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prognosis delayed speech?

Hi,
We had our follow up w/ the Pediactric Neurologist last week. My son 4 (5 in May) had his cognitive IQ test done by school psychologist, they could not complete the whole test b/c comprehension problems but what he did do he scored low average side..we had his Big IEP meeting to discuss next year (kindergarten) I'm not too thrilled about b/c they are going to put him in the Alternative Learning program and will try to wean/ get him in to mainstream as it goes (for part of the day) they think he will be overwhelmed/get lost in a class of 20 kids...
In the past I did have concerns that my son may be on the spectrum..He has language (receptive/expressive) delays..His evals say a moderate language delay..He does have some sensory issues..he has to keep moving,he can't sit still he rocks on the couch while watching tv..He's a very active child..He is very social,loveable,good eye contact etc..First appointment the Neurologist said she did not think he was on the spectrum and said i should think about/read up on adhd (said he was too young to diagnose but we need to think about) last weeks appointment she just said that my son has language delay and to keep up w/ speech etc etc..she told me that he CAN catch up and she says she has seen this before (esp boys) and she is optimistic he will catch up to his peers eventually...Now, when i read up on the internet about receptive language delays the prognosis isn't as positive..So, my question is to any parent/anyone have experience w/ this (child w/ just language delays) that has done well w/ therapies and did catch up w/ their peers..This language delays is affecting everything..I can't explain it b/c i think he is a bright child but this language delays are impacting him (negative impact)
I'm just so confused b/c the MD tells me one thing but everything I read on line isn't as positve..
The best way I could explain my son is his language (to me) sounds 1-2 years behind..he gets his point across but he just doesn't have a lot of novel speech skills or a lot of dialog..Sometimes when he's playing w/ other kids I can tell he just does NOT get/understand what the kids are talking about
..Example: we saw the movie Horton hears a Who yesterday..when asked what movie he saw he said "the elephant movie" and ask what was it about..."he saved the pink flower"..he does not have the skills to go into more detail..
or when playing w/ kids his age if they start a game/pretend play he does not "get" he tends to act up for attention..
sorry so long...if anyone has any info/input about language delay (expressive/receptive) i'd really appreciate :)
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474135 tn?1207796303
Hmmm sounds pretty familiar to me, really reminds me of my son (10) who didn't talk at all at 2 years, not a word we were teaching him sign language for kids and table manners. Our DR said he grow into but finally at a hearing test somebody we encountered knew what was going on. Sensory integration Dysfunction was the first diagnosis and treatment plan. BIG improvement. At three he was in a Special Needs Preschool 5 days a week for 3 hours I think any way as the Sensory Issues lessened  his attention issue came to the foreground. So off we go again on a treatment program with Meds to help get that hurdle out of his way. Last year He was Diagnosed PDD NOS and spent 1 semester in an Autistic school until we had to move away. The new school communicates with the Autistic school and us about his IEP and the progress is going pretty good. When he exclaimed, " somebody finally gets me " I knew we were doing good things.
The point being we waited for years to get everything available mostly because people with titles and offices didn't coach us better.

If you have questions about what your reading that your health care provider  can't answer or won't answer to your satisfaction then you really need get somebody else involved.
take care
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Avatar universal
testing........
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365714 tn?1292199108
It's just a guess. If you're looking at sensory problems that is one of the characteristics with ASD. If you’re concerned about autism, language delay is common with PDD. PDD NOS is autism sort of like aspergers, but with misc aspects.  It’s hard to explain, but that was the label I am given.

I'm autistic, but often psychologists wanted to consider me for ADHD because of hyperactivity associated. However when they tried prescribing Ritalin that would work for an ADHD person, it failed miserably. It just made me more hyper...and more insane. A combo that didn’t sit well with the school system and my parents included.

For your son, it could be ADHD or it could be a combination... Trying to figure out what is going on with what in the brain is confusing. That's why there are professionals to sort that stuff out.  If your son gets an ADHD, likely the school system will take a behavioral approach as well as attempting medications etc...  If your child gets an ASD, then likely they'd be treated more like a learning disorder.

As far as language delay went, I think I eventually caught up as far as speech and language goes. Only my problem is I can't speak aloud as well as I can think in my head. That causes a degree of stammering if I am anxious. I find writing to be a much better tool.

