WAS PUT ON KEPPRA FOR A YEAR WITCH TOOK HIM ON A WILD RIDE SENCE WE STOPPED THE KEPPRA HE IS GETTER BETTER AND TALK MORE HE IS VERY HYPER AND THE DR. HAS SAID HE HAS ADHD, THE ScHOOL IS THE ONLY PLACE THAT SAY HE HAS AUTISM HE IS VERY FRIENDLY LOVING AND THE MORE THING CHANG THE BETTER HE IS.
Doctor's Answer
by William H Ahearn, Ph.D., BCBA, May 29, 2009 09:43AM
, May 29, 2009 09:43AMTo: cell88
You certainly have many questions but the main point seems to be that you question the diagnosis of autism for your son. You mention that his school has diagnosed him as having an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Some schools have excellent diagnosticians who are experienced and well qualified to make such diagnoses but many do not. You also mention that there has been metabolic testing that has not come back abnormal. Though many have suggested metabolic abnormalities in persons with autism, metabolic testing is not a valid means of diagnosing autism. In fact, if one were to rely soley on genetic/metabolic testing only about 40% of cases of autism would be diagnosed and this testing would cost well over $30,000 per child (according to tiered pricing offered for genetic evaluations by qualified geneticists). Such genetic evaluation usually occurs following the diagnosis of an ASD. To definitively determine whether your son has an ASD, I suggest that you find a developmental specialist who is qualified to adminster the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (or ADOS). With this test you will have an answer to that question.
Best of luck.
Best of luck.
Member Comments (4)
by cell88, May 29, 2009 11:00AM
he also has had mri pet scans all are normal
by William H Ahearn, Ph.D., BCBA, May 29, 2009 11:16AM
, May 29, 2009 11:16AMTo: cell88
MRI pet scans also are not used for diagnosis and are more likely to not reveal differences than to reveal differences in persons w/ASDs. That is why the foundation of diagnostic evaluation for autism involves observing the child and interviewing caregivers.
by cell88, May 29, 2009 04:45PM
my md did a pets scan , all other test she told me that aaron has adhd and a speech delay do to maney hearing pro. he makes good eye contact and is very friendly, hyper,knows what is going on around him if you get right down to it the only problems he has is speech(she says he language skills are fine he points ---)and at 4 years old wants to do what he wants to do.as well as many other dr. and I pay for in home dtt the dr. that come out says if he autsim it is weird it does not fit the school did a ados told me that because he did not want to play the doll and did not smile at the teacher that gave the test he has autsim, sensority issues thank you do you know a good place in southern calif. i can take him.
