Need help trying to figure out ~5 year old

[StaceyKramer]

I have a daughter that will be 5 at the end of Aug. She had infantile spasms at 7 months, took ACTH, and is not on any other seizure meds with a normal EKG. She is delayed developmentally overall about 1 year, but is doing well. My husband and I believe there are other problems..possible ADHD, Asperger's, PDD or ODD. After reading through posts, they seem to all blend together. Our neurologist has a she is doing fine, has wait & see attitude. We want to go back to him with a.."We really think she might have___ and we want her tested." But we can't come up with any conclusions and we want to make sure it's not just her STRONG WILLED personality. Could you help lead us in the right direction...Here are some of her problems.

Not potty trained
Frustrates very easily
Says No to everyting...food, clothes, activities..when you    
proceed she throws her self to floor, stiffens and cries for  
30+ minutes
Clumsy, gross more than fine Motor
Very repetitive in language, will repeat questions and phrases
  several times
Better at expressive skills than comprehsion
Hits often especially when mad and whoever is closest
Vendictive
Does very well one on one or in a small group
Does well at pre shcool..no tantrums or fights
Attention spasm VERY short...won't watch video, listen to
   story, has trouble sitting to eat
Can't stay focued
Not happy unless she is moving
Has trouble using utensils, clumsy
LOVES to be outsite, color or paint, would do it 24/7
sleeps 11+ hours a day
Complains of loud noises

There is more, but this hits most of it
Thanks
Stacy

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

From a developmental point of view, remember that in many respects you are witnessing a child who is almost four vs one who is almost five. When such developmental disorders are present, it is all the more difficult to pinpoint the nature of any mental or emotional disorders. Having said that, it is clear from your description that your daughter should be evaluated by professionals alongside the neurologist. Some of her functioning cannot be accounted for strictly speaking from the neurological perspective alone. To be specific, I'd suggest you arrange an evaluation by a developmental psychologist or developmental pediatrician, and proceed from there. It is likely that such an evaluation will yield referral for a mental health evaluation as well. The key will not be testing per se (though testing may help to determine her developmental status in the different areas of functioning: cognitive, social, emotional motor), but clinical evaluations by the relevant professionals.

[alaaron]

Not potty trained...She pees her pants?