There's also other related things to look for such as Non Verbal Learning Disorder and Auditory processing Disorder to google.
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Avatar universal
I am not afraid of a PDD-NOS diagnoses..Gesh, I feel like something would be better then "your child is a puzzle" I took him to the neurologist and she said she did not think
he had PDD nos..she explained a few of his "quirky" behaviors do not make a diagnoses..he has too many strengths that say "no" he has never regressed etc etc
She said possibly adhd but again no diagnoses he's "too young"
Can't you have language delays and not be on the spectrum? he does have mild sensory "issues" and is a VERY active kid...
I was just curious why you mentioned PDD about my son..If something stuck out that you thought that?b/c I would mention to the neurologist when we go back in Nov..
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Avatar universal
Yes he's been on an IEP since age 3. He is in an intergrated preschool 4 days a week gets Speech/ OT in school and out of school on his one day off.I have no problems w/ him getting Special Education, great he'll get the extra help.time/attention he'll need. My issues is him being in the Alternative program all day next year in kindergarten..He has shown in the past that he mimicks inappropriate behavior from other children.This program yes will have smaller numbers but also all the children have delays and some I know behavior problems(next year kindergarten)
..His first year (age 3)he was in the AM all special needs class..There was some children there that were a handful throwing blocks at the teachers,screaming being disruptive..well, my son thought that was the funniest thing and copied them..This year (age 4) he is in the intergrated class he is not w/ these children and he is a different child..
As a parent you can't help but worry about your childs future..I am focused on his needs now but was just looking to hear a success story about language delays :) I get discouraged about everything I read on line..The neurologist was optimistic he could "catch up..gesh if you could see the progress he just made in one year..
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365714 tn?1292199108
"What makes u think it is PDD nos? just curious b/c neurologist said "no" to PDD"

I'm not 100%, but usually with aspergers there is no speech delay. (generally)

PDD NOS has speech delay.  But there are likely gray areas between the two areas. After all you are describing two different names of slight variations of the same thing.

I think with me around age four I was tagged "autistic like".
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401219 tn?1205879481
From what you've written, it sounds like your son would benefit from special education services, whether it be speech therapy and/or a class for children with special needs.  I would focus on helping him right now, as opposed to: catching him up to his peer level/grade level.  From what you have said so far, it sounds like you have been pursing this through the medical community, which is good, but is he receiving educational services at all?  If so, what type of education is your son currently receiving?  Does he have an Individualized Education Plan?
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367831 tn?1284258944
4 maybe too young to say PDD/autism or anything that specific for a neurologist.  The important thing is that the IEP is designed about your son, not his label.  They need to pay attention to what he needs and how to help him as an individual.  After all "Individual" is an IEP's first name!  

Bear in mind also that on his IEP it may have "autism" (or something else) on the blank.  This is NOT his MEDICAL diagnosis.  The education system has a more broad definition than the medical definitions.  Once again, regaurdless of his IEP label, it should be designed for him individually with your input as a member of the team.
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Avatar universal
What makes u think it is PDD nos? just curious b/c neurologist said "no" to PDD
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365714 tn?1292199108
Sounds like you're describing PDD NOS.

About the positives and negatives:

It took me to about age 5 before I could speak, and even then I was whispering half the time...or at least my dad says so.  I have to admit I don't remember talking much in Kindergarten. I went to two different classes. One was a normal kindergarten class and the other was a modified class.

I lagged behind the other students as far as learning how to tie my shoes, read, and other things.  I may have felt a bit of disappointment and frustration, but it was mostly frustrating because the normal ed teacher knew very little about autism or PDD...  She treated me as if I was misbehaving.  Music class was frustrating because they either had me sit out or they got mad at me for sitting out. Make up ur mind plz!

That being said, I got through. Overall I enjoyed the special kindergarten better, but thinking back all I remember doing mostly was playing with toys, beeswax, and some other misc activities.  In retrospect I don't know if I really learned the same necessary skills that were offered in the normal class.

Having your son go through two separate classes may be an option if you can get that done. It may have helped me. It may or may not help your son.
---
I was mainstreamed into the public school system. I went through some major hell and I also went through to graduate top 10% of my high school class.  Success depends on how well the school system handles special needs and the “culture” of the student body.  If they are more tolerant that will make a big difference.

As far as developmental delay: in some ways people perceived/perceive me to be way beyond my years with some aspects, but way behind in others...  Intellectual wise I am average iq. (Make sure to have no time limits on those tests!  I couldn't take the pressure knowing it was a timed test. That would make me anxious and drop my iq rating like a rock...)
My ability to react and maturity depends on my level of anxiety. If I'm anxious I am prone to stuttering, forgetting what I am going to say, and overall just not able to give it my all whatsoever. My mind shuts down.
When calm I do far better. Socially I’m still way behind, but that’s likely because I have trouble getting others to understand me and I have trouble understanding them on an emotional level. We tend to misread each other’s facial expressions, which doesn’t help.
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